Caramel Apples
Small crisp apples on sticks, dipped in melted soft caramel and left to set.
Make Ahead and Storage
Best on the day. Keeps in the fridge for 2 days; the apple gets softer.
How to Make Caramel Apples
Tap a step to highlight it, or turn on Cook Mode for large type and step-by-step focus.
-
Dip the apples in hot water for 10 seconds, rub them dry and push a stick into each stem end.
-
Melt the caramels with the milk in a pan over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring until smooth.
-
Tilt the pan and roll each apple through the caramel. Let the excess drip off.
-
Roll in the peanuts if you like and set on a lined tray until firm.
A Few Pointers
- Remove the wax from the skin.
- Dry the apples completely.
- If the caramel thickens, stir in a spoonful of milk.
- Set them on a lined tray, not a plate.
Some Background
They look like a candy apple and eat like one, but the caramel is soft and chewy, not glassy. The cooking is only a gentle melt, so no thermometer is needed.
Wax is the problem. Shop apples are coated, and caramel slides off wax. Dip each apple in hot water for 10 seconds and rub it dry with a cloth. A clean, dry apple is the only trick. If the skin is damp, the caramel pools at the bottom.
Push a stick into the stem end, then melt the unwrapped caramels with the milk in a pan over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring until smooth. Tilt the pan and roll each apple through.
Let the extra drip off, set the apples on a tray lined with greaseproof paper and leave them until firm. Roll in chopped nuts before the caramel sets, if you like. Pick small apples, because a large one is hard to bite through once the caramel sets around it.
What to Put Next to It
Hot chocolate · Cinnamon tea · Vanilla ice cream · Mulled cider
Caramel Apples FAQ
How long does Caramel Apples take to make?
About 15 minutes in total — 10 minutes of preparation and 5 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 6.
What are the key tips for making Caramel Apples?
Remove the wax from the skin. Dry the apples completely. If the caramel thickens, stir in a spoonful of milk. Set them on a lined tray, not a plate.
What should I serve with Caramel Apples?
Hot chocolate; Cinnamon tea; Vanilla ice cream; Mulled cider.
How should Caramel Apples be stored?
Best on the day. Keeps in the fridge for 2 days; the apple gets softer.
Is Caramel Apples suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Caramel Apples?
About 337 kcal per serving, with 4 g protein, 60 g carbohydrate and 9 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
What's in a Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
Cooked this? Leave a review
Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
Related Recipes
More American cooking and desserts ideas from Weekly Delight.
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Brown butter, a 24-hour rest and two sizes of chocolate produce cookies with crisp edges, a chewy middle and pools…
Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes
Tall, tender pancakes with a tangy edge and a golden, even surface. The lumps in the batter are not a mistake — they…
Classic Smash Cheeseburger
A smash burger with lace-edged, deeply browned patties, American cheese melted to the edges and a soft toasted bun…
Fudgy Cocoa Brownies
Cocoa-based brownies with a paper-thin crackly top and a dense, fudgy middle. No chocolate to melt, no mixer needed…