an interactive experience
This candy caramel apple cider mocktail or cocktail will give you those cheerful, nostalgic flavors and save your teeth in the process. The best part? Have fun smashing the candy into your cup! Be a kid again or share this with your kids/guests at your next gathering. You’ll be sure to make your loved ones smile.
Adam and I love apple cider in the fall and winter. We usually get it when we go apple or pumpkin picking and it’s next to some of those sweet-coated apples. I have never been brave enough to try those candy apples and I don’t think my teeth could handle it to be fair. I bet I’m not the only one that feels that way!
Did you know that candy apples were made as Christmastime storefront decorations by a candy maker to highlight the candy and not the apple? Customers who stopped by his store wanted to try the whole thing (Food&Wine)! Much like this happy turn of events, Adam came up with an idea of his own.
He suggested that we create our own candy apple version and shoot, why not throw in a caramel apple redo too? I didn’t see where this was going at first but when I attempted to make his idea come to life, I had no idea it could be this easy! When you try this, you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of it before too!
A Lot easier than it looks and there’s options
In our version of the candy caramel apple cider drink, we made all of the components from scratch except the apple cider. While it may seem hard, we promise you it’s not at all. It just requires that you pay attention to the pot for both the candy caps and the salted caramel.
If you’re interested in cutting down time by 15-20 minutes and don’t want to be tied to the stove or run the risk of burning your caramel, you can use store-bought salted caramel sauce.
To make your own salted caramel, we suggest using Sally’s Baking Addiction recipe and adding 1 tsp of vanilla extract when you add in the heavy cream. This will add an additional 20 minutes to the recipe time.
- Start by heating the apple cider and a cinnamon stick in a medium saucepan on a low setting (we just want to heat not boil). Have this running while we prep the candy caps.
- Gather the ingredients and equipment for the candy caps. Have the mold and red food dye at the ready because once we take the mixture off the heat, the candy will set in pretty fast.
- Add the sugar, corn syrup, and water to a separate medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir with a wooden spoon. Bring to a boil and let it cook until it reaches 300℉. When it does, remove from heat and carefully add in the red food dye a few drops at a time until it’s the desired red color. Be careful not to get splashed as you add it!
- Take the mixture and spoon it into the silicone candy mold just enough to cover the bottom of each mold. Do not fill all of the way! We want it thin enough to crack with a spoon eventually. Ours was just under half of the depth of each mold.
- Allow the candy to harden in the mold (about 5-10 minutes). While that is hardening, you can set up the 6 glasses (each 4 oz). Spoon about 1 TBSP of salted caramel sauce into each one. Distribute the apple cider into each cup after that.
- Gently remove the candy caps from the mold and place them on top of each cup. Now here comes the fun part! Have family, friends and loved ones take a spoon and crack the candy caps into the cup. Stir the contents and garnish with a cinnamon stick. You can even use the stick as a straw to be more playful! We recommend allowing the apple cider to melt the candy for a minute or two before sipping. Check out our FAQ if you want to make an adult version of the candy caramel apple cider too.
Have questions? We have answers!
Can you turn the candy caramel apple into an alcoholic drink?
For the adults, why not? We recommend adding 1.5 oz of either spiced rum or white rum in there.
What caramel would you recommend if it’s not homemade?
Your local grocery store may have several sea salt caramel sauce options that may be easier to just spoon into your cup than let’s say caramel melts.
Where can I get apple cider?
Apple cider can be sold at your local grocery store and farm.
Do you have to heat this candy caramel apple cider?
We highly recommend this to get the flavors to blend together well. If it’s cold, you may just have chunks of candy in your drink. If you’re completely fine, with that then go for it!
What happens if the candy hardens before I fill all of the molds?
If you’ve run out of time, you can reheat on the stove over medium heat. Just keep an eye on it.
Candy Caramel Apple Cider Mocktail or Cocktail
Equipment
- 1 Candy silicone mold – 4 inch wide circles
- 2 Medium saucepans
- 1 Whisk
- 1 Wooden Spoon
Ingredients
Ingredients for Apple Cider:
- ½ Gallon Apple cider
- 1 Cinnamon stick. Set aside more if you want to garnish
- 6 TBSP Salted caramel sauce See notes below if you want to make your own
- 1.5 oz Spiced rum of choice (optional)
Ingredients for Candy Cap:
- 1 ½ Cup Granulated sugar
- ¼ Cup Light corn syrup
- ½ Cup Water
- Red food dye
Instructions
- Place a medium saucepan on your stove at the lowest setting. Pour in the apple cider and throw in 1 cinnamon stick. Allow to heat as you make the other components
- Gather the ingredients for the candy cap that will go over your glass of choice. We used 4 oz cups to get 6 servings
- Mix the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a separate, medium saucepan over medium heat with a wooden spoon
- Bring the mixture to a boil and insert a candy thermometer. Have the food dye and silicon mold at the ready because the mixture will harden quickly when it's done cooking. Once the mixture reaches 300℉/200℃, remove from heat. Stir the mixture together
- Add the red food dye a few drops at a time but be careful as the mixture may bubble up and splash. Mix until you get the desired red color (this was between ¼ tsp and ½ tsp for us)
- Quickly pour up to just under half of the depth of the silicone molds (just enough to cover the bottom). Remember, we want the candy circles to be thin enough to break with a spoon. You should have just enough to fill the 6 circles. You may need to slightly jiggle the mold to get the candy mixture to spread but try not to lift up or move the mold from your surface
- While the candy hardens in the molds, you can set up your 6 cups. Spoon 1 TBSP of salted caramel sauce into the bottom of each cup and drizzle around if you want more along the sides
- Distribute the apple cider into each cup. You can also add 1.5 oz of spiced rum if you want to make this a cocktail. You can stir now or wait until the candy falls in
- Gently tap the top of the candy circles with your fingers to check if it's hardened enough. If so, gently remove them from the silicon mold and place them on top of each cup
- Take a spoon and crack the candy cap into the cup! Stir the mixture with the candy in the cup and add a cinnamon stick for garnish or use as a straw if you want to add more fun! We recommend allowing the apple cider to melt the candy for a minute or two before sipping. Enjoy!
Notes
Thoughts on the candy caramel apple cider?
Drop us a comment down below if you made these! If you liked this drink, check out our mulled wine with juniper berries!