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Vegan Caramel Apple Recipe

How to Make Dairy-Free Condensed Milk, Caramel Sauce & Candy Apples

Oct 28, 2007 Jill Harris

Vegan Caramel Apples are perfect for fall. Try them for Halloween or as anytime treat! Crunchy, organic apples and dairy-free caramel sauce create this easy vegan recipe.

Caramel is a simple sauce of sugar boiled down to a syrup. But some types of caramel have evolved from a sauce to a candy used to flavour and colour baked goods and desserts. It also stands alone as topper for ice cream, cakes, and puddings.

Caramel is not Vegan

Most people are familiar with the individually wrapped caramel candies. But they often contain hydrogenated oils and gaggle of dairy ingredients: milk, cream, and whey, at least. Vegan pre-made caramels are as hard to find as vegan marshmallows.

To make caramel apples, most recipes call for melting pre-wrapped caramels with a little bit of water. Rolling apples in the resulting goo takes only minutes, and voilà – caramel apples.

Making Vegan Caramel

To stifle a longing for vegan caramel, make the sauce from scratch.

Confectionary recipes usually call for a candy thermometer and well-honed candy-making skills. To keep things simple, this Vegan Caramel Apple recipe doesn't require either of those things. It's a-ok for beginners too!

Delicious as vegan caramel apples are, they do taste slightly different from the dairy-containing version. Expect a sweet, auburn-hued sauce, thinner and less rich than caramel made with butter and whipped cream.

Getting Kids Involved

Kids can help decorate the finished apples; just make sure the caramel has cooled enough to touch young hands.

Vegan Caramel Apple Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 10 medium organic apples, red or green; preferably a more tart variety like Granny Smith
  • 1 recipe vegan caramel sauce (follows)
  • 10 wooden sticks (Popsicle sticks)
  • Cookie crumbs, chopped nuts, or melted vegan chocolate (optional)
  • Waxed paper or a cookie sheet, greased with a touch of vegan margarine

Directions:

  1. Insert a wooden stick into the top of each apple
  2. If caramel has cooled / hardened, heat over low-medium heat until just melted but still thick.
  3. Working with one apple at a time, dip each apple into the caramel sauce, turning to coat.
  4. Roll each apple in cookie crumbs, chopped nuts, or drizzle with melted chocolate if desired.
  5. Place the apple onto the wax paper or cookie sheet to cool and set.

Vegan Caramel Sauce Recipe

To make a thinner, saucier caramel sauce, reduce the condensed milk to ¼ cup or omit altogether.

Ingredients:

  • 2 Tbsp. vegan stick margarine
  • 1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup corn syrup
  • 1 cup vegan sweetened condensed milk (purchased or homemade. For recipe, see below)

Directions:

  1. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt margarine.
  2. Stir in sugar and corn syrup.
  3. Bring to the boil and stir in condensed milk, if using.
  4. Stirring constantly, cook over medium heat until boiled and thickened.

Vegan Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups soy milk
  • 1 ¾ cups brown sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. corn starch

Directions:

  1. Measure the corn starch into a small glass or measuring cup.
  2. Add 2-3 Tbsp. of the soy milk and whisk with a small whisk or fork until smooth.
  3. In a small saucepan, heat the remaining soy milk and brown sugar. Whisk in the cornstarch-soy milk mixture.
  4. Bring to the boil, stirring constantly until thick.

The copyright of the article Vegan Caramel Apple Recipe in Vegetarian Cuisine is owned by Jill Harris. Permission to republish Vegan Caramel Apple Recipe in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Oozy Vegan Caramel, Jill Harris Oozy Vegan Caramel
   
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Comments

Aug 14, 2008 6:05 PM
Guest :
Yum! If you thicken things up a bit more and add peanut butter when you add the condensed milk you can make really yummy peanut butter caramel apple dip.
Aug 28, 2008 8:01 AM
Guest :
how is this recipe vegan if it contains milk? doesn't make a whole lot of sense. "vegan" means that there are no animal products!!! milk comes from animals!
Aug 28, 2008 2:51 PM
Jill Harris :
Hi there. The "condensed milk" used in this recipe refers to the homemade vegan condensed milk recipe above. It is made from soy milk, brown sugar and cornstarch and contains no animal products.

Non-vegans are welcome to use a cow's milk version of condensed milk if they prefer.

Hope this helps.
Jill
Oct 28, 2008 9:11 AM
Guest :
Im trying these for my halloween party and can't wait! The peanut butter idea sounds super sweet!
Dec 4, 2008 6:06 PM
Guest :
do you know if rice milk will work to make the caramel? I'm allergic to soy (wheat and dairy too!!)
Dec 16, 2008 2:43 PM
Guest :
this is kind of weird but i tried it and it wasn't bad. Its good for the kids so im ok with it
Oct 12, 2009 11:49 AM
Guest :
This sounds good (including the Vegan Condensed Milk recipe!) I cannot use corn syrup though (corn allergies) so I was wondering how Cane syrup would substitute. I will try it and let you know.
Oct 14, 2009 7:41 AM
Guest :
mmmm.. I'm super excited to try this recipe this weekend with my neice and nephew who are coming over. Thanks!
8 Comments

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