Honey Caramel Apples

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This recipe for honey caramel apples provides the sweetness of chewy caramel and the crisp of fresh apples. Also, this recipe uses raw honey instead of a ton of white sugar to make the caramel. You don’t have to wait for the fair to come to town to enjoy caramel apples. Make your own today!

Pan of honey caramel apples with nuts image.

Bee honey is a sugar but it is a more nutritious ingredient than regular cane sugar. I love using honey in my recipes and you will too. Also, keep a jar of honey in the pantry – you will be amazed at what it can do!

Using Honey to Make Caramel Apples

Caramel apples just seem to scream Fall to many people. This is the time when the apple harvest is coming in from many regions. It is a favorite time to create unique apple dishes. In this article, I will show you how to use honey to make the creamy, buttery honey caramel coating for your apples.

Ingredients

  • apples
  • heavy cream
  • honey
  • nuts – chopped
  • wooden sticks

Apples

Most people use and recommend green apples for making candy or caramel apple treats. This is to provide the contrast in taste between the tangy apple and sweet caramel.

In my family, we love Gala apples so I used those instead. But, I also love Fuji apples and they taste delicious with caramel. Medium sized apples seem to work the best – make sure they are clean and dry.

Heavy Cream

You need a small amount of heavy cream to give your honey caramel apple coating the right consistency. This is not the same thing as whipping cream. However, you will find it in the refrigerator section near the other types of cream.

Honey

You can use any honey variety. But, I always use and recommend raw honey in recipes. You can find it for sale online but if you have a local beekeeper – it’s a great time to share a little local love.

Properly stored pure honey never spoils – keep a jar in your pantry.

Nuts

Adding chopped nuts of your choice are optional. I used pecans (because that is what I have on hand). But, other nuts work just as well. If no one in your family is allergic – chopped peanuts are an inexpensive choice.

Wooden Sticks

To make a traditional caramel apple you need a stick. You can find round pointed sticks in the baking section of most local stores. However, if that proves to be a problem, you can use the flat craft sticks too.

Equipment

No special equipment is needed to make honey caramel apples. A wax paper lined baking sheet makes the job much easier. And, you need a sauce pan and heat source to make the caramel. Pop then in the refrigerator to cool – and you are done.

Steps to make honey caramel apples, sticks inserted in apples, make sauce, dip apples, add nuts.

Step by Step Instructions

This is truly a very simple recipe and does not require a lot of heavy lifting in the kitchen. I will warn you that as with many types of candy making, I have better results on less humid days. My caramel tends to be thinner when the humidity is high.

1. After washing the apples, insert a wooden stick into each one and place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Now it’s a good idea to chill them for an hour or so. You don’t have to but chilled apples are easier to coat with honey caramel.

2. In a large saucepan combine the heavy cream and honey. Heat to a low boil, then reduce to simmer -stirring frequently. Continue until mixture reaches about 260° F.

This will take 20-30 minutes depending on the temperature of the stove. Watch carefully to prevent scorching in the bottom of the pan.

When the caramel is ready, remove from heat and allow to cool for just a few minutes.

3. Dip each chilled apple in the caramel and roll to coat the sides. Lift caramel coated apples from pot and roll in chopped nuts of your choice: pecans, peanuts, walnuts etc.

4. Now, sit them on parchment paper or wax lined tray to cool. You can put them back in the refrigerator if the weather is warm.

Expert Tips & Troubleshooting

If you have a problem with too much of the caramel coating running off the apple surface – either you did not cook the mixture long enough or you are fighting humid weather.

Keep in mind that honey caramel tends to be a bit thinner than that made with loads of sugar. However, you can dip apples twice or let the mixture cool a bit longer before you start dipping.

Storage

Once the apples have set in the refrigerator for a bit to chill, remove and wrap them tightly with plastic wrap. (Humidity is your enemy – wrap them up right.) Now, you can store them in the refrigerator until right before eating them.

I would let them come to room temperature on the counter before eating for the best flavor and experience.

More Ideas to Try

This is just one simple way to incorporate honey into your cooking. You don’t have to be a gourmet cook to experience success. Still have some apples on hand?

Try this simple Honey Apple Butter in the crockpot. It is nutritious and delicious – you can even can some up and give them as gifts.

Another apple idea – honey glazed dehydrated apples with cinnamon make a wonderful healthy snack and they last for months.

Other simple projects to try include: Honey Scones or Blueberry Muffins made with oatmeal. And for a quick energy snack, Peanut Butter Cheerios Bars are heavenly.

If you are really feeling in the mood for Fall and holidays, celebrate the harvest with this simple Honey Pumpkin Pie.

And, if you want to surprise the kids- make some healthy gummy bears with honey and juice.

Enjoy making honey caramel apples for your family and experience the sweet delight of honey.

Did you like this recipe? Please leave a 5 star (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) rating in the recipe card below. And, don’t forget to follow me on Facebook and Pinterest.

Pan of honey caramel apples with nuts image.

Honey Caramel Apples

Charlotte Anderson @ Carolina Honeybees, LLC
Use honey instead of corn syrup or tons of sugar to make these delicious homemade honey caramel apples. Enjoy the sweet tangy taste sensation and add a little fiber to your diet. You don't have to wait for Fall – enjoy them year-round.
4.20 from 10 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Snacks
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 527 kcal

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Ingredients
  

  • 6 apples medium
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup honey
  • 1 cup pecan pieces

Instructions
 

  • Wash and dry the apples. Insert a wooden stick or skewer into each and place on a piece of parchment or a paper lined pan. Place in refrigerator to chill.
  • Put heavy cream and honey in a large pan and heat to a boil over medium-high heat. Watch it closely as it will boil over! Then, reduce to simmer and continue heating until the mixture reaches 260° F on candy thermometer.
  • Remove from heat. Dip each chilled apple in the honey caramel mix and roll to coat. Roll in nuts to coat bottom half of apple if desired. Set on paper lined pan and allow to cool.

Notes

Notes:
Be careful – hot caramel is yummy but it will burn you.  Avoid drips and don’t taste test too soon.
Caramel made with honey does tend to be thinner than that made with corn syrup.  Keep this in mind and do not get in a hurry when allowing it to thicken.
When making honey caramel apples in humid weather, the coating can be challenging.  If this happens, you might have to double dip. Honestly, I try to do it on days when the humidity is lower.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 527kcalCarbohydrates: 75gProtein: 3gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 15mgPotassium: 336mgFiber: 6gSugar: 67gVitamin A: 692IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 1mg
Keyword caramel apples, cooking with honey, honey apples
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