.I probably sound like a broken record at this point, but fall is my favorite season. My love for pumpkin scented everything is rivaled by only one thing, the caramel apple. Nothing’s better on a fall day than a crisp, juicy apple covered in confectionery deliciousness. And it’s fruit, so it’s healthy, right? A little less enjoyable, however, is how much buying a gourmet apple can cost. I’ve seen them going for $8-10 each! That’s why, this year, I decided to make my own.

Easy Caramel Apple Recipe

Written and photographed by My Love for Words

I had never made a caramel apple before, but I’m happy to say it really couldn’t have been easier. First, I cleaned the apples with soap and an abrasive sponge to remove any wax on the apple’s skin. I then removed the stem and inserted the stick where the stem had been.

Next, I melted the caramel on the stove in a double boiler and heated it until it reached 170 degrees. This was, by far, the most difficult part of the entire process because I had to be patient. Thankfully, I still had a large chunk of unmelted caramel next to me.

When the caramel reached 170 degrees, I rolled the apple in the melted caramel and placed them on a greased baking sheet to cool. Once all the apples were dipped, I placed the baking sheet in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to allow the caramel to set.

As the caramel cooled, I cleaned my double boiler and started melting the dark chocolate. Twenty or so minutes later, the caramel had set. I dipped the apples in the chocolate and cooled them in the fridge again, this time on a heavy dipping mat.

After the chocolate was set, I squeezed melted white chocolate over the apple in a crisscross motion to create the look of a spider web. I had to wait a little longer for the white chocolate to harden, and then I added the spider was done!

Even though there are a few steps to the process, caramel apples are a sinfully easy and delicious treat that look much more expensive and time consuming than they really are.

Easy Caramel Apple Recipe

Making them is fun, of course, but nothing beats finally cutting into one and taking a bite.

A great food gift wouldn’t be complete without cute packaging! I also whipped up a little printable label too, and because I love variety, I made two versions: with and without a “to” and “from” section. Click HERE to get your own copy.

I have another caramel apple variation that I’ll be sharing soon on my blog, My Love for Words. I’d love to have you stop by to check that out. I’d like to say a big thank you to Kelly for having me. I’m looking forward to being back in a few months, but until then, please allow me to channel Matt Damon and ask, “How you like them apples?” (Is it possible to type a Boston accent? I’ll have to google that.)