Caramel Apple Pretzels: Delicious flavorful decorated pretzels covered in caramel, dipped in apple flavored candy, and crunchy sugar sprinkles. Perfect for all your Fall parties. Below you will find FOUR options for caramel and TWO options for apple flavored melting candy.

When it comes to Halloween Party Treats, caramel apples are always at the top of the list. These caramel apple pretzels are a lot easier to make than a traditional caramel apple. Click here to find out how to make →OLD FASHIONED CARAMEL APPLES. The salty pretzel combined with the sweet caramel and melted candy coating come together to create the perfect sweet and salty treat. One bite, and these caramel apple pretzels will quickly become one of your favorite Decorated Halloween Pretzel recipes.

Caramel

I did some experimenting and came up with four different options for caramel. You can decide which one is your favorite. Some of the caramel options are easier than others. My favorite was the caramel wrapples option. The wrapped caramels offered a nice caramel flavor too.

CARAMEL BITS: Heat caramel bits 1 minute, stir, and heat an additional 30 seconds. Set aside 5 minutes, dip pretzels, and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. I wasn’t too impressed with the caramel bits. They were very messy. I had to dip them twice to get enough caramel coating.

SALTED CARAMEL MELTING CANDY: I found this melting candy at Michael’s. The brand is Sweet Tooth Fairy Meltables Salted Caramel. If using the melting candy, pour candy into a microwave safe container ( I used a tall glass cup), add 1 tablespoon of vegetable shortening. Heat 1 minute, stir until candy is melted. Place dipped pretzels on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. To harden either set aside on the counter or for quicker results, place in the refrigerator (about 10 minutes).

WRAPPLES CARAMEL WRAPS: These fun caramel apple wraps are super easy to use and add a great caramel flavor to the pretzels. The only bad thing I can say about them is that they are a seasonal product. But if you’re lucky enough to find them (I have found them in produce department next to the apples), they taste great and are easy to use. TO USE: Cut the caramel sheets in half ( one sheet covers two pretzel rods), wrap the sheet of caramel around the pretzel rod, and form with your hands. That’s it! Like I said super easy.

WRAPPED CARAMELS: If you can’t find the wrapples caramel wraps than this is the next best option. 1 (11 ounce) bag of wrapped caramels covers 9 pretzels rods. Four caramels per pretzel. Unwrap 4 caramels, microwave 10 seconds, mold caramel around the pretzel. Only cover one pretzel at a time, repeat until all the pretzels are covered.

Apple Flavoring

I have two options for you, both should be easy to find, and both add an apple flavor to the candy.

JOLLY RANCHER GREEN APPLE DRINK MIX: I found this drink mix at Dollar Tree and loved the tart apple flavor it added to the candy. I used lime green candy melts. The vanilla candy has a strong flavor and is sometimes hard to change. The Jolly Rancher Green Apple did the job and was excellent.

LORANN OIL APPLE FLAVOR: I found this oil at Michael’s. I’ve use many of the LorAnn oil flavorings in the past and love their products. However, compared to the Jolly Rancher Green Apple the oil didn’t pack quite the punch I wanted. So, as far as flavor goes Jolly Rancher was my favorite.

NOTE: Both the drink mix and oil flavoring messed a little bit with the candy and made it seize or break up (see above photos). What I mean by that is the candy was not as creamy as it should be. BUT…..thankfully the candy was covered with green sugar sprinkles and looked great!

How to Make Caramel Apple Pretzels

INSTRUCTIONS (full printable recipe below) Before you begin you’ll need to choose the caramel and apple flavoring. Below are the options.

CARAMEL BITS (fourth favorite): Combine 1 (11 ounce) bag with 2 tablespoons water. Heat in the microwave 1 minutes, stir and heat an additional 30 seconds. Set side to cool for 5 minutes. Dip pretzel rods, place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, place in the refrigerator to harden, reheat leftover caramel 30 seconds. Dip pretzels a second time and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. If the caramel puddles, remove pretzels, transfer to a second sheet of parchment paper. Use a spoon to scoop up caramel and add to the remaining caramel. If necessary, reheat 30 seconds and continue dipping pretzels. Refrigerate 30 minutes, gently lift off parchment, lightly dampen fingers and mold caramel around the pretzel. Place on a clean sheet of parchment paper.

SALTED CARAMEL CANDY MELTS (third favorite): Pour a (12 ounce) bag of salted caramel meltables into a microwave safe tall jar or glass and 1 tablespoon of vegetable shortening. Heat in microwave 1 minute, stir until creamy. If the candy needs additional melting, heat at 60% power for 30 seconds.

WRAPPED CARAMELS (second favorite): Unwrap 1 (11 ounce) bag of caramels (NOTE: one bag covers 9 pretzel rods). Only heat 4 caramels at a time. Place 4 caramels in a small microwave safe bowl. Heat 10 seconds. Press caramels together, mold around pretzel rod. Set aside on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and continue with remaining pretzels one at a time.

WRAPPLES CARAMEL WRAPS (number one favorite): 3 (6.5 ounce) packages of caramel wraps. Each package has 5 wraps. Cut each wrap in half, wrap caramel around a pretzel rod. Set aside on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and continue with remaining pretzels one at a time. During Fall you can find these in the produce department by the apples in your local grocery store. If not you can also order them on Amazon. Click here to order→WRAPPLES

APPLE FLAVORINGS: LorAnne Apple Flavoring is my least favorite of the two. It only offered a hint of apple. Jolly Rancher green apple drink mix offered a great apple flavor with a touch of sour. I thought it came closest of the two to a Granny Smith Apple. Pour 1 (12 ounce ) bag of lime green candy melts and shortening into a tall glass jar or cup. Heat 1 minute, stir until creamy. If the candy is not creamy heat an additional 30 seconds at 60%. Once candy is melted, stir in flavoring. Place a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Dip caramel coated pretzels in melted flavored candy, shake off any excess, immediately sprinkle on green colored sugar sprinkles. Place on prepared cookie sheet to harden. To speed up the hardening process, place cookie sheet in refrigerator (about 10 minutes).

How Much in Advance Can I Decorate Pretzels?

One of the best things about decorated pretzels (aside from the taste) is the convenience of being able to make them in advance of your party. It’s every hostesses dream to be able to make something this tasty before the craziness of the party prep starts. Ultimately taking some of the stress away from hosting a party. These adorable pretzels can be made as early as a week before the party.

HOW TO STORE CARAMEL APPLE PRETZELS

The easiest way is to store decorated pretzels is in an airtight container at room temperature. Provided everything is fresh to begin with and the container is clean, dry, and has a tight seal, partially covered pretzel rods can stay fresh for about 2-3 weeks.

SPOON VS DIP

In the past I have 100% always spooned the melted candy over the pretzels. Lately (even though it’s been around a long time) I discovered dipping. I LOVE it! The key (for me) is to use a container that is wide enough at the top and straight on the sides. Preferably, glass, 6½ inches tall, and 24 ounces. HOW TO MELT CANDY IN A DIPPING CONTAINER: I use a glass cup NOT mason jar. To make this process easy, using a glass that is straight, helps simplify the dipping process. 1. Pour melting candy (I use Ghirardelli white wafers) and 2 tablespoons of shortening in the container. 2. Heat on high 1 minute. 3. Stir and dip!

Halloween and Fall Decorated Pretzel Ideas

Halloween Party Decorated Pretzels

Kid's Thanksgiving Table Pumpkin Spice Pretzels

Halloween Party Eye of Newt Pretzels

Wicked Witch Finger Halloween Pretzels

Color Mist Candy Corn Pretzels

Ghostly Halloween Pretzels

Halloween Vampire Pretzels

Halloween Spider Pretzels

Hocus Pocus Halloween Decorated Pretzels

Apple Pie Decorated Pretzels

Reese's Pieces Decorated Pretzels

Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzel Halloween Spider Eggs

Pumpkin Latté Decorated Pretzels

Caramel Apple Pretzels

Yield: Makes 15 to 24 Decorated Pretzels

Delicious flavorful decorated pretzels covered in caramel, dipped in apple flavored candy, and crunchy sugar sprinkles. Perfect for all your Fall parties. Below you will find FOUR options for caramel and TWO options for apple flavored melting candy.

Ingredients

NOTE: NOT ALL THE SUPPLIES LISTED BELOW ARE NEEDED. THERE ARE 4 DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF CARAMEL AND TWO DIFFERENT WAYS OF FLAVORING THE CANDY. ONLY CHOOSE ONE OF EACH. BELOW, I HAVE RATED EACH ONE AT THE BOTTOM EACH INSTRUCTION LIST.

For the Caramel Bits:

1 (11 ounce) bag caramel bits
2 tablespoons water

For the Salted Caramel Meltables:

1 (12 ounce bag Sweet Tooth Fairy Meltables Salted Caramel
1 tablespoon vegetable shortening

For the Wrapples Caramel Wraps:

3 (6.5 ounce) packages Wrapples Caramel Wraps

For the Wrapped Caramels:

2 (11 ounce) bags individually wrapped caramels

For the Melting Candy Coating:

1 (12 ounce) bag lime green candy melts
2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
1 dram (.125 ounce) LorAnne Oils Apple Flavor OR THREE Jolly Rancher single drink packets
lime green sugar sprinkles

Instructions

For the Caramel Bits:

Add caramel bits and water to a microwave safe bowl, heat 1 minute, stir, heat an additional 30 seconds. Stir set aside 5 minutes.
Dip pretzel rods into melted caramel, place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, place in the refrigerator 45 minutes to 1 hour or until hardened. Reheat remaining caramel 30 seconds—dip pretzels a second time and place on a piece of parchment paper. NOTE: If caramel puddles, carefully remove pretzels and transfer to a second sheet of parchment paper.
Use a spoon to scrape up caramel , continue coating. If needed, heat an additional 30 seconds. Refrigerate 30 minutes, gently lift off of the parchment 1 pretzel at a time—lightly dampen fingers and mold caramel around the pretzels.
Place on clean piece of parchment paper. Continue with all the pretzels. Place in the refrigerator while melting the candy.
Scroll down for apple flavor candy instructions. NOTE, I DIDN'T LIKE THIS METHOD but wanted to offer you all the different methods. The flavor was good but the product was hard to work with. Overall👎 Not my favorite. I would place it at #4

For the Salted Caramel Meltables:

Into a medium microwave safe bowl or tall glass, add the metlables and shortening. Heat on high 1 minute, stir until creamy and melted. If the melts still need more time, heat 30 seconds on defrost setting.
Dip pretzels in melted candy, place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in the refrigerator 10 minutes or until hardened.
NOTE: If candy has puddled, gently sand it off with a micro plane tool. The candy has to be hard for this to work.
Scroll down for apple flavor candy instructions.
Overall an easy product to work with a nice salted caramel flavor but not the great chewy texture you get from caramel. I liked it but would put it a #3

For the Wrapples:

If you can find these, I recommend grabbing a few! It doesn't get any easier plus the caramel flavor is great!
Remove the wrapping of one wrapples, cut in half, stretch, and mold around pretzel.
Scroll down for apple flavor candy instructions.
Overall I love this product. It's super easy to use and has a great flavor. The only downfall it that it's seasonal. When I find the wrapples it's usually in the produce department next to the apple display. I put this at my #1 spot!

For the Wrapped Caramels:

Unwrap all the caramels. Use only four per pretzel and only cover one pretzel at a time. Place FOUR caramels in a small microwave container, heat 10 seconds.
Press the caramel together, flatten, and mold around pretzel. Set aside and continue with remaining pretzels.
Scroll down for apple flavor candy instructions.
Overall I LOVE how thick the caramel is on the pretzel and the flavor. The only reason I put this method at #2 is because of how easy it was to use the wrapples. If you can't find the wrapples then I highly recommend using this method.

For the Apple Flavor Coating:

APPLE FLAVORINGS: LorAnne Apple Flavoring is my least favorite of the two. It only offered a hint of apple. Jolly Rancher green apple drink mix offered a great apple flavor with a touch of sour. I thought it came closest of the two to a Granny Smith Apple. NOTE: I found the Jolly Rancher Apple Drink Mix at Dollar Tree. I found the LorAnne Apple Flavoring at Michaels Craft Store.

Pour 1 (12 ounce ) bag of lime green candy melts and 1 tablespoon of shortening into a tall glass jar or cup.
Heat 1 minute, stir until creamy. If the candy is not creamy heat an additional 30 seconds at 60%. Once candy is melted, stir in apple flavoring.
Place a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Dip caramel coated pretzels in melted flavored candy, shake off any excess, immediately sprinkle on green colored sugar sprinkles. IT SHOULD BE NOTED that the addition of the flavoring (either one) did mess with the creamy texture of the melted candy. The sprinkles saved the day!
Place on prepared cookie sheet to harden. To speed up the hardening process, place cookie sheet in refrigerator (about 10 minutes).

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Caramel Apple Pretzels