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Gourmet Caramel Apples Recipe

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September 9, 2024
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When it comes to making fall treats, nothing beats a freshly dipped caramel apple. My Gourmet Caramel Apples recipe takes that classic favorite and kicks it up a notch with my homemade caramel sauce, melted chocolate drizzle, and all your favorite toppings. Whether you’re planning a fun family activity, looking for a crowd-pleasing dessert for a Halloween party, or wanting to impress with a unique treat, these caramel apples will be the star of the show.

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Why You’ll Love This Caramel Apples Recipe

These Gourmet Caramel Apples are not your regular caramel apples. This homemade caramel sauce is buttery, rich, and so much better than anything you’d buy at the grocery store. You’ll love getting to customize each apple with all kinds of fun toppings—think mini M&Ms, dark chocolate drizzle, graham cracker crumbs, coconut flakes, toffee bits and sprinkles.

Plus, the whole process is just so much fun! This recipe is a great way to involve kids in the kitchen or get creative for special occasions. And the best part? These apples make great gifts. Wrap them up in cellophane bags, tie them with a ribbon, and you’ve got the perfect party favors or thoughtful treats for friends and family.

Candy Apple Vs Carmel Apple

Candy apples and caramel apples may look similar, but they have distinct differences in taste and texture. Candy apples are coated in a hard, glossy candy shell made from sugar, corn syrup, and water, creating a crunchy, sweet, and sometimes cinnamon-flavored exterior.

Caramel apples are covered in a soft, chewy layer of buttery caramel made with sugar, butter, and heavy cream, offering a rich, melt-in-your-mouth experience. While candy apples provide a crisp bite with a bright red finish, caramel apples add a smooth, indulgent flavor that pairs perfectly with toppings like nuts, chocolate, or sprinkles.

Both are classic fall treats, but the choice between the two depends on whether you prefer a sugary crunch or a sweet, creamy coating.

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Ingredients Needed For Gourmet Caramel Apples

Making caramel apples is pretty customizable because you add as many toppings as you’d like. Here is what I used to make mine:

  • Cold Organic Apples: Use any kind—Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or your personal preference.
  • Homemade Caramel Sauce: Made from granulated sugar, tablespoons of water, heavy cream, butter, and vanilla extract.
  • Chocolate Chips: White chocolate, milk chocolate, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate—melt them for a drizzle or dip.
  • Favorite Toppings: Shredded coconut, mini chocolate chips, graham cracker crumbs, chopped nuts, mini marshmallows, crushed cookies, toffee bits, and festive sprinkles.
  • Popsicle Sticks: To hold your apples while dipping them in that delicious caramel sauce.

Pro Tip: Other than the obvious reason to use organic apples, they also don’t have that wax coating on them. The wax coating can prevent the caramel from sticking so for this recipe specifically, grab yourself some organic apples.

Variations

  • Caramel Sticks: Swap out popsicle sticks for caramel sticks for a fun twist.
  • White Chocolate Drizzle: Instead of dark or milk chocolate, drizzle with melted white chocolate for a different flavor.
  • Store-Bought Caramels: If you’re short on time, use Kraft caramels instead of making your own caramel sauce.
  • Apple Pie Apple: Add a sprinkle of cinnamon and brown sugar to your caramel for an apple pie flavor.
  • Corn Syrup Addition: Add a bit of corn syrup to your caramel for an even silkier texture.
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How To Make Gourmet Caramel Apples

With step-by-step photos and easy-to-follow instructions, you’ll have perfect homemade caramel apples in no time (with no candy thermometer needed!). For full recipe details, including ingredient measurements, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post. So grab your favorite apples, some popsicle sticks, and let’s get dipping!

1. Prepare Apples

Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Wash cold apples well and dry with a clean kitchen cloth.

A rectangular baking tray lined with parchment paper rests on a pink textured cloth, ready for gourmet caramel apples. In the background, a small clear jar with wooden skewers awaits its turn in the creation process.
A tray with twelve gourmet caramel apples arranged in rows, featuring a mix of green and red apples. The tray is placed on a light pink cloth with a marble surface in the background.
A hand uses a white cloth to polish or clean a red apple among several red and green apples on a dotted tray, preparing them for gourmet caramel apples.

Remove stems and push craft sticks 1 inch into the apples to secure them into place. Place on the baking sheet and refrigerate until ready to use. 

A close-up of hands inspecting a red apple above a bowl containing other gourmet caramel apples.
A pair of hands is using an apple corer on a green apple, preparing it for a delicious transformation into gourmet caramel apples. Other apples await their turn on a polka-dotted tray.
Red and yellow gourmet caramel apples with wooden sticks inserted at the stems, arranged in a grid pattern on a white perforated tray.

2. Make the Caramel Sauce

Heat sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat to melt the sugar. Continue cooking and swirling the pan until the sugar turns amber in color.

A saucepan filled with white sugar sits on a hot plate, accompanied by a whisk, a cloth, a small bowl of liquid, and a spoon on a marble countertop—perfect for making gourmet caramel apples.
A pot filled with bubbling sugar syrup on a stovetop, transforming into the perfect coating for gourmet caramel apples.
A hand holding a whisk stirs a bubbling caramel mixture in a dark gray saucepan on a white stovetop, preparing it for gourmet caramel apples.

Whisk in heavy cream. The mixture will bubble up violently briefly. Continue whisking until the sauce is smooth.

A stream of cream is being poured into a dark saucepan containing a reddish-brown mixture, likely gourmet caramel or sauce for making delectable caramel apples, on a stovetop.
A whisk stirs a bubbling caramel mixture in a black pot on the stovetop, with a cup of gourmet caramel sauce in the background—perfect for creating decadent caramel apples.
A whisk stirs a dark, thick sauce in a pot, reminiscent of the rich coating on gourmet caramel apples. In the background, a bowl with a similar sauce, alongside a cloth and spoon, completes the culinary scene.

Whisk in butter and vanilla extract. 

A whisk rests inside a saucepan filled with dark sauce, reminiscent of the rich coatings used for gourmet caramel apples, with a small amount of butter melting into it.
A hand is expertly whisking a dark sauce in a pot on the stove, preparing the perfect drizzle for gourmet caramel apples.

3. Melt the Chocolate Chips

Place any chocolate (or other flavor) chips into heat-proof containers. Turn crockpot setting to high. 

A hand is pouring chocolate chips from a bowl into a blue and black mug, ready to create topping for gourmet caramel apples.
A hand is pouring a bowl of small, round, beige pellets into a black and blue cup, reminiscent of the delicate precision used in crafting gourmet caramel apples.
A hand is pouring small, round, pink pieces from a plate into a dark cup on a white countertop, evoking the meticulous craft akin to preparing gourmet caramel apples.

Bring small pot of water to boil. Pour boiling water into crockpot and reduce temperature to warm. 

A pot filled with vigorously boiling water sits on a stove, steam swirling above it like the beginning stages of crafting gourmet caramel apples.
Water being poured from a black pan into a silver pot on a stovetop, preparing the base for making gourmet caramel apples.
Three small bowls with pink, brown, and yellow chocolate buttons are placed inside a larger pot, likely for melting—perfect for drizzling over gourmet caramel apples.

Place containers of chips into hot water to melt and keep warm, stirring occasionally. Place melted chips in a squeeze bottle or piping bag when ready to use. 

Close-up of a hand whisking dark brown liquid in a small blue ceramic bowl with a handheld mixer, perfect for preparing gourmet caramel apples.
Close-up of a small blue-rimmed bowl filled with chocolate mousse placed next to other bowls containing gourmet caramel apples and various sauces.
A hand is holding a transparent plastic bag filled with a chocolate substance over a silver mixing bowl, as if preparing to create gourmet caramel apples.

Place any desired toppings into shallow dishes. Topping ideas including shredded coconut, mini chocolate chips, graham cracker crumbs, chopped nuts, mini marshmallows, crushed cookies, toffee bits, and festive sprinkles.

Seven small bowls containing different ingredients arranged around a wooden cutting board: sugar, multicolored sprinkles, white sprinkles, chopped nuts, shredded coconut, sliced almonds, and black sesame seeds—perfect for creating gourmet caramel apples.

3. Dip Apples in Caramel

Take a cold, clean and dry apple and dip it into the hot caramel. Turn apple completely around in the caramel sauce to coat evenly. Let the excess drip off the apple for a good 30 seconds. Then immediately dip them into the toppings you’d like. 

A hand dips an apple into a pot of rich, gourmet caramel.
A red candy apple, held by a stick, is being partially submerged in caramel inside a black saucepan. Bowls of sugar and sprinkles sit in the background, all shining with the promise of delicious gourmet caramel apples.
A hand is dipping a shiny red caramel apple into a bowl of crushed cookies, crafting gourmet caramel apples. Two other bowls containing different ingredients are visible in the background.
A hand dips a gourmet caramel apple into a bowl of shredded coconut, surrounded by other bowls containing various toppings.
A hand decorates a candy apple with colorful sprinkles by dipping it into a bowl, transforming it into one of the gourmet caramel apples. Another bowl with chopped nuts is nearby.
A tray of gourmet caramel apples, some with red skins and others with yellow, topped with various coatings like coconut flakes and seeds, and sticks inserted into the tops for easy handling.

Place the apple onto a baking sheet with parchment paper. Continue dipping and coating apples until all are covered. 

A tray with nine gourmet caramel apples on sticks, some coated with various toppings such as nuts, seeds, and sprinkles.

Pro Tip: Feel free to refrigerate 5-10 minutes to solidify caramel faster. After 3 or 4 apples, you may have to reheat the caramel if you notice it’s getting thicker and thus harder to get a thin, even coat on your apples.

4. Add Chocolate Drizzle + Toppings

Once the caramel coating has solidified, drizzle melted chocolate (or other melted chips options) over the tops of each apple using a squeeze bottle or piping bag. Top with sprinkles or any other desired toppings. 

A tray of gourmet caramel apples, some with nut coatings, is being drizzled with white icing from a piping bag.
A hand is decorating gourmet caramel apples with chocolate. The apples, mounted on sticks, are coated with various toppings like nuts and sprinkles, and are arranged neatly on a tray.
A hand holding a stick is being inserted into a gourmet caramel apple decorated with white drizzle and sprinkles, placed on a baking sheet alongside other similarly adorned apples.
A hand sprinkles coconut flakes onto a gourmet caramel candy apple with a stick on a tray, alongside other decorated candy apples.
A gourmet caramel apple on a plate, covered with chocolate drizzle and colorful sprinkles, resting on a pink surface.
DSC02896

5. Serve or Wrap

Once the chocolate is set, cut apples into slices and serve. Or, wrap them up in cellophane bags and give them as gifts.

A plate with three gourmet caramel apples, each decorated differently, and slices of a yellow apple. A spoon and napkin are beside the plate.
Close-up of a gourmet caramel apple coated with nuts and sprinkles on a plate, with two cut slices of the apple in the foreground and bowls with toppings in the background.
A gourmet caramel apple topped with sprinkles and sliced in half, served on a white rectangular plate with pink polka dots and a gold-colored spoon beside it.

More Decorating Ideas

Here are a few more ideas for decorating inspiration!

A gourmet caramel apple coated with caramel, nuts, and drizzled chocolate, topped with colorful sprinkles and white icing, on a light background.
Close-up of a gourmet caramel apple covered in chopped nuts, drizzled with chocolate, and topped with colorful sprinkles, displayed on a parchment-lined surface. Other similarly decorated gourmet apples are in the background.
A close-up of a gourmet caramel apple with a light green coating, drizzled with white chocolate, and rolled in shredded coconut, displayed on a tray.
Close-up of a gourmet caramel apple coated with crushed cookies and drizzled with white and dark chocolate, topped with colorful sprinkles.
A tray of gourmet caramel apples, each topped with colorful sprinkles, drizzles of chocolate and white icing, and assorted candies. Sticks are inserted into the apples as handles.

Storage + Make Ahead Directions For Gourmet Caramel Apples

Store caramel apples in the refrigerator wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container to keep them fresh. Freezing is not recommended as the caramel may become too hard, and the texture of the apples may change.

Make Ahead: You can make them up to 24 hours in advance! Just be sure to store them in an airtight container to keep them fresh.

DSC02906

More Caramel Treats to Try!

Whether you’re making these for a party, a gift, or just a fun family activity, these caramel apples are sure to impress. Enjoy every bite! The printable recipe card is below! Have fun, friends! 🙂

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.

A tray of gourmet caramel apples, each decorated with various toppings such as sprinkles, white icing, and crushed nuts, is displayed. Sticks are inserted into the centers of the apples for easy handling.
PrintPrint Pin ItPin It

Gourmet Caramel Apples

You can make amazing and gorgeous Gourmet Caramel Apples at home with just a few easy steps! Customize with different drizzles and toppings!
servings 12 caramel apples
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

  • 12 large cold organic apples any kind you like
  • 2-3 tablespoons cold water

homemade caramel sauce-

any desired coatings/toppings such as:

variety of chips such as:

  • white chocolate
  • milk chocolate
  • semi sweet chocolate
  • dark chocolate
  • peanut butter
  • butterscotch
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
    A rectangular baking tray lined with parchment paper rests on a pink textured cloth, ready for gourmet caramel apples. In the background, a small clear jar with wooden skewers awaits its turn in the creation process.
  • Wash cold apples well and dry with a clean kitchen cloth. Remove stems and push craft sticks 1 inch into the apples to secure them into place. Place on the baking sheet and refrigerate until ready to use.
    Red and yellow gourmet caramel apples with wooden sticks inserted at the stems, arranged in a grid pattern on a white perforated tray.

for the homemade caramel sauce-

  • Heat sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat to melt the sugar. Continue cooking and swirling the pan until the sugar turns amber in color.
    A hand holding a whisk stirs a bubbling caramel mixture in a dark gray saucepan on a white stovetop, preparing it for gourmet caramel apples.
  • Whisk in heavy cream. The mixture will bubble up violently briefly. Continue whisking until the sauce is smooth.
    A stream of cream is being poured into a dark saucepan containing a reddish-brown mixture, likely gourmet caramel or sauce for making delectable caramel apples, on a stovetop.
  • Whisk in butter and vanilla extract.
    A whisk rests inside a saucepan filled with dark sauce, reminiscent of the rich coatings used for gourmet caramel apples, with a small amount of butter melting into it.

to melt the chips-

  • Place any chocolate (or other flavor) chips into heat-proof containers. Turn crockpot setting to high.
    Three small bowls with pink, brown, and yellow chocolate buttons are placed inside a larger pot, likely for melting—perfect for drizzling over gourmet caramel apples.
  • Bring small pot of water to boil. Pour boiling water into crockpot and reduce temperature to warm.
    Water being poured from a black pan into a silver pot on a stovetop, preparing the base for making gourmet caramel apples.
  • Place containers of chips into hot water to melt and keep warm, stirring occasionally. Place melted chips in a squeeze bottle or piping bag when ready to use.
    Close-up of a small blue-rimmed bowl filled with chocolate mousse placed next to other bowls containing gourmet caramel apples and various sauces.

to make the gourmet apples-

  • Place any desired toppings into shallow dishes.
    Seven small bowls containing different ingredients arranged around a wooden cutting board: sugar, multicolored sprinkles, white sprinkles, chopped nuts, shredded coconut, sliced almonds, and black sesame seeds—perfect for creating gourmet caramel apples.
  • Take a cold, clean and dry apple and dip it into the hot caramel. Turn apple completely around in the caramel sauce to coat evenly. Let the excess drip off the apple for a good 30 seconds. Then immediately dip them into the toppings you’d like. 
    A hand is dipping a shiny red caramel apple into a bowl of crushed cookies, crafting gourmet caramel apples. Two other bowls containing different ingredients are visible in the background.
  • Place the apple onto a baking sheet with parchment paper. Continue dipping and coating apples until all are covered.
    A tray of gourmet caramel apples, some with red skins and others with yellow, topped with various coatings like coconut flakes and seeds, and sticks inserted into the tops for easy handling.
  • Feel free to refrigerate 5-10 minutes to solidify caramel faster. After 3 or 4 apples, you may have to reheat the caramel if you notice it's getting thicker and thus harder to get a thin, even coat on your apples.
    A tray of gourmet caramel apples, some with nut coatings, is being drizzled with white icing from a piping bag.
  • Once the caramel coating has solidified, drizzle melted chocolate (or other melted chips options) over the tops of each apple using a squeeze bottle or piping bag. Top with sprinkles or any other desired toppings.
    A hand sprinkles toppings on colorful gourmet caramel apples with wooden sticks, arranged on a tray.
  • Once the chocolate is set, cut apples into slices and serve. Or, wrap them up in cellophane bags and give them as gifts.
    A gourmet caramel apple topped with sprinkles and sliced in half, served on a white rectangular plate with pink polka dots and a gold-colored spoon beside it.

Video

Notes

Nutritional information depends on what toppings you choose.

Nutrition

Calories: 257kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 29mg | Potassium: 254mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 427IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Caramel Apples, Gourmet Caramel Apples

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Recipe Rating




11 Responses
  2. Los Angeles Fall Bucket List: Here Are All The Fun Things To Do This Season
    Reply

    […] Go apple picking at Riley’s Farm and make gourmet caramel apples. […]

  3. Amy @ Thoroughly Nourished Life
    Reply

    I was just admiring some gourmet caramel apples at the markets on the weekend! They are just making their debut here in Australia, and I’d much prefer to make my own than spend $10 on an apple. And then I get to choose exactly which yummies I am going to sprinkle on top! Thanks for sharing Lauren 🙂

  5. Jocelyn @BruCrew Life
    Reply

    Love those gorgeous looking gourmet apples, but I am seriously awestruck at the crock pot tip to melt the chocolate melts!!! That’s awesome! i never would have thought of that!

  6. Stephanie
    Reply

    Lauren, your apples look delish! My husband and I make gourmet apples every year around the holidays. So fun and super yummy! Love all the toppings you chose 🙂

  8. Rachel J
    Reply

    Yum yum Lauren! That Oreo number is the best gourmet apple I’ve ever seen. I’d like all the toppings on mine please. Cute family activity! Can’t wait for my little 10 week old babe to partake in food fun with me!

    1. Tracey Wright
      Reply

      These are not covered very well. I don’t think the apple should show through the caramel and it does not look like the toppings are staying on very well either. Packaged caramels are obviously too thin. I like making my own caramel so that I can control how thick it is.

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