Salted Caramel Apples

Autumn leaves are finally turning their gorgeous hues. This means apple picking is right around the corner! If you’ve ever been to the high country this time of year, you know how exciting it is to visit the orchard or local cider mill. Picking the best apples to bring home and turn into your favorite fall recipes is something I recommend everyone try at least once. Some of the most popular fall-time treats are Caramel Apples. Kids and adults alike enjoy the gooey, chewy texture and the fun toppings. I find no reason to miss out on this delicious dessert, even if you’re following The Myers Way®!

These Salted Caramel Apples come refined sugar free with a smooth, dairy free caramel sauce. You’re going to love how rich the sauce is. In addition, you get an extra protein boost with a small scoop of my Salted Caramel Paleo Protein Powder. This recipe is incredibly easy to make. In fact, it takes less than 20 minutes! I’m going to share the best apples to use, as well as some options for caramel apple toppings. 

Whether it’s the state fair or trips to the mountains, these sticky, tasty, caramel treats will bring back fond memories while helping you create new ones.

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

You’ve heard it said that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. There’s a good reason for that saying. Apples are a good source of fiber, which promotes healthy digestion systems. Both the flesh and the skin of the apple hold a lot of fiber. Since these Salted Caramel Apples have their skin on, they’re a great way to get your daily fiber needs. Apples also have a lot of vitamin C, which supports healthy immune function. With cold and flu season starting, it’s important to support your immune system in every way you can. 

You can feel good about enjoying caramel apples in the reintroduction phase and serving them to your family and friends because they are a healthier treat, as far as desserts go!

What Type of Apple For Caramel Apples?

Apples are such a diverse and wonderful fruit. There are so many types and varieties, each bringing a unique flavor and texture to the table. If you’re wondering what type of apple for caramel apples, let me reassure you that it’s completely up to you! However, there are a few details to consider. When it comes to making Salted Caramel Apples, you want to stick with small to medium-sized apples. This helps them stay on the popsicle sticks better. 

In addition to size, there is the flavor profile to consider. What kind of flavor do you want? Pink Lady and Honeycrisp apples are great for an extra sweet treat. Granny Smith apples are a classic if you like a punch of sour with your sweet. If you prefer a less sweet apple to balance the rich, dairy free caramel sauce, choosing a Gala or Fuji apple is an excellent option. With that said, stay away from Golden Delicious or Red Delicious apples. These varieties can get mushy quickly. 

As with any fruit, make sure to buy organic apples without any blemishes or soft spots. Try to only select perfectly round apples, as this helps the dairy free caramel sauce stay put.

Refined Sugar Free Caramel Sauce

I coat the apples in a dairy free caramel sauce made with coconut sugar and coconut cream. Most traditional caramel sauces use high fructose corn syrup, which is highly inflammatory. This refined sugar free caramel sauce still has that rich, sticky consistency without negatively impacting your health!

Coconut sugar is a healthier alternative to cane sugar because it has a low glycemic index. This means coconut sugar doesn’t spike your insulin and blood glucose levels as much as cane sugar. It also contains trace amounts of iron, zinc, calcium, and potassium. While these nutrient amounts are small, every little bit helps! 

Coconut cream helps melt the coconut sugar and gives the dairy free caramel sauce its rich flavor. Coconut cream is the cream that rises to the top of coconut milk when it separates into cream and water. Coconut cream is thick and rich. It has the consistency of softened butter without any of the dairy.

You can find coconut cream in most grocery stores. However, be careful not to confuse it with cream of coconut, which is a sweetened version of coconut cream. Check the ingredients to make sure there is no sugar added! 

If you can’t find coconut cream in stores, you can easily make some yourself: Simply get two cans of full-fat organic coconut milk and place them in the refrigerator overnight or for at least eight hours. When you’re ready to make the caramel sauce, carefully open the coconut milk without shaking the cans, and the thick white cream you will see on top will be the coconut cream.

This recipe uses ½ cup coconut cream. Depending on the brand and fat content of the coconut milk you use, you might have enough coconut cream for this recipe from just one can of coconut milk. However, I recommend having two cans chilled and ready just in case one is not enough! 

Salted Caramel Protein Powder

One reason I enjoy this dessert so much is the fact that it contains protein to support whole-body health. That’s right, this delicious dessert is now healthier than ever! Conventional caramel sauces often contain refined sugars, inflammatory preservatives, and artificial flavors. My Salted Caramel Paleo Protein adds to the richness of the dairy free caramel sauce with a boost of protein to boot. In fact, it’s made with 21 grams of clean, grass-fed bovine collagen protein to support hair, skin, and nail health. It also facilitates healthy muscle function. This hydrolyzed formula also ensures optimal absorption for gut and immune support. That means you get more out of this collagen protein than most of the other supplements out there!

How to Make Caramel Sauce

To make this caramel sauce, combine the coconut cream, coconut sugar, and Salted Caramel Paleo Protein Powder in a small or medium saucepan. Let the sugar melt over medium-low heat. If you wish, you can add a pinch of sea salt to the dairy free caramel sauce!

Stir frequently and allow the melted sugar mixture to come to a boil. Cook over medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes. Make sure to stir frequently, otherwise the sauce may burn on the bottom.

You will know the sauce is ready when it thickens. A simple test to do is to dip a spoon in the dairy free caramel sauce. If it coats a spoon in a nice thick layer, it’s ready! Alternatively, you can  test whether the sauce is ready by using a spoon to drizzle a bit of the caramel sauce onto a clean plate. Wait for the caramel sauce to cool completely, then gently touch it with your finger. It should not be sticky. If it is still sticky, continue to boil the caramel sauce for a few more minutes and test it again. 

Or, you can dip an apple slice in the sauce and let it cool before testing it with your finger. This is the tastiest way to check whether the dairy free caramel sauce is ready!

Caramel Apple Toppings

I like to dip my caramel apples into unsweetened shredded coconut or cacao nibs. These are completely optional to use, but they add a nice crunch and a bit of fiber to these caramel apples. They also add antioxidants! You could also roll them in a pumpkin spice blend for added fall flavor.

Tips for Making the Best Caramel Apples

Anyone can make caramel apples. However, if you want to truly make the best caramel apples, listen up!

As I mentioned before, only purchase organic apples. Make sure to wash them thoroughly. In addition, let the apples dry completely before dipping them into the caramel. If you store apples in the refrigerator, bring them to room temperature for a few hours before making the caramel sauce. That way they don’t have any condensation.

After dipping each apple into the caramel sauce, hold the apple over the pot. This allows the excess caramel to drip off and cool a little before placing them on a plate.

Spray or brush a plate with coconut oil. You can also do this if you choose to use chlorine free parchment or wax paper. Place the caramel apples onto the greased plate or paper. This will prevent them from sticking, making them easier to pick up.

This recipe calls for two cups of coconut sugar because you want to make enough caramel sauce to dip apples. You may have caramel sauce left over. After you’re done dipping caramel apples, you can reheat the caramel sauce when it hardens. Or, you can stir a little coconut milk in the sauce before it cools. This will give you a caramel sauce that remains dippable and spreadable. Use leftover caramel sauce as a fruit dip or as a sweetener in this Warm Cinnamon Banana Mash.

I hope these Salted Caramel Apples bring a smile to your face like they do to me! Enjoy!