For the love of caramel…
Wow…that is the first word that comes to mind when I describe these delicious caramel apples.
Earlier this week I did a post on a healthier caramel corn that is made with GMO-free corn and is made without corn syrup, refined sugars or unhealthy fats. Sound interesting? Head on over HERE to check out this great recipe!
When I was making this homemade caramel for the caramel corn, I immediately knew that I was going to tackle caramel apples next. I mean why not carry the caramel theme all week long right? 🙂
Tips to ensure good caramel apples!
So for this recipe, I wanted to create more of a candy/caramel apple.
In order to create a delicious caramel apple, it takes a little time on the stove to reach the desired temperature (248°F) to create a delicious, rich caramel.
It is not hard to make caramel apples, it only takes about 20 minutes…but it takes some patience and you can’t rush making caramel or it will burn.
A simple easy caramel dip might be the answer for you!
If you are wanting to make a simple caramel dip, rather than a caramel apple, be sure to check out my 3 ingredient 3-minute caramel recipe!
Just slice up your apples and dip them right into the caramel dip…yum!
Substitutions most likely won’t work in this recipe!
There are a couple of key things I want to note about this recipe. I am not sure how substitutions would work for this recipe.
- The heavy cream could be substituted out for half and half and maybe even coconut milk (however I have not tried that yet).
- The sweeteners are kind of important to create a great caramel. Organic Sucanat Brown Sugar is the sweetener I choose because it has a terrific caramel flavor already and it is the most natural, unrefined brown sugar option.
- I am not sure that stevia or even coconut sugar would work for this. I have a hard time getting coconut sugar to dissolve (even in hot water), so for me I didn’t even try that.
- Now typically I encourage everyone to use Raw Honey, but there is no need for it in this recipe, just use regular honey. You will be boiling this mixture for 10-12 minutes and raw honey certainly wouldn’t be raw after heating it for that long.
- Another thing to note is that once the caramel is ready, work fast. It cools quickly and will thicken making it a little more difficult to work with. Don’t worry about a perfect looking caramel apple. If you notice on mine, I have caramel everywhere. It is ok, that is what makes them so irresistible!
Enjoy this treat and let me know if you should have any questions in the comment section below the recipe!
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Description
Here is a healthier version of a favorite fall time treat, the caramel apples!
Ingredients
- 6–8 small apples
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup sucanat
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 tsp unrefined sea salt
- nuts of choice (optional)
- popsicle sticks or lollipop sticks for apples
- muffin liners to set your caramel apples in
Instructions
- Refrigerate your apples for several hours. Having very cold apples will help your caramel stick to the apples.
- In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, heat up cream to just before it starts to boil (when the bubbles just start to form on the edge of the pan).
- Add honey, sucanat and salt and stir to dissolve and bring to a boil stirring continuously.
- Stirring continuously, allow to boil for about 10-12 minutes (you want the thermometer to read 248º F). You must continuously stir or your caramel will burn. Do not stop stirring the entire time!
- Once the temperature has reached 248º F, carefully put the pan into an ice water bath (ice water in a large bowl) being very careful not to get any water into the caramel and pan. This stops the caramel from cooking any longer.
- Leave in the ice water bath and stir until it thickens slightly (about 10-15 seconds).
- Remove apples from refrigerator.
- Place sticks into apples and dip your first apple into the caramel coating the apple as quickly as possible.
- Put the caramel apples into the muffin liners and allow them to set.
- Work fast, the caramel can thicken up quickly. If it does, put it back onto the burner for about 10-15 seconds to thin it out a bit.
- Do remaining apples and enjoy! Apples are best eaten right away!
FAQs
The apple you are eating provides numerous healthy benefits you won't get from other sweet treats like candy and cookies. In addition, caramel apples offer protein, antioxidant phytonutrients, and dietary fiber. The average caramel apple has 160 calories and about 28 grams of sugar.
What are the best apples for caramel apples? ›
For dipping in caramel, we recommend the ever-loved Granny Smith, which offers the right amount of tartness to offset the sweetness of caramel hausarbeit schreiben lassen kosten. New, up-and-coming apples for making caramel apples include: Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, and SweeTango®.
How many calories are in a homemade caramel apple? ›
Though the size of the apple and the thickness of caramel can vary, caramel coating usually amounts to the equivalent of three or four caramel candies. This adds 120 to 160 calories to your caramel apple adventure. A simple caramel apple has 200 to 280 calories, about the same as a candy bar.
Are red or green apples better for caramel apples? ›
The Best Apple Variety to Use for Caramel Apples
Look for Honeycrisps, Pink Ladys, Pippins or Jonagold apples at your farmers' market or grocery store. Avoid overly sweet apples or those that tend towards softness or mealiness, such as Red Delicious apples.
What's the healthiest apple to eat? ›
Red Delicious apples contain more anthocyanidins that provide their color and powerful antioxidants. They also have more calcium than other apples. Not only do they taste sweet, but they also encourage healthy weight loss and balance out the bacteria in your colon.
What is the healthiest apple in the world? ›
Some, however, have unique health benefits. Red Delicious apples are the healthiest from an antioxidant standpoint, Crumble Smith says. The darker the color of the apple, the richer it'll be in antioxidants.
Are you supposed to refrigerate caramel apples? ›
The Best Way To Store Caramel Apples In The Fridge
For store-bought apples, if you don't plan on eating them right away, it's best to keep them in their original container and put them in the fridge. In general, caramel apples can last for up to one week when refrigerated. The same goes for homemade caramel apples.
How long do homemade caramel apples last? ›
Storage Instructions:
To Store: These beautiful dipped caramel apples will last for about 2 weeks, stored in the refrigerator. They make great gifts for teachers, friends and neighbors! I like to wrap them in a piece of cellophane with a cute ribbon.
How long will caramel apples stay fresh? ›
At room temperature, caramel apples can stay fresh for up to two weeks - but they need to be stored correctly, not kept out on the counter in the sun! Caramel apples can keep up to three weeks, but only if they are kept in chilled conditions.
How much cholesterol is in a caramel apple? ›
Russell Stover
| Nutrition Facts |
|---|
| How much saturated fat is in Caramel Apple? Amount of saturated fat in Caramel Apple: Saturated fat 6g | - |
| How much cholesterol is in Caramel Apple? Amount of cholesterol in Caramel Apple: Cholesterol 10mg | - |
| How much sodium is in Caramel Apple? Amount of sodium in Caramel Apple: Sodium 65mg | 3% |
16 more rowsHappy Apples Caramel Apples (1 apple) contains 35g total carbs, 31g net carbs, 13g fat, 6g protein, and 232 calories.
What is the difference between candied apples and caramel apples? ›
Candy apples, with their distinctive red candy shell, are usually made with a flavored boiled sugar recipe, while Caramel apples are covered with melted caramel. There is a huge textural difference between the two, one with a hard outer shell and the other with a gooey exterior.
Why did my caramel apples get hard? ›
Cook it too long and you'll create caramel apples that are rock hard with a glass-like candy coating! Don't cook it long enough, and it will stay as a sauce and not adhere to the apples at all!
How do you make caramel apples last longer? ›
Putting Caramel Apples in the refrigerator helps protect them from bacterial growth and maintain their quality.
How much fat is in a caramel apple? ›
Happy Apples Caramel Apples (1 apple) contains 35g total carbs, 31g net carbs, 13g fat, 6g protein, and 232 calories.
Are the apples at McDonald's healthy? ›
It's not surprising that McDonald's Apple Slices pouch comes in first place for the healthiest item on the McDonald's menu. They're nothing but pure apples–no additives found here–and are the perfect substitute for your side of fries, especially for the kids, as they can be ordered with any Happy Meal.
How are you supposed to eat a caramel apple? ›
Place your knife about an inch from the stick and slice down through the caramel apple. You should have a nice round slice, and the seeds from the core should still be on the stick portion. Repeat your first slice on the opposite side of the caramel apple, placing the knife about an inch from the stick.
Why are caramel apples a thing? ›
According to one popular legend, a Kraft Foods employee named Dan Walker in the 1950s was experimenting with leftover Halloween caramels and dipped apples from his family's orchard into the mixture.
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