If it’s fall, then it’s time to make some delicious caramel apples. This caramel apple recipe is the best. With just a handful of ingredients, you’ll be on your way to eating this festive fall favorite. Take a look!

I am not the most fabulous cook, so I am always looking for recipes that are “fool-proof”. This caramel apple recipe is so easy, it’s hard to make a mistake even if you tried. Here’s everything you need to get started.

Gather your caramel apple ingredients

You might have a lot of these ingredients already at home. Here’s a list of everything you will need to make this recipe:

• 8-10 Granny Smith tart apples (you can use other apples if that’s all you have)
• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup corn syrup
• 2 cups brown sugar
• Vanilla
• 1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
• Caramel apple sticks and bags
• Candy thermometer
• Toppings (optional)

Prep your apples

Remove the stems from all of your apples. Then insert a stick into the top of each apple as a handle. Most apples from the store come with a thin layer of wax on them which causes the caramel to not adhere to the apple as well. To remove the wax, dip each apple in a pot of boiling water for about 3-5 seconds each. Then, dry with a paper towel to remove any excess wax.

Make your caramel for dipping

In a large saucepan, combine the brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, corn syrup and butter together. You will add the vanilla at the end. Stir constantly over medium-high heat.

Bring the caramel mixture to a boil and reduce to medium heat. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon so it doesn’t burn on the bottom. Cook until the caramel mixture reaches 248 degrees F (120 degrees C) on your candy thermometer. If you don’t have a candy thermometer, you can drop a teaspoon of caramel in a glass of cold water. When it’s ready, it should form a firm ball. It takes about 10-15 minutes once the caramel sauce starts to boil. Then, add 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.

Dip your apples

Now for the fun part. Once your caramel is ready, work quickly. Dip each apple into the hot caramel and completely coat the apple. I like to tip the saucepan slightly as I’m dipping the apple. Allow excess caramel to drip off the apple. Then, scrape the bottom of the apple with a spoon to remove the excess caramel.

If you are adding toppings, roll the bottom of the apple in a bowl of your desired topping. Then place the apples on some parchment paper. Here’s a list of caramel apple topping ideas:

• Mini M&Ms
• Crushed Oreos
• Mini chocolate chips
• Chopped nuts
• Biscoff cookie crumbs
• Gummy worms or gummy bears
• Toffee or Heath bits

Allow the caramel apples to cool completely. The caramel apples make the best gifts. People always love receiving this homemade dessert as a thank you or birthday gift. My favorite are caramel apples covered in chopped peanuts. What is your favorite? Leave your answer in the comments below. Enjoy!

Print

The BEST homemade caramel apple recipe

This simple and quick caramel apple recipe is so delicious and easy enough for the most novice baker.

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Equipment

• 1 candy thermometer

Ingredients

• 8 large Granny Smith tart apples
• 8 wooden candy apple sticks
• 2 cups packed brown sugar
• 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup corn syrup
• 1 cup butter
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

• Insert wooden sticks into the top of each apple. Dip each apple in a pot of boiling water for 3-5 seconds to remove the wax. Dry each apple with a paper towel
• Combine brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk. corn syrup and butter in a large pot and cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly.
• Bring the sauce mixture to a boil and reduce to medium heat. Cook the caramel sauce until it reaches 248 degrees F (120 degrees C). This takes about 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat and add 2 tsp of vanilla extract
• Quickly dip each apple in the hot caramel until completely covered. Remove any excess on the bottom of the apple with a spoon. Roll apple in a bowl of topping if desired and then allow to cool on a piece of parchment paper.

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If you love Halloween and you love parties, then this bloody knife cake will fit the bill. Plus, you don’t have to have a lot of cake-making skills either. In just a few easy steps, you’ll have the best dessert at the party. Check it out!

My church hosted a Halloween carnival and silent auction. I decided to make a bloody knife cake to auction off. I am definitely not a professional cake maker, so I was happy when I was able to make this cake look half decent. Here’s how you can make one too.

Gather your cake-making ingredients

Like I said, this is an easy cake to make. However, there are a few ingredients and supplies that you’ll need to gather first.

• 6-inch cake pans
• Fake knife prop
• Red velvet box cake
• Half and half
• Red candy melts

Cook your cakes

Using the directions on the back of the box cake mix, prepare your cake batter. Pour your batter into three greased 6-inch circular cake pans. Bake in the oven according to directions on box mix.

Assemble and frost your cakes

Allow your cakes to cool completely. Then, using a cake leveler or a long carving knife, cut off the tops of the cakes so each one is level. If they’re not level, your cake will be lopsided.

Then, fill a piping bag with homemade vanilla buttercream frosting or tub frosting from the store. Stack the three cakes on top of each other, making sure you spread a layer of frosting between each cake.

Spread a thin layer of frosting around the entire cake to form a crumb coat. Then, place the cake in the freezer for at least an hour. This makes the cake firmer so it’s easier to spread the final coat.

Frost the final layer on the cake using a piping bag. You can smooth out the frosting with a cake scraper. I’m not perfect at it but I was able to get the cake relatively smooth.

Drizzle melted red chocolate

Now for the last step. Chop up about 2 cups of red candy melts into chunks and add to a microwave-safe bowl with about 1/2 cup of half and half. Microwave for about 60 seconds and mix. Microwave for fifteen seconds each time after that until smooth and completely melted.

Pour the melted candy onto the top of the cake. Spread out the melted candy until it slowly drips down the edge of the cake all around. Be careful not to let too much pour over the sides. You just want small drizzles. Then, insert the fake knife prop into the top of the cake before the red drizzle dries. If you try to do it after, the drizzle will crack.

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If Halloween is around the corner, then it’s time to start making some spooky snacks and treats. At the top of the list are mummy dogs. This creepy snack is soooo easy to make and delicious too. So, let’s make it right now!

I’m a sucker for a huge Halloween buffet filled with lots of scary bites to eat. And mummy dogs are a classic must-have addition to your spread. They are so ridiculously easy, you can’t not add them to the menu. Check it out!

Gather your mummy dog ingredients

I’m all about simplicity. That’s why these Halloween hot dogs only call for just a few simple ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Hot dogs (we like the all beef kind)
• Crescent rolls
• Candy eyeballs
• Sliced cheese (optional)

Wrap your hot dogs

Unroll the crescent roll dough on a cutting board and separate the dough into rectangles. Then cut the dough into 1/4″ – 1/2″ strips. If you want to add cheese to your dogs, then cut strips into the sliced cheese as well.

Next, take a hot dog and take one strip of dough and carefully wrap it around the hot dog. It doesn’t have to be wrapped perfectly. That’s what makes it fun. Continue wrapping until the entire hot is covered, leaving a small space uncovered for eyeballs after they are done cooking.

Cook your hot dogs

Place all of your wrapped mummy dogs on a cookie sheet. Cook them according to the directions on the crescent dough package. I baked mine for about 12-15 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

After they are done cooking, add a small dot of ranch dressing for each eyeball and then place the eyeballs on the hot dogs. Then, you’re done!

Add your hot dog to a fun Halloween buffet on a regular October evening or for a fun party with family and friends. Here’s a list of fun Halloween food ideas:

• Green Jello with candy eyeballs
• Witch hair (curly fries)
• Witch fingers (green breadsticks)
• Mini pumpkins (mandarin oranges)
• Monster mucus (grape juice)
• Haunted forest (salad)
• Goblin donuts

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Nothing gets you in the October spirit more than a festive and spooky meal. But it’s doesn’t have to be super complicated. Here’s some super easy Halloween dinner ideas that your whole family will love. Check it out!

I love throwing Halloween parties, but sometimes I get burnt out from all the work. That’s why I love these simple Halloween dinner ideas that you can throw together at a moment’s notice. Here’s everything you need to know.

Idea #1: Print your free Halloween dinner menu

To add a touch of fun for your guests, you can print out the fill-in-the-blank menu below. My kids loved looking at the menu and seeing what was to come. You can add fun spooky names to ordinary ingredients to make it more Halloweenie. Click on the link below to download and print your menu. I offer this printable for FREE to all visitors of my blog, but if you’d like to show your support, feel free to buy me a taco.

Click here for your FREE printable Halloween dinner menu

Idea #2: Gather your ingredients

When I said these Halloween dinner ideas were easy, I wasn’t kidding. Here’s what food you’ll need to make this dinner a success:

• Maggot Mix (spaghetti) – Just add a few drops of 1-part blue food coloring and 4 parts red food coloring to a ziplock bag of cooked spaghetti noodles. You can pre-plate the spaghetti with a little noodles, spaghetti sauce and two olives for eyes.
• Witch Fingers (green breadsticks) – I bought my witch fingers at the grocery store already pre-made. But if you’re feeling ambitious, use your favorite breadstick recipe and add green food coloring and an almond at the tip of your breadstick before you cook it.
• Haunted Forest (green salad): Grab a salad mix at the store and you’re done.
• Monster Mucus (grape juice): Any type of grape juice will do. Or you can get Orange Fanta, Strawberry Fanta, chocolate milk. Whatever you want
• Goblin Bites (donuts): Most grocery stores sell Halloween-themed donuts in October. Super easy.

Idea #3: Add some easy Halloween table decorations

It doesn’t take much to add a festive touch to your Halloween dinner. Here’s a few items that I like to place among the plates of food on the table:

• Creepy cloth or table runner
• Flameless flickering candles
• Halloween candelabra
• Skeleton salad tongs
• Plastic skull heads
• Cauldron for serving food
• Halloween serving trays

Idea #4: Make name tags for each of the food items

With spooky menu items such as “Haunted Forest” and “Monster Mucus”, you just have to make a name tag for that. It changes any Halloween party from average to amazing. You can print your own Halloween food labels here.

Idea #5: Set the mood with spooky music

There’s so many fun Halloween music tracks out there and it makes the atmosphere so much more authentic. You can go with popular pop music like Michael Jackson’s Thriller or stick with the creepy Halloween sounds. Whatever you choose, crank it up and soak in the fun.

For an added fun effect, you can also cast a Halloween TV screen saver that displays a spooky scene while playing scary music at the same time.

I hope these Halloween dinner ideas will help you as you’re planning your next spooky meal with your friend and family. Let me know how it goes in the comments below. If you didn’t get a chance to download the FREE printable Halloween menu, here it is one more time.

Click here for your FREE printable Halloween dinner menu

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