Sunday Funday is a good excuse to get my kids involved in healthy cooking. I try to balance the fun with the healthy, and today was no exception. We found some mini apples at Wholefoods and decided to make gluten free caramel apples. The result was sticky hands, lots of laughs and bite sized treats.
Little known fact – most caramel has gluten in it as the caramel color is often derived from wheat. I was shocked when I learned that, but it gave us a reason to make up our own caramel sauce, and that we did. This recipe is gluten free, dairy free, top 7 allergy friendly and is also paleo and vegan.
Gluten Free Caramel Apples
This recipe is gluten free, dairy free, top 7 allergy friendly and is also paleo and vegan.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 216 kcal
Ingredients
- 8 mini apples
- 1/8 cup coconut oil melt it before you add this
- 1/2 cup coconut palm sugar
- 1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk from can cartons of coconut milk are generally thinner and won't work as well
- 1/4 cup honey or pure maple syrup can be substituted for vegan cooking
- Popsicle sticks
Instructions
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Remove the stems from the apples, wash and dry them, and set aside.
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Combine the coconut oil, sugar, milk and honey in a small sauce pan.
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Cook over medium heat until the caramel sauce starts to boil.
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Let the sauce continue to boil for 2 minutes.
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Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 10-15 more minutes.
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Stir occasionally.
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You'll know the sauce is ready when it becomes thicker and darker in color.
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Remove from heat and pour it into a bowl.
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Allow the caramel sauce to cool for 5 minutes. Do not let it cool completely or it will harden too much.
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Place a popsicle stick in each apple about where the stem was.
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Hold the apple over the bowl and spoon the caramel sauce over it. It will be thick and slowly drip down covering the apples.
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Set aside on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
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Repeat until all of the apples are caramel covered.
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Place the baking sheet of apples in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
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Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Gluten Free Caramel Apples
Amount Per Serving
Calories 216
Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Sodium 23mg1%
Potassium 231mg7%
Carbohydrates 42g14%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 34g38%
Vitamin A 100IU2%
Vitamin C 8.5mg10%
Calcium 13mg1%
Iron 0.7mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Oh these look great! Totally need to try making these.
I have never had these. Looks so delicious. I love all things caramel.
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These look like a fun time with the kiddos and the gf option has me sold! Thanks for sharing!
Such a messy, sticky fun time!
I’m definitely trying this with the girls. They look amazing!
Thank you. They will have so much fun!
Caramel apples! I like apples that are double dipped in caramel and chocolate and have nuts sprinkled on them, because I’m a hog like that lol. I need to make some with my kids like you did. Great idea!
Wow, that sounds like an amazing loaded candied apple! We’ll have to try it that way too.
These look delicious! Love that the ingredients are so healthy!!
Thanks, Emily! Always trying to sneak healthier ingredients in whenever I can.
I love that your caramel is also dairy free! I never knew that most caramel is not gluten free – good to know for the future.
Thanks, Kortney! The gluten in caramel color was shocking to me too when we first learned about it.
You know it’s fall when the caramel apples come out! I love that you use honey to make these, too.
Yes! Caramel apples are a Fall staple in our house and the honey makes them a bit healthier.