Dipped in a rich homemade caramel sauce and coated in a variety of fun toppings, these homemade caramel apples truly are the deluxe version of a fall classic!
We just hit a new fall high and it’s called deluxe caramel apples.
No joke, these really are the ULTIMATE of all caramel apples. It starts with a gooey, absolutely addictive homemade caramel sauce that is pretty much just spoon-in-the jar-worthy.
Then in come the toppings and lemme tell you, we are NOT playing in that department. I’ve got 6 suggested toppings but the sky’s really the limit for what direction you can go here.
Honestly, no judgement if you even just want to live in that pan of caramel glory up there.
These Caramel Apples feature…
- A rich homemade salted caramel sauce
- Crisp granny smith apples
- A variety of toppings including crushed pretzels, nuts, m&ms, sprinkles, chocolate chips, and coconut
Making the Caramel Apples
(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)
Ingredients You Will Need
- Granny smith apples
- Granulated sugar
- Unsalted butter
- Heavy whipping cream
- Kosher salt
Choosing Your Apples
I recommend granny smith apples for this recipe as the crisp, tart flavor pairs very well with the sweet caramel on the outside.
If you’re not a fan of the tartness of granny smith apples, free free to use a sweeter apple such as honeycrisp or gala.
Tips for Perfect Caramel Apples
- Use a heavy-bottom saucepan for caramel – this ensures even heat distribution when cooking the caramel.
- Allow caramel to cool 10 minutes – this cool time will help the caramel thicken up a bit so that it coats the apples smoothly. If you find that the caramel cools too much and gets too thick, gently reheat it over low heat to loosen it up.
- Chill apples before coating – using chilled apples will help the caramel set up quickly once the apples are dipped in it.
- Coat in toppings immediately – top apples with toppings immediately while the caramel is soft.
Topping Ideas
You can use my suggested toppings of crushed pretzels, nuts, m&ms, chocolate chips, sprinkles, and coconut but there are many other directions you can also go. —>
- Crushed toffee bits
- Chopped hazelnuts or walnuts
- A drizzle of melted dark chocolate or white chocolate
- Cinnamon sugar
- Crushed oreos, gingersnaps, or graham crackers
My best advice here is to get as creative with the toppings as you can! Kids especially love building their own caramel apples so feel free to set out all the toppings and let everyone go wild.
Trust me, there’s no going wrong here.
Save this recipe using the ‘save to recipe box’ button below. If you make it, please let us know! Leave a comment + star rating below, or take a photo and tag it on with #wholeandheavenlyoven.
Try these other fall apple favorites next!
Deluxe Homemade Caramel Apples
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Ingredients
- 6 medium granny smith apples, chilled
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- Crushed pretzels, mini chocolate chips, m&ms, flaked coconut, toasted chopped pecans, and sprinkles for coating apples, optional
Instructions
- Push a caramel apple stick in each apple and place on a parchment paper-lined sheet pan. Place apples in refrigerator to keep cold while you make the caramel.
- Place sugar in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat and allow to melt, stirring frequently. Once melted, whisk in butter and bring to a boil. Slowly add cream (carefully, it will splatter) whisking constantly and allow caramel to cook until golden brown and thick, about 2-3 minutes. Remove caramel from heat and mix in salt.
- Allow caramel to cool 10 minutes. Spoon warm caramel over apples, swirling to evenly coat and place back on parchment paper.
- Coat apples in optional toppings and allow to set 20 minutes before serving. Store caramel apples in refrigerator until ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was updated with new recipe adjustments and photos on 9/9/25.
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