How to Make Caramelized Apples

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Caramelizing apples is a simple, quick process that leaves you with a delicious treat to satisfy that sweet tooth. There are countless variations of recipes to try. Just as limitless are the snacks, desserts, and dishes that you can pair them with!

Ingredients

All recipes:

4 apples

Basic recipe:

Sugar (brown or granulated)
Butter or margarine

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Prepping Your Apples

1
Use crisp apples. Make sure you select an apple that is strong enough to maintain shape as it caramelizes. Use varieties such as Braeburn, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, or Pink Lady. Avoid softer varieties, which may break apart during the cooking process and leave you with caramelized mush instead of apple slices.^{[1]
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2
Skin and slice your apples. First, remove the skins. Then quarter your apples. Cut the core free from whichever quarter it clings to. Then slice the quarters into slices roughly a half-inch thick (1.2 cm.)^{[3]
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Research source} If desired, cut the slices into cubes with half-inch sides.^{[4]
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- If you prefer even thinner slices, aim for a quarter-inch thickness. This should still be thick enough to handle without breaking them.
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3
Prevent oxidization. Make sure your apples brown from cooking and not from exposing their flesh to the open air. If you expect a delay between slicing them and cooking them, prepare a bath of cold lemon water for the slices to soak in for 5 to 10 minutes.^{[5]
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Research source} To make 8 ounces of lemon water, mix ½ cup lemon juice with 3 tablespoons of boiled water and then make up the difference with cold water.^{[6]
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4
Pat your apples dry. If you soaked your slices in a lemon-water bath, or if they appear to be excessively juicy, use a paper towel to softly soak up the moisture by gently patting them.^{[7]
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Research source} Expect the addition of water to the hot, bubbling butter in your skillet to possibly cause the heated liquid to pop into the air. Reduce the risk of scalding yourself by minimizing the amount of added moisture the best you can.
5
Thicken your caramelized apples. If you prefer your apples with a thicker syrup, use cornstarch to beef it up. Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 3 tablespoons of water until the starch dissolves. Stir this into your caramelized apples and then reduce the heat to low. Allow your apples to continue cooking over lower heat while the syrup thickens.^{[8]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using the Fewest Ingredients

1
Melt your butter. Place 4 tablespoons in large skillet. Set the heat to medium-high. Liquify the butter until it bubbles.^{[9]
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2
Saute apple slices. Place each on its side in the skillet once the butter begins to bubble. Flip them repeatedly to cook each side a uniform brown. Do so for 5 minutes.^{[10]
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3
Add sugar. After 5 minutes of sauteing, add 4 tablespoons of sugar. Stir it into the butter and juices. Remove the apples from the skillet once the sugar melts.^{[11]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Sampling Other Recipes

1
Add whipping cream. Make a creamier sauce for your apples. Use whipping cream as a thickener.
- Heat 4 tablespoons of butter in your large skillet over medium heat until it liquifies.
- Stir in 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons of sugar until it melts.
- Place your apple slices in the skillet and cook for approximately 10 minutes, or until they brown and tenderize.
- Stir in 6 tablespoons plus 3 teaspoons of whipping cream.
- Lower the heat to simmer and wait for the cream to thicken after a couple minutes.
- Remove the slices from the skillet and enjoy.^{[12]
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2
Use apple cider, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Give your apples some extra autumn flavor. Note that you can use an equal amount of sugar in place of maple syrup if need be, as well as an equal amount of apple juice to replace cider.
- Line your large skillet with 2 tablespoons of canola oil and set the heat to medium.
- Once the oil heats up, place your apple slices inside and saute for 2 to 3 minutes until they begin to soften.
- Pour in 3 tablespoons of maple syrup and a ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and stir them in for an additional 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add 1 cup of apple cider and continue to stir as the liquid comes to a boil and then reduces to a syrup.
3
Add a touch of honey. Use honey plus lemon juice to liven your syrup up.^{[13]
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- Heat 4 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet, using low-medium heat.
- Add 6 tablespoons of sugar as the butter melts and stir together until the sugar melts, too.
- Once the mixture begins to bubble, set the apple slices in the skillet and stir in 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.
- Raise the heat to meat and saute the apples for about 10 minutes, stirring and flipping continually to brown their sides evenly.
- After 10 minutes, stir in 6 tablespoons of honey and saute for 5 more minutes, until the liquid reduces to a syrup.
4
Keep it healthy. Substitute coconut oil for butter and honey for sugar for a healthier sweet snack.
- Heat 4 tablespoons of coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Once the oil is hot, add your apple slices and saute until they become tender and brown.
- Combine 4 teaspoons with 4 teaspoons of water in a measuring cup.
- Pour the mixture over the apple and stir them together.
- Continue to saute until the liquid reduces to the point of evaporating.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Serving

1
Make a PB & A sandwich. Spread your favorite peanut butter over your favorite bread. Then simply replace the jelly with your caramelized apples! Caramelize 1 apple to make 2 sandwiches.^{[14]
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2
Top your oatmeal. Combine ½ cup of rolled oats with ½ cup of water, ½ of milk, and ⅛ teaspoon of salt in a saucepan. Turn the heat to medium until the mixture begins to boil. Lower the heat to simmer. Give the oatmeal another 7 minutes on the stove before transferring to a bowl. Top it with 1 apple’s worth of caramelized slices and enjoy.
3
Serve them with pancakes. Caramelize 1 apple’s worth of slices to top four pancakes. Use a recipe with maple syrup to complement those pancakes. For extra apple flavor, add chunks of apple plus applesauce to your pancake batter! To make your batter from scratch:^{[15]
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- Mix your dry ingredients in a large bowl: 1 ½ cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, ¼ cup sugar, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
- In a second bowl, combine your wet ingredients: 1 ½ cups milk, 2 tablespoons melted butter, 2 tablespoons applesauce, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Beat one egg into the wet ingredients, then pour them into the dry ingredients, whisking until the batter become thoroughly smooth and wet.
- Chop 1 apple into chunks and stir them into the batter.
4
Use them as a topping for your ice cream. Add them to your ice cream while they are still warm. If you are a diehard “cherry on top,” fan, add ½ cup of dried cherries to your 4 apples when you caramelize them. For an even creamier topping, be sure to use a recipe with whipping cream to caramelize them. ^{[16]
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