These Caramel Apple Slices are the best twist on a Fall classic recipe! They are easy to eat and fun to decorate. See why they go crazy on Facebook and Pinterest every time I post them!
What could be better than biting into a chocolate-dipped, caramel-drenched, candy-decorated treat that fits in your mouth without making a mess on your face (or breaking your teeth)?
Caramel Apple Slices keep the stick but make a more manageable bite-sized version of the classic carnival snack. Biting into an entire caramel apple can be cumbersome and messy; but when you turn it into a multi-serving snack, they’re easier to eat and perfect for sharing.
Making caramel apple slices is a fun treat and activity for kids. Everyone can create their own custom sliced apples with caramel, chocolate, cookies, and different kinds of candy. Sliced caramel apples can be dipped and decorated with your favorite flavors and toppings—make them look festive and fancy for special occasions or dress them up for the holidays.
Ingredients Notes
- Granny Smith apples: I love the contrast between the tart, crisp Granny Smith apples and the sweet, soft chocolate and caramel covering—they are the best apples for this and the perfect pairing of taste and texture. You can make your covered apple slices with any apple, but a tart apple holds up best to coating. If you prefer a soft, sweet apple, try Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Gala, and Fuji instead.
- Dark chocolate chips: I love caramel dipped in dark chocolate, but for a sweeter taste, you can use milk chocolate chips, semi sweet chocolate chips, or even white chocolate chips. Be especially careful when melting white chocolate chips in the microwave because if they are overheated they seize quickly.
- Caramel bits: If you have the time, my Homemade caramel sauce takes only 5 minutes to make. It’s delicious and perfect for drizzling on chocolate-covered apple slices!
- Water
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Caramel Apple Slices
- Prepare Your Produce: Using a paring knife, slice the apples about ¼ an inch thick and pat them dry between 2 paper towels. Firmly insert a candy sucker stick into each apple slice.
- Melt: In a microwave safe bowl, microwave the chocolate chips for 30 seconds, stir, and heat again in 10-15 second increments until fully melted.
- Cover In Chocolate: Pat dry once more and then dip each apple slice in the melted chocolate to coat. Scrape off excess chocolate and place on a sheet pan to set.
- Melt: Microwave the caramel bits and water for 30 seconds, stir, and heat again in 10-15 second intervals until the caramel is melted.
- Drizzle And Decorate: Drizzle the caramel over the chocolate coated apples. Immediately place any toppings on top of the caramel and chill in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes or until set.
- Serve: Serve chilled or at room temperature. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Place on a Party Tray: Homemade caramel apple slices are a great grab-and-go snack. They are perfect for fall gatherings, seasonal parties, and serving as dessert when entertaining guests.
Serve on a Stick: What better way to prepare a possibly messy treat than by making it more portable? By serving caramel apple slices on a lollipop stick, you can hand them out like lollipops.
Tips & Variations
- Before You Begin: Be sure to have everything prepared before you start cutting your apple slices. You want to have any toppings set out and ready plus all your ingredients waiting so that your apples don’t turn brown while waiting to be dipped.
- Prevent Browning Produce: To help to prevent the apple slices from browning you can brush the exposed apple with a little lemon juice or lime juice and they will stay fresh for a few hours.
- Decorate Your Desserts: Be prepared to put the toppings on while the caramel is still hot. I recommend dipping all of the apples in the chocolate and then individually decorating them with caramel and toppings. Don’t put the caramel on all of the slices before putting on the toppings or it may harden enough that the toppings don’t stick.
- Swap The Steps: To switch things up you can put the toppings on the coated apples while the chocolate is still hot and soft and put the caramel drizzle on AFTER the toppings. This will ensure your toppings stick well and give your slices a unique look.
- Tasty Toppings: Chocolate-coated apple slices are so much fun to decorate. Get creative and top your caramel drizzle with mini chocolate chips, m&m’s, sprinkles, crushed Oreos, chopped nuts, melted white chocolate, mini marshmallows, shredded coconut, or any of your favorites.
- Customize Your Caramel Apple Slices: There is really no limit to these types of recipes. Make Zebra Apple Slices by drizzling melted white chocolate stripes; make a Turtle Caramel Apple Slice by sprinkling chopped pecans onto the chocolate before drizzling on the caramel. Or keep it simple with a chocolate drizzle and a sprinkle of sea salt, pretzel pieces, or anything you can think of!
How to Keep the Chocolate on the Apple Slices
The key to keeping the chocolate on the apple slices is to make sure you slice the apples thick enough and completely coat them with chocolate. If you leave even a small section uncovered, the apple juices will leak out, and the chocolate will not stick to the apple slice.
You also want to make sure you really dry the apples. Apples “sweat” or “weep”, so patting them down really well right before coating them will help your covering adhere better to the apple slice.
How To Keep The Caramel From Sliding Off The Slices
My secret for keeping the caramel from slipping off the apple slices is to start with chocolate-covered apple slices. If you put the caramel straight on the apple slice, it will slide right off. You want to drizzle the caramel directly onto the chocolate coating so it has something to stick to.
Proper Storage
These easy Caramel Apple Slices can be kept at room temperature for several hours. They should be kept in the refrigerator in an airtight container or plastic bag for longer storage.
The slices can also be individually wrapped in plastic wrap before being stored in the fridge to keep them from sticking to each other. I do not recommend freezing these slices as the apples do not thaw well.
More Easy Apple Recipes
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Caramel Apple Slices
Ingredients
- 2 Granny smith apples
- 2 cups dark chocolate chips divided
- 1 cup caramel squares
- 1 teaspoon water
- Mini chocolate chips, M&Ms, Sprinkles, Crushed Oreos, Chopped nuts, Melted white chocolate Optional toppings
Instructions
- Prepare 1 or 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Slice the apples into full slices, not wedges, about ¼ an inch thick. Firmly insert a candy sucker stick into the bottom of the apple. You may want to use a knife to make a small hole to help insert it. Place them on a paper towel.2 Granny smith apples
- Place a second paper towel on top of the apple slices and pat them dry.
- In a shallow, microwave safe bowl, place 1 cup of the dark chocolate chips and heat it for 30 seconds in the microwave.2 cups dark chocolate chips
- Stir the chips well and microwave again in 10-15 second increments, stirring between each until the chips are fully melted.
- Pat the apple slices dry once more with a paper towel and then dip them one by one in the melted chocolate until fully coated. (coat them a little past the base of the stick). You can also spoon the chocolate onto the apple, just be sure to fully cover it. If you leave any exposed apple the juices will make the chocolate not adhear as well.
- Gently scrape off excess chocolate and then place the coated apple slice on the prepared baking sheet to set.
- Repeat with each apple slice until they are all coated. When you run out of chocolate, repeat steps 4-5 with the remaining chocolate chips.
- In a second, shallow, microwave safe bowl place the caramel squares and water and microwave for 30 seconds.1 cup caramel squares
- Stir the caramel and water together and, if necessary, continue to microwave for 10-15 seconds before removing and stirring well. Repeat until the caramel is completely melted.1 teaspoon water
- Use a spoon or fork to drizzle the caramel over the chocolate coated apples in any pattern or design you choose.Mini chocolate chips, M&Ms, Sprinkles, Crushed Oreos, Chopped nuts, Melted white chocolate
- Immediately place any toppings on top of the caramel and then place the slices in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes or until set.
Jenn’s Notes
- Be sure to have everything prepared before you start cutting your apple slices. You want to have any toppings set out and ready plus all your ingredients waiting so that your apples don’t turn brown while waiting to be dipped.
- To help to prevent the apple slices from browning you can brush the exposed apple with a little lemon juice or lime juice and they will stay fresh for a few hours.
- Be prepared to put the toppings on while the caramel is still hot. I recommend dipping all of the apples in the chocolate and then individually decorating them with caramel and toppings. Don’t put the caramel on all of the slices before putting on the toppings or it may harden enough that the toppings don’t stick.
- To switch things up you can actually put the toppings on the coated apples while the chocolate is still hot and soft and put the caramel drizzle on AFTER the toppings. This will ensure your toppings stick well and give your slices a unique look.
- Chocolate-coated apple slices are so much fun to decorate. Get creative and top your caramel drizzle with mini chocolate chips, M&Ms, sprinkles, crushed Oreos, chopped nuts, melted white chocolate, mini marshmallows, shredded coconut, or any of your favorites.
- There is really no limit to these types of recipes. Make Zebra Apple Slices by drizzling melted white chocolate stripes; make a Turtle Caramel Apple Slice by sprinkling chopped pecans onto the chocolate before drizzling on the caramel. Or keep it simple with a sprinkle of sea salt, pretzel pieces, or anything you can think of!
when and how do you put the sticks in…please answer
Hi there! I am so sorry, I left that step out. You will add it right after you slice the apples. I edited the post!
How and when do you get the sticks in?
How long will these last in the fridge? Do the apples turn brown after being dipped?
Do you core the apple to get the seeds and all out?? or are you supposed to leave that in there?
I cut around the core.
this look delicious