Caramel apples just shout Fall, but I genuinely detest eating them. They are so large and sloppy and rarely can I actually complete an entire caramel apple.

Caramel apple segments are the answer! Easy to take and consume for me and the kids, plus they are extremely exciting to make with your family. Caramel apple slices also make a wonderful party dish or a fun treat for friends, I’ll even share a magic trick to keep the apples from browning too rapidly.

What You’ll Need For Creating Caramel Apples Segments

• Granny Smith Apples: I like a very acidic apple since the caramel and other garnishes are so sweet. Granny Smith’s are my favorite for baking and treat making because they are acidic and robust. The pears I purchased were genuinely gargantuan so I only used three for this whole recipe!

• Lemon juice: This will help to prevent discoloration on the cut apple slices for up to a few hours.

• Caramel: You can use either caramel pieces or individually wrapped caramels like I did. If you are using individually wrapped caramels, be sure they are fresh! If they are expired or ancient the caramel will be exceedingly brittle after it is dissolved. If you aren’t positive, just get the caramel pieces! They are simpler than unwrapping all those caramels anyways. 

• Heavy cream: This is what will help to make the caramel the ideal consistency and buttery rich as we simmer them down together until seamless.

• Optional Topping Ideas: You can melt some chocolate and almond bark for creating interesting designs on the caramel apple segments. This is where your creativity can run rampant! Holiday-themed sprinkles are also an entertaining addition. When are sprinkles not an enjoyable addition?! I used some of these same decorations on my pumpkin sugar cookies this week, they are so delightful!

Tips For Preparing Caramel Apple Slices Recipe

You can create your own caramel sauce if desired

If you are feeling extremely sophisticated and want to create your own caramel sauce, do it! It’s actually incredibly simple. My friend Marlee over at I Just Make Sandwiches has a wonderful Facebook Live video all about it if you need more details.

Leftover apples can be used for seasonal delights

Seriously, using some apples to create these darling Mummy Apple Hand Pies would be great. They’re SO CUTE!

Easy tip for getting the marinade to last long enough

If you are decorating with multiple individuals, it can take a while to get all the segments done and some of the garnishes will start to congeal. To keep this from happening, I simply fill a large baking dish with a few inches of boiling faucet water and place the topping containers in it. This is called a “water bath” and will keep everything lovely and toasty and dissolved.

Want to create these as gifts?

If you want to deliver these adorable delights to friends or bring them to a party, just sprinkle the exposed apple with a little lemon juice and they will remain fresh for a few hours! No discoloration. I wouldn’t keep them overnight though. Since the apples are cut the moisture from the inside of the fruit will dissipate and cause the caramel to slide.

Read Also: Easy Creamy Corn Pasta Recipe

How to Make Caramel Apple Slices

• Slice your apples into 1 inch sized segments and mix in some lemon juice. Pat them dry with a paper towel and let them settle on the paper towels while you prepare the caramel glaze. Wet apples will cause the dip to slide right off and not adhere, so you want them as dried as you can get them.

• In a microwave safe receptacle, combine the caramels and cream. Microwave in 30 second intervals, agitating between each until creamy. This could take a few minutes.

• Drizzle the caramel over the apple slices on the sheet tray, skin side up.

• Repeat until all apple slices have been coated.

• Let the caramel set and trim off the excess caramel that slides off when you lift them up.

• See the recipe card for more garnish ideas and suggestions.

Why won’t the caramel adhere to my apples?

The caramel is going to release on the fruits as they sit because they will perspiration. Ensuring that your apple slices are very dried before coating them in caramel is going to assist.

Another option is to immerse the fruits in scalding water before dicing them. This will dissolve the natural wax on the rind and help the caramel adhere.

If you’re making homemade caramel, making it a stickier consistency will also help it stick to the fruits.

If you submerge the fruits in the caramel, it won’t adhere. Leaving the caramel apple slices on the sheet tray will enable the caramel to adhere to the apple peel and cling better.