Crispy apples topped with buttery caramel, creamy chocolate and crunchy nuts or sprinkles are a delicious fun treat perfect for both kids and adults. Make this fun sweet treat for dessert or a snack.

A hand holds a slice of apple on a stick covered in chocolate, caramel and peanuts in a kitchen from the side with more apples on the counter in the background.

Table of Contents

Why We Love Caramel Apple Slices

Quick And Easy Treat – Fast to make and fun to eat, this is a great treat with crispy apples.
Easier To Eat- Using apple slices instead of whole apples makes these caramel apples much easier to eat and enjoy than an entire caramel apple or candy apples.
Great For Kids– Kids can pick their favorite sprinkles, peanuts or favorite toppings and customize this fun fall treat. This easy recipe is also a great way to use up leftover apples from apple picking or candy (like for a Halloween party or to use leftover Halloween candy.)

We like to make these easy caramel apple slices recipe in the fall, these frozen chocolate-dipped bananas are also delicious when it’s hotter outside. Yum! Or if you have extra apples try my easy air fryer apple chips made in a fraction of the time it takes in the oven.

Ingredients For Caramel Apple Slices

Carmel apple slice ingredients in bowls on a counter from overhead with labels.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions below in the recipe card.

apples stems and seeds removed, can also use large apples
chocolate chips
caramel topping at room temperature, bottle or jar
peanuts crushed
sprinkles

How To Make Caramel Apple Slices

Line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper. Slice apples into ½-¾ inch thick slices. Dry the sliced apples really well with paper towels. Make a small slit in the bottom of each apple slice with a sharp knife. Add a cake pop stick or a popsicle stick about halfway into each apple from the bottom of the slice.

Fresh slices of apple cut into rounds with sticks added from the bottom on a cutting board from overhead on a counter with melted chocolate and more apples nearby.

Add chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl. Melt chocolate chips in 30-second intervals at half power, stirring in between each interval with a dry spoon. Continue melting and stirring the chocolate until a smooth chocolate sauce forms, about 2 minutes.
Spoon chocolate onto both sides of apples allowing excess to drip off.

Dipping an apple slice with a stick in a bowl of chocolate with a spoon from overhead with more apple slices on the counter nearby.

Place onto parchment or wax paper lined baking sheet. It’s ok if the chocolate is a little messy, they will still look pretty and be delicious.

Apple slices with sticks coated in chocolate resting on parchment paper on a baking sheet from overhead.

Add a caramel drizzle to the apple slices. Sprinkle half of the slices with crushed peanuts and the other half with sprinkles.

Apple slices with sticks coated in chocolate, caramel nuts and sprinkles from overhead close up on parchment paper.

Refrigerate to set until chocolate has hardened, approximately 15 minutes, then enjoy!

What Kinds Of Apples Should I Use?

Choose an apple that is great for eating raw. I think Granny Smith Apples are the best apples because the tart apples are delicious with the sweet caramel and chocolate. You can also try Honeycrisp apples, Fuji apples or McIntosh apples or check out this list of apples to eat raw here.

Have apples on hand that are better for baking? Try this easy homemade applesauce recipe or make this apple butter recipe.

Variation Ideas

Add Mini M&Ms– Instead of sprinkles or peanuts, add mini M&M candies for a colorful treat.

Try Crushed Cookies– Crushing Oreo cookies or other hard crunchy cookies can be delicious in place of sprinkles on these apple slices.

Swap The Chocolate- White chocolate, dark chocolate or other flavors of chocolate chips are all delicious. You can also use almond bark in place of chocolate.

Add Peanut Butter– Whether you add a drizzle of warm peanut butter on top of the apples, or add peanut butter candies, peanut butter is really tasty on these apples.

Use Soft Melted Caramels– You can melt soft caramel candies into a sauce with a little bit of half and half to make an easy homemade caramel sauce. See how to melt soft caramels here. These soft caramels are different than the crunchy caramel bits.

Make It Make Your Own– Lay out bowls of your desired toppings and let each person make their own custom creation. This can be a fun whole family activity for all ages and a great party dish.

Slices of apple on sticks covered in caramel, chocolate and sprinkles in a metal pot full of dry rice standing upright on a kitchen counter from the side.

How Long Do Caramel Apple Slices Last?

Caramel apple slices are best if eaten within the same day or at maximum 24 hours. After that the apple can begin to get a little mushy with the moisture from inside the apple, since we cut into the apple.

You can easily scale down this recipe to make just a few slices if that’s what you have time to enjoy, or make the rest of the apple into quick air fryer apple chips.

How Can I Make Caramel Apple Slices Last Longer?

If you soak the apples for a few minutes in a little lemon juice or orange juice it can cause the apples to turn brown a little more slowly. You do need to dry the apples well before adding the chocolate or the moisture can cause the chocolate to seize and become grainy.

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Close up of a slice of apple laying on parchment paper on a stick covered in caramel, chocolate and peanuts.

Caramel Apple Slices

Author Kristy Richardson

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15

Chill Time 15

Total Time 30

Sweet, crunchy and fun caramel apple slices have the perfect mix of fun for kids and adults to customize. Enjoy as a sweet dessert or delicious snack that kids can help make.

Equipment

candy sticks can also use popsicle sticks

Ingredients

▢ 2 medium apples stems and seeds removed, can also use large apples
▢ 2 cups chocolate chips
▢ ¼ cup caramel topping at room temperature, bottle or jar
▢ 2 tablespoons peanuts crushed
▢ 1 tablespoon sprinkles

Instructions

Line a baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper. Slice apples into ½-¾ inch slices. Dry apple slices really well with paper towels. Make a small slit in the bottom of each apple slice with a sharp knife. Add a stick about halfway into each apple from the bottom of the slice.
Add chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl. Melt chocolate chips in 30-second intervals at half power, stirring in between each interval with a dry spoon. Continue melting and stirring the chocolate until a smooth chocolate sauce forms, about 2 minutes.
Spoon chocolate onto both sides of apples allowing excess to drip off. Place onto parchment or wax paper lined baking sheet.
Drizzle the apple slices with caramel. Sprinkle half of the slices with crushed peanuts and the other half with sprinkles.
Refrigerate to set until chocolate has hardened, approximately 15 minutes, then enjoy!

Notes

Slicing Apples

The number of slices can vary depending on apple size and thickness. Slices should be at least ½ inch thick so they are stable on the stick. Ends are okay to use too if you prefer though they will be slightly smaller. Remove seeds from apples after slicing.

Drying Apples

Place apples on paper towel to absorb moisture and pat dry with additional paper towel. This will prevent chocolate from sliding off apple. Too much moisture added to the chocolate can also cause the chocolate to seize, or become grainy.

Thining The Chocolate

If the chocolate is too thick, add a small amount of coconut oil, olive oil or vegetable oil to thin to desired texture. Start with a teaspoon of oil and add more as needed.

Substituting Candy Melts For Chocolate Chips

You can also substitute candy melts for chocolate chips. Just follow melting instructions on package. Candy melts is a type of melting chocolate that are easy to use, have a good consistency and come in a wide variety of colors. You can find candy melts in the baking section of most craft stores, and in some grocery stores.