The Hands-Down Best Apple Varieties For Caramel Apples (Not Just Granny Smith)

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Pumpkin might get all the spotlight in the autumn months, but apples are equally deserving of attention. Beyond apple pie — one of the most beloved fall desserts — apples are the star ingredient in delicious cobblers, crisps, donuts, and, of course, caramel apples. If you're thinking of making a batch of the latter, you might be wondering which type of apple to use. Granny Smith is a popular choice, but Amy Nassisi, one of the Curran Apple Orchard "Apple Ladies," shared her favorite alternatives with Tasting Table for those looking to mix things up.

"My favorite caramel apple alternatives to Granny Smith apples are Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, and Fuji," Nassisi shares. Honeycrisp apples' sweet-tart flavor pairs perfectly with caramel and pecans, she says, while Pink Lady apples have a "beautiful honey-sweet flavor and a nice crunch." She also notes that Pink Ladies pair wonderfully with caramel and a drizzle of dark chocolate, if you're feeling fancy.

And, while you might think Fuji apples would be too sweet to pair with caramel, Nassisi says that this variety is actually a "great choice" for caramel apples. However, she does recommend sprinkling them with a "light dusting of flaky salt," like Maldon Sea Salt, to help balance out that sweetness. This variety also has one of the longest shelf lives, meaning you can keep making caramel apples well past their peak season.

It doesn't matter if you have the freshest batch of apples around if you don't know how to properly prep them before coating in caramel. Fortunately, Nassisi gave us her best tips for doing just that.

Before you do anything, she says, "Wash off any wax with light soap and water." While washing wax off apples isn't necessary in most cases, it's important to follow this step when coating them in caramel, because the wax prevents the caramel from actually sticking to the apples. Once you do that, Nassisi recommends drying them thoroughly and chilling them in the fridge before dipping them in caramel. "The caramel adheres best to cold, dry apples," she says. Then comes the fun part.

After dipping your apples into caramel, Nassisi recommends coating them with crushed pecans or your favorite chopped nuts. "My favorite dessert!" she says. We're certainly with her on that. If nuts aren't your topping of choice, you can keep it simple with a plain caramel coating. However, there are tons of other creative toppings you can use if you want to keep things interesting. From M&M's to mini marshmallows to dried fruit, when it comes to caramel apples, you really can't go wrong.