• Welcome!
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Whole Lifestyle Nutrition

Organic Recipes & Holistic Recipes

  • About
  • My Books
    • Natural Solutions for Cleaning and Wellness
    • Gluten Free & Grain Free Breads, Batters, & Doughs
  • Recipes
    • Recipes
    • Meal Plans
  • Lifestyle
    • Limitless Freedom Method
    • Health & Lifestyle
      • Challenges
        • 28-Day Healing Challenge
        • 30-Day Dumbbell Challenge
    • Natural Solutions
      • Health Remedies
      • Home Remedies
      • Natural Solutions Resource Page
  • Women’s Startup Academy

Appetizers / Snacks Desserts Gluten Free Grain Free Recipes

A Healthier Organic Caramel Apple Recipe

Healthier Caramel Apple Recipe

For the love of caramel…

 

Wow…that is the first word that comes to mind when I describe these delicious caramel apples.

Earlier this week I did a post on a healthier caramel corn that is made with GMO-free corn and is made without corn syrup, refined sugars or unhealthy fats.  Sound interesting?  Head on over HERE to check out this great recipe!

When I was making this homemade caramel for the caramel corn, I immediately knew that I was going to tackle caramel apples next.  I mean why not carry the caramel theme all week long right? 🙂

Tips to ensure good caramel apples!

 

So for this recipe, I wanted to create more of a candy/caramel apple.

In order to create a delicious caramel apple, it takes a little time on the stove to reach the desired temperature (248°F) to create a delicious, rich caramel.

It is not hard to make caramel apples, it only takes about 20 minutes…but it takes some patience and you can’t rush making caramel or it will burn.

A simple easy caramel dip might be the answer for you!

 

If you are wanting to make a simple caramel dip, rather than a caramel apple, be sure to check out my 3 ingredient 3-minute caramel recipe!

Just slice up your apples and dip them right into the caramel dip…yum!

A healthier caramel apple recipe!

Substitutions most likely won’t work in this recipe!

 

There are a couple of key things I want to note about this recipe.  I am not sure how substitutions would work for this recipe.

  • The heavy cream could be substituted out for half and half and maybe even coconut milk (however I have not tried that yet).
  • The sweeteners are kind of important to create a great caramel. Organic Sucanat Brown Sugar is the sweetener I choose because it has a terrific caramel flavor already and it is the most natural, unrefined brown sugar option.
  • I am not sure that stevia or even coconut sugar would work for this.  I have a hard time getting coconut sugar to dissolve (even in hot water), so for me I didn’t even try that.
  • Now typically I encourage everyone to use Raw Honey, but there is no need for it in this recipe, just use regular honey.  You will be boiling this mixture for 10-12 minutes and raw honey certainly wouldn’t be raw after heating it for that long.
  • Another thing to note is that once the caramel is ready, work fast.  It cools quickly and will thicken making it a little more difficult to work with.  Don’t worry about a perfect looking caramel apple.  If you notice on mine, I have caramel everywhere.  It is ok, that is what makes them so irresistible!

Enjoy this treat and let me know if you should have any questions in the comment section below the recipe!

Print

A Healthier Organic Caramel Apple Recipe


★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews
  • Author: Halle Cottis
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 6-8 apples, depending on size 1x
  • Category: dessert
  • Method: stovetop
  • Cuisine: american
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

Here is a healthier version of a favorite fall time treat, the caramel apples!


Ingredients

  • 6–8 small apples
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup sucanat
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/4 tsp unrefined sea salt
  • nuts of choice (optional)
  • popsicle sticks or lollipop sticks for apples
  • muffin liners to set your caramel apples in

Instructions

  1. Refrigerate your apples for several hours. Having very cold apples will help your caramel stick to the apples.
  2. In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, heat up cream to just before it starts to boil (when the bubbles just start to form on the edge of the pan).
  3. Add honey, sucanat and salt and stir to dissolve and bring to a boil stirring continuously.
  4. Stirring continuously, allow to boil for about 10-12 minutes (you want the thermometer to read 248º F). You must continuously stir or your caramel will burn. Do not stop stirring the entire time!
  5. Once the temperature has reached 248º F, carefully put the pan into an ice water bath (ice water in a large bowl) being very careful not to get any water into the caramel and pan. This stops the caramel from cooking any longer.
  6. Leave in the ice water bath and stir until it thickens slightly (about 10-15 seconds).
  7. Remove apples from refrigerator.
  8. Place sticks into apples and dip your first apple into the caramel coating the apple as quickly as possible.
  9. Put the caramel apples into the muffin liners and allow them to set.
  10. Work fast, the caramel can thicken up quickly. If it does, put it back onto the burner for about 10-15 seconds to thin it out a bit.
  11. Do remaining apples and enjoy! Apples are best eaten right away!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 apple

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @hallecottis on Instagram and hashtag it #wholelifestylenutrition


Halle Cottis/Whole Lifestyle Nutrition is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

« Whole Foods Wednesday ~ Your Best Recipes & Tips #23
Fan Favorites ~ Extend Your Gardening Season by Up To 4 Months For Under $10! »

Comments

  1. Colleen Ryan says

    October 3, 2012 at 8:39 pm

    I thought direct heat was bad for honey?

  2. Whole Lifestyle Nutrition says

    October 3, 2012 at 8:46 pm

    I explain in the post that using raw honey is not necessary because of that reason. There is no corn syrups in this recipe which is hard to come by when making caramel.

  3. schoolbusdriver401 says

    October 15, 2012 at 6:10 pm

    Oh my gosh, so delicious looking!

  4. mizhelenadams says

    October 19, 2012 at 11:57 am

    Halle,
    Your Caramel Apples are just wonderful!  Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday. Hope you have a great weekend and come back soon!
    Miz Helen

  5. DianeBalch says

    October 19, 2012 at 7:39 pm

    I love your use of honey… these must taste delicious. Thanks for sharing them on foodie friday.

  6. jkpherson says

    October 21, 2012 at 5:39 pm

    This is great! I LOVE caramel apples, but usually feel bad about eating them. I’ve never heard of Sucanat brown sugar, I will have to look for it! Stopping by via the Foodie Friday hop, I’d love it if you’d share this awesome treat at a link party I’m hosting: http://jessica-healthymommyhealthybaby.blogspot.com/2012/10/sweet-saturday-25-nutty-peanut-butter.html. Hope to see you there 😉 !

  7. CindyDentGordon says

    October 23, 2012 at 8:15 pm

    I have a hankering for caramel apples now!  YUM!  Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays party! What a fantastic link up of recipes and other GF goodies!  Each week, I am so amazed! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! 🙂  I hope that you’ll join us this week!  Cindy from vegetarianmamma.com

  8. Chanelle says

    October 20, 2014 at 6:01 pm

    Just made these and the caramel is so hard that you can’t even bite it! I think the cooking time mightbe too long… The flavor is good, but I prefer a chewy caramel.

    • Halle Cottis says

      October 21, 2014 at 12:12 pm

      Oh no, you might have cooked it too long which will indeed harden the caramel. Try cooking it less and see if that helps. Using a thermometer is pretty important in this recipe.

      • sky says

        October 29, 2017 at 11:49 am

        can these be kept refirgerated for a few days? we want to make tem for halloween

  9. Grace LaConte says

    October 4, 2015 at 12:43 am

    Great recipe! I substituted brown sugar for the Sucanat, and would recommend keeping the cooking time shorter than 260° to keep it from hard-crack stage. Really delicious flavor; will definitely make again!

    • Halle Cottis says

      October 9, 2015 at 12:31 pm

      Grace, I agree. I changed the recipe to reflect a lower heat point of 248F. Thanks for pointing this out!

  10. Emma Elrod says

    October 26, 2015 at 2:31 pm

    I just made your recipe and they taste delicious

  11. Sara says

    October 21, 2016 at 4:44 pm

    I want to use this recipe for having kids make their own apples at a Halloween party. Can I make the caramel ahead of time and then reheat just before the kids make their apples? Thanks.

    • Halle Cottis says

      October 25, 2016 at 9:19 am

      I have never tried to reheat for later use. Not sure if it would work or not Sara. If you try it, do let us know how it works.

  12. A Healthier Caramel Corn Made With GMO Free Corn & No Corn Syrup! - Whole Lifestyle Nutrition | Organic Recipes | Holistic Recipes says

    March 8, 2017 at 5:13 pm

    […] tuned for the delicious caramel apple recipe(shown in photo below) coming out later this […]

Newer Comments »

small head shotWelcome! I'm Halle Cottis.

I'm on a mission to liberate women who are not living true to themselves to walk into life being EXACTLY who they were meant to be. I believe that women should put themselves first. When you choose yourself today, amazing things can happen.  I'm glad you're here! ❤Learn More →

Women’s Startup Academy

Subscribe Today

Subscribe To The Limitless Freedom Method Newsletter

* indicates required

Grab Natural Solutions for Cleaning & Wellness!

natural-solutions-book-copy-2

Trending Posts

Naturally Set Boundaries By Being Yourself | WholeLifestyleNutrition.com

Principle #9 – How To Naturally Create Boundaries By Unapologetically Being Yourself

How To Create Harmony and Communicate Your Vision With Others

Principle #8 – How To Create Harmony And Communicate Your Vision With Others

To Create A Life Around What You Want

Principle #7 – How To Create A Life Around What You Want

Principle #6 – How To Ask For What You Want

How To Pinpoint What You Want | WholeLifestyleNutrition.com

Principle #5 – How To Pinpoint What You Want

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer

Copyright © 2025 · Whole Lifestyle Nutrition

Copyright © 2025 · Whole Lifestyle Nutrition on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in