This yummy snack is an updated version of the carnival favorite. You’ll love these crisp apple slices dipped in a rich caramel macchiato sauce and rolled in crushed pecans.
At this time of the year, people get really excited about the reappearance of pumpkin spice everything. I love pumpkin spiced treats as much as the next gal, but there’s another flavor combo I look forward to every fall — caramel apple.
Doesn’t a gooey caramel apple just remind you of childhood and fall festivals and all things sweet?
Spiced caramel apple cider is my drink of choice when I’m wearing sweaters and boots and crunching through leaves and posing for photos on haystacks. Oh wait, that’s my Instagram fantasy life!
Today’s recipe for Salted Caramel Macchiato Caramel Apple Bites is a mashup of those two flavors — the sweet combo you remember from childhood with a buttery, salty complexity to delight an adult palate.
The secret is in the homemade caramel sauce, which is so much easier to make than it sounds. Just a few basic ingredients, and a little bit of patience and stirring are all it requires.
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And I’m going to rock your world when I tell you that you don’t need heavy cream or half-and-half or even milk to make this sauce. What???
You make it with International Delight® Caramel Macchiato creamer or any flavor you like. Imagine the possibilities!
Pumpkin Pie Spice Caramel? French Vanilla Caramel? Hazelnut Macchiato Caramel? Sweet Cream Caramel?
Oh. My. Goodness!
I love this homemade caramel sauce on crisp, tart fall apples. But it’s good so many other ways, too.
Drizzle it over ice cream or carrot cake or apple pie or cinnamon buns. Stir some into your coffee or hot apple cider, along with the some International Delight creamer.
Turn your morning caffeine fix into a fancy coffee house drink by adding some whipped cream, caramel macchiato sauce and crushed pretzels or nuts to the top. I can’t wait to try it atop a Caramel Apple Fog, a recipe I’m excited to try from International Delight’s Delightful Moments website.
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This conversation is sponsored by International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.
Salted Caramel Macchiato Apple Bites
Ingredients
For the Caramel Macchiato Sauce
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- ½ cup International Delight Caramel Macchiato Creamer
- pinch of salt plus more to taste
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla
For the Apple Bites
- 2 Crisp apples sliced
- ¼ cup crushed pretzels
- ¼ cup crushed pecans or other nuts
- ¼ cup miniature chocolate chips
Instructions
For the Caramel Macchiato Sauce
- Combine sugars, butter, creamer and pinch of salt in a heavy sauce pan over low heat.
- Stir occasionally until the sugar liquefies and the butter melts and develops a delicious brown caramel color and aroma, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Let the caramel mixture come to a boil and cook for a minute or two longer.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and another pinch of salt, to taste.
- The mixture will still be fairly liquid, but it will thicken as it cools.
- Allow to cool slightly in the pan, then transfer to a bowl or glass jar. Do not scrap any granular bits of sugar from the side of the pan, as this can cause your caramel to become grainy as it cools.
- Refrigerate until cool and thick.
For the Apple Bites
- Once the caramel macchiato sauce has cooled completely and thickened, cut apples into slices.
- Dip or drizzle with caramel mixture, then sprinkle with nuts, pretzels, chocolate chips and other toppings.
Diana Rambles
Congratulations! This post is featured over at Diana Rambles today and has been pinned in the Featured at Diana Rambles board at Pinterest and Tweeted. Please grab a featured button off my button page or via the post guidelines graphic. Thanks for sharing this awesome idea!
Lela
Oh my goodness, this looks so good! Pinning and following on social media! So glad I found you through the Friday Favorites Link Up.
Dee @CupcakesandCrowbars
Thanks for stopping by Awesome Things Tuesday last week! Your post has been pinned, and we hope to see you again this week!
Ashley
Thanks for linking up to last week’s Tasty Tuesday link up. I have added your recipe to the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board. I hope that you’ll come back this week and link up some new recipes.
Sarah R.
Oh Em Gee…I am c-r-a-v-i-n-g these right now. SO delish! Thank you so much for linking up at Snickerdoodle Sunday- hope to see you again this weekend.
Sarah (Sadie Seasongoods)
Mrs Major Hoff
Must.make.right.now.
Oh my goodness Amy, that sounds amazing!!!!!!! Your pics are fabulous! If I could lick the screen, I would!
Rose L.
I just tasted this the other day at a bbq at a friends house! It was so delicious. They had made them with a variety of coatings; ground up rice krispies, ground nuts, mini m&ms, marshmallow minis, etc. Gonna have to bookmark this recipe!