Apple Pie Caramel Apple: Crisp Granny Smith apples coated in scrumptious chewy caramel and white chocolate, dipped in graham cracker crumbs and finished with a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar – doesn’t that make your mouth water? Best of all, I’ve got an easy recipe for you so that your kids can easily make these heavenly treats with a little adult help.
Make these caramel apples with your kids
To make this easier for kids, I have given the option of using either pre-made or homemade pie crust or cinnamon graham crackers. Also, I have suggested melting soft caramels rather than making homemade caramel from scratch.
The combination of tart apples with the sweetness of the coatings and the aroma of cinnamon means makes these treats a favorite thing to eat in the Fall. A twist on the traditional caramel apple pie recipe, these look great when added to a dessert table. They will delight your guests at a Halloween party – just multiply up the ingredients depending on how many apples you want to make.
Of course, they are good to eat at any time but Fall seems to be the time of year that goes best with apples because that’s their traditional harvest time.
FAQ
Is this recipe easy to make?
There are a lot of steps in the instructions but this is because I have told you everything so you and your kids don’t get stuck. It’s not a complicated recipe and it’s fun to make. The end results speak for themselves!
Are white candy melts the same as white chocolate?
Be sure to use white chocolate rather than white candy melts as white chocolate contains cocoa butter which makes it creamy and delicious. White chocolate melts have replaced cocoa butter with a cheaper ingredient. You can use white chocolate chips but make sure they do not have corn syrup or vegetable oil as an ingredient. You can find out more about picking the best white chocolate to use for baking here.
How do you make the caramel stay on the apples?
Wash the apples in warm water to get rid of any waxy coating that might be on them. Make sure that the apples are completely dry after you wash them.
What kind of apples should I use?
Any eating apples will work in this recipe. However, a crisp granny smith apple has a delicious taste that is not too sweet. As you are adding sweetness to the apple with the toppings the combo of caramel, apple, chocolate and crackers combine to give an uncanny apple pie flavor.
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Apple Pie Caramel Apples
Prep: 1 hour 45 minutes
Yields: 4 caramel apples
Ingredients
4 Granny Smith apples
4 Popsicle sticks
11 ounces soft caramels (peter’s caramel works well)
2 tablespoons water
1 pre-made or homemade pie crust + 1 tablespoon butter (or you can use 6 cinnamon graham crackers instead)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
12 ounces white chocolate
Method:
1) If using pre-made or homemade pie crust
(if using graham crackers, skip to step 2)
a) Preheat oven to 370°F
b) Unfold the pie crust and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
c) Melt the butter and spread onto the pie crust using a pastry brush until just wet. Don’t put too much butter on.
d) Combine the cinnamon and sugar together in a small bowl.
e) Use your hands to sprinkle half of the cinnamon mixture onto the top of the pie crust. Transfer the remaining cinnamon mixture to a shaker for later.
f) Bake for 17-20 minutes or according to the package directions (if using pre-made)
g) Continue onto the next steps while baking the pie crust.
Skip to here if using graham crackers
- Wash the apples with warm water and scrub brush. Dry thoroughly and put a popsicle stick into each apple
- Add wax paper or a silicone mat to a second baking pan and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Add caramels and water to a microwave-safe small bowl. Melt caramels for 30 second intervals, stirring between each session, until melted and smooth.
- Dip apples into the melted caramel. Spoon caramel over the sides apple to help cover it completely.
- Use a knife to run across the bottom of the apple to remove extra caramel.
- Repeat for remaining apples.
- Place caramel apples on the prepared wax sheet and place in the fridge for about an hour.
Whilst you are waiting for the caramel to set, keep the kids busy with a Halloween printable activity. You can download it instantly so there’s no waiting.
- Just before removing apples from the fridge, crush the flaky pie crust or crackers in the food processor. Remove any large crumbles from the mixture. If you don’t have a food processor, then put them in a Ziploc bag, squeeze out the air, seal and bash with a rolling pin.
- Remove apples from the fridge. Cut off excess caramel that has puddled at the base of the apple.
- Melt the white chocolate for 30-second increments in the microwave, stirring between sessions until melted. If you prefer, you can melt the white chocolate in a double boiler by placing a heatproof bowl over a pan of hot water. Keep the water at a gentle simmer using medium heat rather than full-on boiling.
- Dip the caramel apple into the chocolate. Use a spoon if needed to help cover each apple until they have a good coating of melted white chocolate.
- Shake off any excess chocolate, and put it back onto the wax paper.
- Shake the reserved cinnamon sugar mixture onto the top of the apple. Allow the chocolate to sit for a minute.
- Take the apple and roll the base of the apple into the pie (or cracker) crumbs.
- Repeat for remaining apples.
- Allow apples to set. You can place the caramel apples in the fridge until about 30 minutes to an hour before serving.
- Be sure to remove the finished apples from the fridge about 30 minutes to an hour before serving or they will be really hard to bite into.
Get an adult to cut them into apple slices to make them easier to eat. They would be delicious served with some whipped heavy cream and some caramel sauce
Get a recipe for Frankenstein pretzel rods here
Get a recipe for a patriotic American flag cake here
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Apple Pie Caramel Apples
Equipment
- 2 small microwave safe bowls
- 2 baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Wax paper
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 2 Spoons
- Spatula
- Pastry brush
- Shaker
- Food processor Optional
Ingredients
- 4 Granny Smith apples
- 4 Popsicle sticks
- 11 Ounces Soft Caramels
- 2 Tablespoons Water
- 1 premade pie crust or 6 cinnamon sugar graham crackers
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
- 2 Tablespoons Brown sugar
- 1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
- 12 Ounces White Chocolate
Instructions
If using pre-made or homemade pie crust
- Preheat oven to 370°F
- Unfold the pie crust and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Melt the butter and spread onto the pie crust using a pastry brush until just wet. Don’t put too much butter on.
- Combine the cinnamon and sugar together in a small bowl.
- Use your hands to sprinkle half of the cinnamon mixture onto the top of the pie crust. Transfer the remaining cinnamon mixture to a shaker for later.
- Bake for 17-20 minutes or according to the package directions (if using pre-made)
- Continue onto the next steps while baking the pie crust.
Skip to here if using graham crackers
- Wash the apples with warm water and scrub brush. Dry thoroughly and put a popsicle stick into each apple
- Add wax paper or a silicone mat to a second baking pan and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Add caramels and water to a microwave-safe small bowl. Melt caramels for 30 second intervals, stirring between each session, until melted and smooth.
- Dip apples into the melted caramel. Spoon caramel over the sides apple to help cover it completely.
- Use a knife to run across the bottom of the apple to remove extra caramel.
- Repeat for remaining apples.
- Place caramel apples on the prepared wax sheet and place in the fridge for about an hour.
- Just before removing apples from the fridge, crush the flaky pie crust or crackers in the food processor. Remove any large crumbles from the mixture. If you don't have a food processor, then put them in a Ziploc bag, squeeze out the air, seal and bash with a rolling pin.
- Remove apples from the fridge. Cut off excess caramel that has puddled at the base of the apple.
- Melt the white chocolate for 30-second increments in the microwave, stirring between sessions until melted. If you prefer, you can melt the white chocolate in a double boiler by placing a heatproof bowl over a pan of hot water. Keep the water at a gentle simmer using medium heat rather than full-on boiling.
- Dip the caramel apple into the chocolate. Use a spoon if needed to help cover each apple until they have a good coating of melted white chocolate.
- Shake off any excess chocolate, and put it back onto the wax paper.
- Shake the reserved cinnamon sugar mixture onto the top of the apple. Allow the chocolate to sit for a minute.
- Take the apple and roll the base of the apple into the pie (or cracker) crumbs.
- Repeat for remaining apples.
- Allow apples to set. You can place the caramel apples in the fridge until about 30 minutes to an hour before serving.
- Be sure to remove the finished apples from the fridge about 30 minutes to an hour before serving or they will be really hard to bite into.
Notes
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Enjoy these apples on July 4th and other patriotic occasions. For other July 4th activity ideas, click here >>
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