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Mini Caramel Apples – Bite sized apples coated in gooey caramel, and decorated for fall.
I am so excited that fall is finally here. At least, I hope it is going to stick around. We have had a very hot September, but this week things have cooled down and we are in the 70’s all week. I am wearing jeans, because I can! I feel soup weather, fresh bread, and sweaters are just around the corner. I love fall, I just wish it stuck around longer before winter came. The nice thing about living in Colorado as opposed to the Mid West, is it does stick around just a little bit longer. Halloween is usually not crazy cold here, like I remember it being some years when I was a kid. But all too soon there will be that dreaded white stuff on the ground, and we will all be complaining again.
We live close to Rocky Mountain National Park, and often go up there to go hiking. Estes Park is the town right outside of the park, and it is your typical tourist town. There are close to 5 different fudge shops, a few salt water taffy places, all the t-shirts and hats you could want, and of course lots of ice cream. Inside many of the ice cream shops they also have cookies and GIANT caramel apples. They are coated in caramel and then decorated in every combination of candy and toppings that you can imagine. They are exceedingly expensive, so we have never purchased them. Plus, they are so big I do not know what we would do with it. You couldn’t eat it one sitting, we would never all agree on which flavor to buy, and how do you keep the leftovers when you are walking around town?
So, I made my own mini caramel apples at home! I make homemade caramels every year at Christmas time, so I decided to modify that recipe a little bit, for mini caramel apples. My 9 year old had so much fun helping with these. We got fall sprinkles, chocolate candies, crushed up some Oreo’s, and set everything out in a line so we could just dip and have fun. You could use nuts, peanut butter candies, or just about anything you can think of. Just have fun!! These would be great to have for a Halloween party. Just let the kids get creative and have fun.
Mini Caramel Apples
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 2 cups Dark Brown Sugar
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
- ¾ cup light corn syrup
- 1 Tbls vanilla extract
Toppings
- chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed
- colored sprinkles
- chopped Nuts
- chocolate candies
Instructions
- To clean the apples, boil for 30 seconds to remove the wax like coating. Allow to dry and come to room temperature before dipping. To make the mini apples, use a small cookie scoop, and scoop out balls from the apple. Arrange on a baking sheet, and stick a tooth pick into each apple. If making full sized apples, use a lollipop stick, and place in the stem of the apple.
- Arrange toppings in small bowls. You will need to work somewhat quickly once you start dipping, so the caramel does not harden.
- In a large saucepan mix together butter, brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk and corn syrup. Stirring frequently, heat the mixture to 246 degrees. If you do not have a thermometer, drop a small amount of the liquid into a bowl of cold water. If it forms a soft ball it is done. Remove from heat, and stir in the vanilla extract. Let the caramel cool for 3-5 minutes before dipping the apples.
- Dip each apple into the caramel. Gently tap the stick on the side of the pan, and spin to remove the excess caramel. Dip in desired toppings. Place on baking sheet to cool. Allow the caramel to cool completely before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I love the idea of a mini caramel apple. You’re right the regular sized ones are too much but these are the perfect little treat.
These do look like a lot of fun! Your family is very lucky to get homemade caramels every year too. 🙂
I’m excited that fall is here too. It is seriously my favorite season. Love these apples.
Could these be any cuter? I am in love with mini everything and these are no exception.
these are so cute and I just LOVE sprinkles!!! I need to make these, like now!
My grandkids would LOVE to make these with me!!! I love the fact that they’re a mini-sized treat.
These are perfect for my caramel apple loving ways but my sugar intolerant tummy. One and I can get the taste and satisfaction I crave and one won’t make me ill. Win-Win!
I haven’t had one in years and now I am craving them
These are too cute and such a clever way to prepare caramel apples! Pinned.