Gourmet Caramel Apples
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Cassi is going to be soooo jealous when she reads this post! These Gourmet Caramel Apples are one of her favorite Halloween treats, and she is not here to enjoy them. Maybe next year, you never know. I don’t remember if caramel apples were in the Harry Potter books or not, but I do seem to remember seeing them in the movies…so I had to make them for my party…..
I called them Gourmet Caramel Apples because you can make them as fancy as you like, and they are drenched in chocolate! This is the same caramel recipe that I used to make the Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Wands, and Chocolate Frogs. This recipe makes quite a lot of caramel, so you will find yourself digging through your pantry searching for things to dunk into it! 😉
How do you make Gourmet Caramel Apples?
Heat butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk in a heavy saucepan over Medium-High heat…..
Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Continue cooking and stirring until a candy thermometer reaches 248 degrees, about 30 minutes…..
Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla…..
Place a stick {wooden popsicle sticks, Wilton plastic branch sticks, etc} into the center of each apple and dip into caramel, turning to completely coat…..
Allow excess to drip off the apple, using a spoon to wipe off if necessary…..
Place on silpat/parchment paper and allow to cool, about 2 to 3 hours…..
I prefer the silpat over the parchment paper, but they both work. Place chocolate in a large bowl and heat in the microwave for 1 minute on HIGH. Stir, then continue cooking and stirring in 15 second intervals until chocolate is melted and smooth…..
Dip caramel covered apples in the melted chocolate, turning to coat….or use a large spoon to drizzle over the caramel covered apple…..
Set on silpat or parchment paper to set. Before chocolate hardens, roll in your desired toppings, like chopped pecans for Turtle Caramel Apples…..
or crushed OREOS if you’re Cassi…..
Halloween sprinkles like the image at the top, or Fall sprinkles if they are not for Halloween…..
Quick note about tempering chocolate…I have never done it! lol I could not figure out why the caramel apples did not “spot” as they cooled, but the Chocolate Caramel Pretzels did??? The caramel apples are covered in melted Hershey Kisses®, which have already been tempered. It was the only milk chocolate that I had in the house. 😉 The pretzel wands were covered in melted bittersweet chocolate chips, because I wanted to try them.
Next time I will Google tempered chocolate and try to make them the correct way, or use melted candy bars!!
More fun recipes for your next Harry Potter Party :
- Caramel Apples
- Cauldron Cakes {Homemade Ding Dongs}
- Gillyweed {Spinach} Dip
- Troll Boogers
- Butter Beer Cocktail
- Polyjuice Potion Cocktail
- Puff Pastry Sausage Rolls
Enjoy!!
Gourmet Caramel Apples
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups brown sugar (packed)
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 10 ounces chocolate (milk and/or dark)
- 12 large apples (cleaned and dried)
- nuts, crushed oreos, chopped pecans
Instructions
- Heat butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk in a heavy saucepan over Medium-High heat.
- Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Continue cooking and stirring until a candy thermometer reaches 248 degrees, about 30 minutes.
- Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla.
- Place a stick into each apple and dip into caramel, turning to completely coat.
- Allow excess to drip off, using a spoon if necessary, then place on parchment paper to set, about 2 to 3 hours.
- Place chocolate in a large bowl and heat in the microwave for 1 minute on HIGH. Stir, then continue cooking and stirring in 15 second intervals until chocolate is melted and smooth.
- Dip caramel covered apples in the melted chocolate, using a large spoon to cover all sides, or simply drizzle over the top.
- Place on parchment paper to set. Sprinkle with toppings as chocolate begins to harden, but is still sticky.
Caramel apples are my downfall! These look delicious, Lisa!
Poor Cassie… she’s definitely missing out! These are so pretty, Lisa. I love how you did the pretzel wands, so creative!
These look amazing, Lisa! I am a sucker for caramel apples and love how pretty you decorated all of them! Definitely making me want to reach in and take a bite! Pinning 🙂
Lisa, these looks fabulous and love the different flavors – the turtle apple definitely has my name on it! Pinning and sharing – have a happy Friday!
These look gorgeous, and so easy! I’ve never made caramel apples before, but these make me want to!
I think I’m missing out 🙂 These look fantastic Lisa!!
Oh my gosh! These APPLES! They look fantastic, Lisa…..I can’t decide if I like the turtle or the Oreo ones better!
Thank you Cathy. 🙂 I am partial to the turtle apples…or frogs…basically anything with caramel, chocolate, and pecans, lol
Caramel apples are one of my favorite things about Fall! Yummy – and I love Cassi’s idea with the Oreos! 😉 Pinning and stumbling!
Thank you Jamie! The princess definitely knows what she likes. 🙂
they are just gorgeous lisa
Thank you so much Heather!!
These are beautiful! The tempering chocolate bit is something I’ve always struggled with, which is why I stick to the savory most of the time! Love the name of your blog – makes me smile.
Thank you so much Karen!! One of these days I might actually try to temper chocolate the correct way, we’ll see. 🙂
Lisa these are wonderful! I love all the different options you included! I wouldn’t know which one to have, I would have to have them all. Your Harry Potter treats are all so fun, we always do a fun Harry Potter night with the kids when we watch the movies, I’m definitely going to have to hit up your site for the next HP night! Hope you’re having a wonderful week 🙂
Your caramel apples look fantastic! I saw this over on the Wednesday Roundup and I would love to invite you to share this (and anything else you’d like!) over on the Pure Blog Love link party
They look amazing! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful treat for fall. Pinning!
These are so pretty. My caramel always seems to fall off. Pinning. Stopping by from Two Cup Tuesday.
I love caramel apples and dipped in chocolate-I need one of these! 🙂 Hope that you are doing great!
Cathy
Those look amazing! There’s a store at my local mall that sells apples like that and they charge like $5 each. My daughters are always begging me to let them get one. So I am going to have to make these with my girls this fall.
Your Harry Potter party sounds like so much fun. Now I need to go back and read the rest of those posts.
We LOVE caramel apples. And add chocolate? Yes, please. Yours look fantasticly delicious!
These are just beautiful! What a fun treat for Halloween! Pinning!
Oh these apples are so lovely, love those sticks too they look so natural, definitely pinned for later I have to try these this fall!