My Family loves Homemade Carmel Apples.  I first learned to make Carmel Apples from my bestie Krysta, and I have been making them ever since.  My family has been putting our own little spin on them; and we love doing them together.  This really is one of those family treats that you should make together because it takes a lot of hands and a lot of helpers.

Here are the steps that our family follows.

First the ingredients that we buy:

10 green apples

Apple sticks

Rough sponges

 2 bags Carmel bits(I have only found these at Walmart and they are in the baking section, this will save you from unwrapping a million carmels)

One  15 oz. can of evaporated milk

Toppings of your choice(I include a list of our favorites a little further down)

1 cup of milk chocolate chips

1 cup white chocolate chips

Lets make Carmel Apples:

Step One: Clear off a space in your fridge for the Carmel Apples, add a cutting board on the shelf so you can put the apples to set up

Step Two: Fill your sink with warm water and 1/4 cup of Baking Soda.  

Remove the sticker off of the apples and place in the water.  Use the sponges to scrub the wax off of the apples.  This is the most important step.

 

The baking soda helps remove the wax that is used to coat the apples.  If it isn’t removed the Carmel will never stick.

This is the perfect step for the kids to help with.  Even their friends like to help with this part.

Step Three: While the little kids are washing apples, another kid can be preparing the toppings.  We like to use separate dishes or paper plates for each topping we decide to use.

 Here are some of our favorite toppings:

  1. Crushed up pretzels
  2. Mini M&Ms (and sometimes we even chop these a little smaller-the pampered chef chopper works great for this)
  3. toffee chips
  4. oreo cookies chopped in to small pieces
  5. we also discovered these andes peppermint pieces are delicious on Carmel apples(see picture below)
  6. we also love white chocolate with cinnamon sugar(but that can’t be added until that Carmel sets up) so that’s added at the very very end (we will tell you when)

Step Four: While toppings are being put out, and apples washed, I like to melt the carmels.

 

I put them in a medium saucepan with about half the can of evaporated milk, and then add more milk as I see it needs it.  You want the Carmel to be runny enough to stick to the apples but thick enough not to drip.  

Step Five: Dry the apples.  We use paper towels for this or a good kitchen towel, and the apple washers are great at this. Make sure the apples are nice and dry.

Step Six:   Twist off the stem.  Then stick in the apple sticks.

 You want to stick them in the bottom of the apple, and try to stick them in nice and center.  This is also a great job for the apple washer.

Step Seven: Your Carmel should be about ready by now.  All the pieces should be melted, and it should be the perfect consistency.  Take it off the heat, and bring it over to your toppings.

 

This is when you want to enlist all your help.  I usually use Stella to help me roll in the toppings,(sometimes I roll too) and Isaac and Tessa help me carry them to the fridge.

 

Remember to leave one or two apples just plain with Carmel so you can just add white chocolate and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar at the end on step nine.

So here is the break down for step 7 (this is the step that goes really fast):

  1. I roll the apples in the carmel
  2. Stella rolls the apples in the toppings (or vice versa/sometimes we just go back and forth)
  3. Isaac and Tessa hold the apple over a paper plate and walk it to the fridge and carefully place it on the cutting board in the fridge

Step Eight: While the Carmel is having a chance to set up in the fridge now is a good time to melt the chocolate that you will drizzle on the apples.  I do this in the microwave. Place the cup of milk chocolate chips in one bowl, and the white in a separate bowl.  Put the milk in the microwave for 45 seconds, and then pull it out and stir.  Then put them in for another 30 seconds, and then stir again.  Do this in 30 second increments until they are fully melted.  Do this with the white chocolate chips as well.

Step Nine: Scoop the melted chocolate into separate ziplock bags,(or frosting bags) and snip a teeny tiny end off one corner.

 This is how you will drizzle the chocolate out.  Now pull the whole cutting board out of your fridge, and begin drizzling the milk chocolate on the apples, and then do the white.

 Remember to not do the milk chocolate on the ones that you left plain, and only do the white chocolate.  Then sprinkle those with the cinnamon sugar.  Yummy!!!

Step Ten: Place the whole tray back in the fridge for about an hour to let the chocolate harden.

Step Eleven: Cut and Enjoy!!

 

 

I promise your family will beg you to make these all the time.  They take a little bit of time, and a little effort, but they are so fun to make together.  It’s about an hour worth of effort for the best treat EVER!!!