Homemade Turtle Caramel Apples
These homemade chocolate caramel apples are dipped in salted caramel sauce, drizzled with melted chocolate, then sprinkled with toasted pecans and flaky sea salt!
I have this thing for caramel apples…a pretty serious thing. If I go to a candy shop, there are two things I can’t resist — almond toffee and caramel apples.
I normally like my caramel apples with chopped almonds or peanuts, and chocolate certainly doesn’t hurt either. The thing is, most of the time the apple itself is mushy or too tart or just straight up unworthy of the luscious caramel it’s coated in.
I finally took matters in my own hands and made my own homemade caramel apples, so I can scratch this item off of the old bucket list. 🙂
For years I’ve wanted to make caramel apples, and I had no idea how easy it is until I started reading up on it!
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- The chocolate caramel apples can be made one day in advance and stored in the refrigerator before serving.
- The combination of homemade caramel sauce, melted chocolate, and pecans add so much flavor and texture to the apples.
- Any leftover caramel sauce can be made into caramel candies or served as a dip!
Recipe ingredients
I’ve always been a big fan of the turtle combination, and I was so excited to try it on these chocolate caramel apples.
Needless to say, this was one delicious combination — luscious caramel, melted chocolate, toasted pecans, and flaky sea salt with a tart-sweet super fresh Granny Smith apple. Addicting…yes!
Ingredient notes
- Apples. I prefer using Granny Smith apples, but any crisp, tart apple will work.
- Bourbon. You may omit the bourbon from the caramel sauce, if preferred. However, the hint of bourbon makes for the best best caramel apples!
- Flaky sea salt. I added salt to the caramel sauce and also sprinkled some on top of the apples. You need that pinch of salt to balance out the sweetness of the caramel and chocolate.
- Corn syrup. For an extra dark caramel, you can use dark corn syrup as well as dark brown sugar.
How to make this recipe
I can hardly contain myself around these, and you can bet they’ll be happening a lot more often. Here’s an overview of how to make caramel apples.
- Place the apples on a baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat or parchment, and press popsicle sticks firmly down into the apple through the stem.
- Fill a heat proof bowl with some ice water for an ice bath and set aside.
- Place the cream, brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, bourbon, and sea salt in a saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer. Heat until the temperature reaches 240 degrees F, or softball stage.
- Remove the pan from heat and place in the ice bath, stirring until combined for about 1 minute.
- Remove from the ice bath, and begin dipping the apples in the caramel.
- Place the apples in the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes until set, then remove.
- Melt the chocolate, then place in a zip top bag and snip off just a bit of one corner.
- Drizzle the chocolate over the apples, then sprinkle with the pecans and sea salt.
- Let stand at room temperature or in the refrigerator until set.
FAQ’s
I love using Granny Smith apples for my caramel apples because the tartness is the perfect balance with the caramel. You can use your favorite apples, however, because this caramel is so delicious, there’s no going wrong here.
Yes, you can prepare this homemade caramel apple recipe one day in advance. Stored the apples in the refrigerator before serving. Bear in mind that the chocolate will gray over time as it is not tempered.
Recipe notes
- You do need a candy thermometer to make the caramel for the caramel apples, but this recipe is not intimidating whatsoever. It’s no-fail, super simple stuff here.
- The caramel hardens quickly. When that happens, all you need to do is heat it over low heat for a minute or two, stir it, and get back to dipping.
- If you have leftover caramel sauce, you can make caramels or just use it as a dip!
More apple dessert recipes:
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment and rating below, or tag me @flavorthemoments on Instagram!
Homemade Turtle Caramel Apples
Ingredients
Apples:
- 4 Granny Smith apples mine were small-medium sized
- 4 ounces chocolate chips melted
- 1/4 cup pecans toasted and coarsely chopped
- flaky sea salt for garnish
- 4 popsicle sticks or branches
Caramel sauce:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup brown sugar packed (I used light)
- 1/2 cup corn syrup I used light
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into 1/4″ cubes
- 1 tablespoon bourbon optional
- 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Wash the apples and dry thoroughly. Place on a baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat or parchment, and press the popsicle sticks firmly down into the apple through the stem. Fill a heat proof bowl with some ice water for an ice bath and set aside.
- Place the cream, brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, bourbon, and sea salt in a saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer. Heat over medium to medium-high heat, stirring just until all the ingredients are combined. Heat until the temperature reaches 240 degrees F, or softball stage.
- Remove the pan from heat and place in the ice bath, stirring until combined for about 1 minute.
- Remove from the ice bath, and begin dipping the apples in the caramel. When removing the apples, let the excess caramel drip off for a few seconds, then place on the prepared baking sheet.
- Repeat with the remaining apples. If the caramel begins to harden, simply heat for a minute or so until it softens. Reserve remaining caramel for caramel candies or dip.
- Place the apples in the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes until set, then remove.
- Melt the chocolate in a heat proof bowl set in a pan of barely simmering water, stirring occasionally until melted and smooth. Place the warm chocolate in a zip top bag and snip off just a bit of one corner. Drizzle the chocolate over the apples, then sprinkle with the pecans and sea salt.
- Let stand at room temperature or in the refrigerator until set. Store leftover apples in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Notes
- Total time above includes setting time for the caramel and chocolate.
- I used the tree branches for my photos alone and did not use them for dipping as there were too many bark particles to deal with even after cleaning the branches. If you’d like to use the branches, just plan to dip the apples with popsicle sticks first.
- For an extra dark caramel, you can use dark corn syrup and dark brown sugar.
- Apples can be made one day in advance and stored in the refrigerator before serving. Bear in mind that the chocolate will gray over time as it is not tempered.
- Recipe very loosely adapted from Chow.com.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
57 Comments on “Homemade Turtle Caramel Apples”
Oh my gosh I’m dying over how cute these are! The little sticks totally make them! I love caramel apples and these look so good, Marcie!
Thank you, Liz! I’d been wanting to try this forever, and the little tree branches were so fun…it’s like a mini caramel apple forest! 🙂
Caramel apples SO remind me of my childhood. I literally haven’t had one since then, so I just the idea of making my own – and especially adding that ‘grown-up twist’ of the chocolate and pecans. Such a perfect seasonal recipe!
Helen, I can’t tell you how much I loved these. I tried in my post, but I don’t think I did it justice. I hope you try making your own — so easy and so much fun, too!
I feel the exact same way, Marcie! I absolutely love caramel apples, but when I bite into a mushy one, it just takes all of the fun away. These caramel apples look absolutely gorgeous! I love your presentation, too. So perfect for this time of year!
I made sure I had really good apples, here, so these apples were just right! And I had fun rounding up sticks in the yard. haha
such gorgeous looking apples Marcie, I’m in love! Pinning!
Thank you, Manali, and I appreciate the pin! 🙂
I have a vivid memory of going to a local farm with my mother, apple picking, riding a pony, and leaving with a paper dish filled with granny smith apple slices underneath a generous helping of caramel. So yeah, I totally love caramel apples 🙂 I love the turtle twist and the salt/sweet play with the flaked sea salt!
What a nice memory you have of the farm — it sounds wonderful! And the caramel dip and apples sound like the best way to end your visit! 🙂
Love this recipe Marcie and glad you took matters into your own hands! I love the flavor combos – pinned!!
Thank you, Deb! It was so fun to make my own, and I could barely stop eating them! 🙂
How picture perfect are these apples, Marcie!? I love them! They’d definitely be a focal point of a fall dessert table, and that chocolate drizzle is amazing! 🙂
Thank you so much, Alyssa! It was really fun making these, and eating them was even better! I had to save the last one just for myself. 🙂
Saw these on IG and had to pop over, so glad I did. Incredible!
Thank you, Matt — always nice to have you visit!
Oh my Gosh!! You are a genius and I like that you took things in your hands and created these!!
Hardly a genius, but thank you, Z! I’m so picky about caramel apples that it’s about darn time I made some! 🙂
Your apples are seriously perfection!!
Thank you, Jocelyn! They were SOOOO addicting! 🙂
Salted caramel might just be one of my favourite things ever! Plus, if it is on an apple, it makes it healthy doesn’t it?
Salted caramel is definitely one of my favorite things, and I can’t seem to stop making it! And yes, the apple does make this on the healthy side in my opinion! 😉
These look like the most decadent caramel apples ever! Love all those turtle toppings that you added – I would be totally addicted to these too! I am totally drooling over how gorgeous these look – pinning 🙂
Thank you, Kelly! They were decadent, and sinful, and everything else! At least there was a nice healthy apple to eat along with it. 🙂
These hands down are the best caramel apples I have seen marcie! They are definitely perfect for Halloween and I can see myself making the recipe for the end of the month.
What a nice compliment — thank you, Thalia! I will definitely whip up more as they are a great Halloween treat. I think they’ll keep me out of the candy!
I usually end up just eating the coating off of the apple too, when the apple is necessary for the full effect! You go make yourself some…you’re gonna love ’em! 🙂
These were so fun to make AND eat! I can’t wait to make another batch. 🙂
Oooo I’m with you – I love the turtle combination and on caramel apples??? These sound so good Marcie! I’ve always wanted to make caramel apples – it seems so fun!
These have to be up there with the best caramel apples I’ve eaten, especially with a really great apple! You really should make some, Ashley — you’ll just love ’em! 🙂
These are gorgeous Marcie and so much fun. My Briana would love them.
Thank you, Kathy!
Thank you so much! 🙂
This is the best idea for caramel apples!! I want one!
Thanks, Ashley! 🙂
These are absolutely amazing Marcie!! I have never made caramel apples before, but this recipe makes me want to give it a whirl!! 🙂
Thank you, Renee! These would be a breeze for you and lots of fun for the kids!
Oh I am in love!! Not only are these pretty but I bet they are delicious!! I am crazy about the addition of bourbon too!
It was my first time adding bourbon to caramel — I finally grew up and bought some! 🙂 These apples were so fun!
These are gorgeous Marcie! I love turtle EVERYTHING 🙂 Pinned!
Thank you, Trish! 🙂
Oh wow, these are so pretty and professional looking!! I’m so impressed! And I love the little twigs– adorable!
OMG Marcie!! These caramel apples look so darn good… Looks absolutely Halloweeny… Love love loveee everything about this .. 😀
It’s not Halloween without caramel apples, is it? These were way better than candy! 🙂
Oh my gosh these are gorgeous!
Thank you, Dorothy! 🙂
These Caramel Apples look fantastic Marcie! Love the sticks!
Thank you, Christin! When you don’t have popsicle sticks, tree branches do the trick! 🙂
Wow, these look amazing! Love that you used Granny Smith apples because they always seem so crisp and firm…nothing worse than biting into a soggy caramel apple! These look just delicious, love the ‘turtle twist’ you have going here!
Thank you, Denise! I’ve bitten in to soggy caramel apples one too many times…ugh! I made sure to get the firmest Granny Smiths I could find and they made such a big difference!
Ooh yes. I am ALL about the caramel apples these days. Seriously, twisting these apples into a turtle-candy style caramel apple is just so so genius! I’m kinda swooning over how awesome these look. 😉
Thank you, Sarah! I felt like these were a hot mess while I made them — it was a very sticky situation! 🙂
I’ve never found a caramel apple that I don’t like, but this combination has to be my favorite!
These are gorgeous, Marcie! I don’t think there’s ever been a better way to eat an apple. 🙂 Plus those sticks! I’m all over those. 🙂
Thank you, Ashlyn! I didn’t have the right kind of popsicle sticks, so the branches worked perfectly! 🙂
Dear Marcie, now I can say fall has officially begun! I am also surprised at how easy it to make candied apples. I can’t wait to try these. xo, Catherine
I know it’s still summer, but I’m craving fall food! Caramel apples mean fall to me! Thank you, Catherine!