Gourmet Chocolate Caramel Apple!

Nothing screams fall to me like a St. Louis  Merb’s Bionic Caramel Apple.  Ever since I was a little girl I couldn’t wait for October to arrive.  I’d march over to the grocery store and pick up a Merb’s Caramel Apple, covered in a thick, rich, creamy, gooey, caramel, and coated with fresh roasted pecans.  It’s heaven on a stick!
For years I’ve tried to duplicate their recipe, but this year I decided to create my own decadent apple.  If you love chocolate like I do, then you’ll adore my Gourmet Chocolate Caramel Apple.  Your dentist will be thrilled you tried one!  Here’s my recipe:  
 
Gourmet Chocolate Caramel Apple
makes 4-6 apples
Ingredients:
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 10 1/2 oz. fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (no more than 60% cacao), finely chopped
  • 1 3/4 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup  Lyle’s Golden Syrup
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon pieces
  • 6 Granny Smith Apples, stems removed
  • Candy apple sticks
  • Special equipment:  candy thermometer
 Directions:
Bring cream just to a boil in a 1- to 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan over moderately high heat, reduce heat to low and add chocolate. Let stand 1 minute, stir until chocolate is completely melted.
Remove from heat.
Bring sugar, corn syrup, water, and salt to a boil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
Boil mixture uncovered, without stirring, but gently swirling pan occasionally, until sugar is deep golden, about 10 minutes.
Tilt pan and carefully (can splatter and burn you) pour in chocolate mixture (mixture will bubble and steam vigorously). Continue to boil over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until mixture registers 255°F on candy thermometer – about 20 minutes. (Times will vary depending on the climate in your room.)
 
Note: Do not rush this step.  It may feel like it takes a long time for the caramel to reach this temperature, but if you rush it by turning up the heat, you will burn the caramel, and waste all your ingredients.  Be patient, and you’ll be thrilled with the results.
Add butter, stirring until completely melted. Pour into a heatproof bowl (do not scrape any caramel clinging to bottom or side of saucepan), and set caramel aside to cool for approximately 5 minutes.
While caramel is cooling, insert candy apple sticks into (center) stem end of apple. Holding an apple by the stick, dip and roll it in the chocolate caramel until evenly coated, letting any excess drip back into the bowl. (If caramel runs off quickly and the coating seems thin, it’s too hot.  Let cool a minute longer and try dipping again).
If desired dip coated apples in chopped pecans, toffee chips, or drizzle with melted white chocolate.  Can be refrigerated for several days.
To give as a gift place in plastic gift bag, and tie a ribbon around the stick to keep bag closed until gift-giving!
ENJOY!!!

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25 comments

  1. I’ve never had a Merb’s Bionic Carmel Apple. I lead such a sheltered life! And I haven’t made caramel apples since – well, since I was a kid! Maybe I should again? Your recipe looks so tremendous – this is one I should try. Thank you.

    • You’ve probably never had one because you don’t have a sweet tooth like I do. Well you should try one if you like caramel apples, they’re wonderful. I will be posting another recipe with a regular caramel apple soon. I have to finish these up first.

      I hope you try these, they’re yummy.

  2. Beautiful chocolate caramel apple! I still remember when I first saw this chocolate covered apple for the first time at a supermarket in the US. I wondered how we eat it without making a mess. 🙂 I have never made it before but it looks fun to do with the kids. Thank you for the recipe Vicki!

    • I eat mine with a knife. I don’t bite into it. I cut off wedges and eat it that way. Then if I don’t finish it I wrap it up and someone else in my family can take a slice as well. They’re so good! My favorite this time of year. I hope you try these with your children.

  3. Your gourmet apples beat plain old caramel any day my friend 😀
    I love this!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  4. Luscious and delicious! I need one now!

  5. Absolutely beautiful, Vicki! I absolutely agree. There’s nothing that screams fall more than a caramel apple. 🙂

  6. It just wouldn’t be a caramel apple to me without the chocolate 😉 I haven’t made them for such a long time but what a delicious treat they are! I much prefer making homemade caramel compared to store bought. I love that your recipe combines the caramel and the chocolate together!

  7. yeah I bet my dentist will encourage me to eat a couple. ^.^

    I always see those for Christmas time at our christmas market in austria, I even remember trying one when I was a kid. Thanks for this lovely post and the recipe. I hope I ll find some time to recreate it for christmas time, I bet my husband will enjoy it as well as I do.

  8. They make a nice treat. They’re nice to eat yourself, give to the neighbor kids for Halloween or as a gift wrapped nicely for the holidays. Who doesn’t like a caramel apples plain or chocolate covered!

    I hope you try them. Just be sure to have a good candy thermometer.

  9. Very yummy indeed, who needs dessert with these wonderful apples! I’d much rather have one of these than most any sweet confection!

  10. Wow! How much fun is this recipe -I’ve never made or even tasted a gourmet chocolate caramel apple but now you’ve got my attention!
    We are headed to Saint Louis in December-should I try to locate one of the original apples and give it a try? and you’re right my dentist would probably not approve,lol;-)

  11. Oh, my. I adore caramel apples…but your chocolate version is nothing short of amazing! I could just eat spoonfuls of that topping…so yummy!

  12. It’s fruit, so it’s good for me, right? That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it while I gnaw on one of these beauts. 😉

  13. Caramel apples are that treat that makes us feel like kids again. Love these!

  14. Vicki , the chocolate caramel itself looks delectable ! ;D But it looks really pretty and delicious coating that tangy green apple ! Love it !

  15. I really like caramel apples but only in the autumn and since it’s spring here now, I’m only in the mood for salads. I’m going to bookmark this under “check in autumn”. 🙂 They look great.

  16. my favorite all time Halloween treat, I always buy Mrs’ Pringles… on QVC. now I can try and make my own… I never have time but you have diffinitely inspired me.. mouth is watering at 6:30 am … amazing!

  17. Oh my gosh this is fabulous. You took caramel apples to a whole different level here.

  18. Very Very yummy and Absolutely beautiful I really like caramel apples. Fantastic work on making Gourmet Chocolate with natural way. Its good for health. amazing work.
    http://www.americandesigncompany.com/Gourmet-Chocolates-SUBCAT.aspx

  19. No need to buy one from the shops when you can make a perfectly gorgeous one like yours! Thanks for the recipe Vicki!

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