Vegan Caramel Apples are perfect for any autumn occasion. Fresh, organic apples combine with a dairy-free caramel sauce for a kid's favourite treat.

Caramel

Caramel is a classic sauce used to flavour and colour a variety of baked goods and desserts, or stand alone as gourmet addition to ice cream, cakes, and puddings. In its simplest sense, caramel is sugar boiled down to a syrup.

Somewhere along the line, caramel evolved from a sauce to a candy of the individually-wrapped persuasion. In the process, other ingredients were added. Most notably, many brands now include hydrogenated oils and gaggle of dairy ingredients: milk, cream, and whey, at least. Currently, vegan pre-made caramels are as elusive as vegan marshmallows, it seems.

For dairy caramel apples, nothing beats the ease of melting pre-wrapped caramels with a little bit of water. Rolling apples in the resulting goo takes only minutes, and voila – caramel apples.

Vegan Caramel

To stifle the longing for vegan caramel, making the sauce from scratch seems a logical consideration. Cooking candies, including caramels, generally benefit from the use of a candy thermometer and some well-honed candy-making skills. To keep things simple though, this Vegan Caramel Apple recipe is a-ok for beginners too.

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

Caramel Apples

Delicious as vegan caramel apples are, they are (by necessity) 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. Of course, more margarine could always be added to compensate, but for now let’s celebrate the difference.

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 Popsicle sticks
• Cookie crumbs, chopped nuts, or melted vegan chocolate (optional)
• Wax paper or a cookie sheet, greased with a touch of 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, 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

If a thinner, saucier caramel is desired, reduce the condensed milk to ¼ cup or omit altogether.

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp. vegan margarine
• 1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup corn syrup
• 1 cup 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-soymilk mixture.
4. Bring to the boil, stirring constantly until thick.