Choose firm, tart varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp.
You can use wrapped soft caramels (melted down with cream) or make caramel from scratch with sugar, butter, and heavy cream.
Use popsicle sticks, lollipop sticks, or even sturdy twigs for a rustic touch.
Crushed nuts, sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, sea salt, or cookie crumbs.
Instructions
Wash and thoroughly dry your apples. (A light scrub helps remove the wax coating that can prevent caramel from sticking.) Insert a stick firmly into the stem end of each apple. Place them on a parchment-lined tray.
If using store-bought caramels, melt them with 2 tablespoons of heavy cream over low heat, stirring until smooth. For homemade caramel, cook sugar until golden, then whisk in butter and cream carefully—this yields a more luxurious flavor.
Hold each apple by the stick and dip it into the warm caramel, swirling to coat evenly. Let the excess drip back into the pot.
While the caramel is still sticky, roll the apple in your choice of toppings or drizzle with melted chocolate.
Place dipped apples on the parchment-lined tray to set. They’ll firm up in about 20–30 minutes at room temperature.