These caramel apple slices have all the fun of their full-sized cousins, in a smaller and easier to eat package! Coated with gooey caramel and topped with drizzles, nuts, sprinkles, or whatever you want!
Whole caramel apples are so pretty and fun to make and decorate, but actually sitting down and eating one is... quite the commitment.
I made these caramel apple slices instead for a much more manageable size for the same fall treat that we know and love. You can decorate them the exact same way you'd decorate your caramel apples.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to have on hand to get started:
- Dark chocolate wafers or chips
- White chocolate wafers
- Crushed nuts (or sprinkles.. whatever you want to use!)
- Crisp apples, green or red
- Packaged caramel candies
- Not Pictured: vegetable shortening and heavy cream for melting caramel and chocolate.
See recipe card for full amounts.
Instructions
Here's how to bring your caramel apple slices together:
- Step 1: Thick-slice apples and insert lollipop stick. Dry tops with paper towels.
- Step 2: Melt caramels with 2-3 tablespoons heavy cream.
- Step 3: Spoon caramel onto apple slices and spread to cover. Let set.
- Step 4: Melt white and dark chocolate with 2 teaspoons vegetable shortening. Dip a fork into chocolate and flick over apples. Top with crushed nuts or sprinkles as desired.
Hint: The exposed apple will cause the topping to slip over time, so I don't recommend making these apples in advance. They are better suited to a fun craft with the family that you can enjoy soon afterward! If you do need to preserve them for a few hours, keep them in the refrigerator.
Variations
You can use any kind of melted chocolate or colored candy wafers to decorate the caramel coating.
Try milk, dark, or semi-sweet chocolate to vary the flavors.
Try adding some colorful sprinkles (add them before the chocolate or caramel fully sets)
Use chopped nuts like pecans, walnuts, or peanuts.
Storage
Because the flesh of the apple is exposed to the caramel, vs a whole caramel apple where just the skin of the apple touches the caramel, these won't last as long as a whole caramel apple.
I recommend planning to serve caramel apple slices within a few hours of making them. Store them in the refrigerator to keep the toppings set and the apples as crisp as possible.
I don't recommend freezing.
FAQ
Make sure you pat the slices dry with paper towels immediately prior to adding the caramel. Work quickly and don't disturb the slices while the caramel sets.
After the slices are coated with caramel, storing them cut-side down in the refrigerator will delay browning, but I still recommend serving them within a few hours of being made for absolute best taste!
Yes, place the slices in the refrigerator in a single layer to help the caramel and chocolate drizzle harden.
Caramel Apple Slices
All the fun of a caramel apple in smaller servings.
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 10-12 slices 1x
Ingredients
- 2 large or 3 small apples
- 1 10-ounce bag caramel candies
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream
- ⅓ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or melting wafers
- ⅓ cup white chocolate chips or melting wafers
- ½ cup crushed nuts or sprinkles for decorating
- 2-3 teaspoons vegetable shortening
Instructions
- Rinse and dry apples, then cut into thick slices. They should be thick enough to insert a lollipop or popsicle stick into each one. Arrange cut slices with sticks on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.
- Pat apples dry with paper towels.
- In a double boiler, melt caramels and add cream to thin, stirring frequently.
- Working quickly, spoon a dollop of caramel onto each slice and immediately spread it out. Let set.
- In microwave safe bowls, melt chocolate chips or wafers in 25-second increments, stirring well. Add shortening a teaspoon at a time and mix in to make chocolate thin enough to drizzle.
- Dip a fork into chocolate and flick over the apple slices. Immediately top with crushed nuts or sprinkles. Let set and serve. You can place them in the fridge for a little while to help toppings harden.
- Important: These are meant to be served immediately or soon after making them, as the moisture in the cut apples will slowly cause the caramel to slip. Cut apples are also prone to turning brown when exposed to air for too long.
Notes
Stuff I Used:
Brach Classic Caramels, 10oz
Lollipop sticks
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop and Microwave
- Cuisine: N/A
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 182 calories
- Sugar: 23g
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
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