Cannabis Caramel Apples Make a Sweet Fall Treat

Summer is drawing to a close. The weather is getting cooler. And all across America, people are preparing for Halloween. We’re picking out our pumpkins and gourds and shopping for decorations. Some of us are putting together creative costumes. And, of course, there’s the one unifying factor that everyone’s Halloween seems to have in common—treats.

But Halloween is almost certainly going to look a little different this year. Many of us are reluctant to send our children out trick-or-treating because of the risk of passing COVID-19—and some neighborhoods aren’t offering trick-or-treating at all. What’s more, many people are hesitant even to go shopping for candy, preferring to stay out of stores as much as we possibly can for our own safety.

This makes it a perfect time to try making your own cannabis edibles. And while they’re definitely not for the kids, there’s nothing to stop you from whipping up a cannabis-free batch alongside the stuff you make for yourself. Just make sure you don’t mix them up!

Why Choose Edibles In The Fall?

Although cannabis edibles are a great choice at any time of year, we find them particularly great as the weather starts to turn, for one simple reason. Many cannabis smokers choose to either go outside to partake or else to open a window to help vent the space in which they’re smoking. In colder weather, this can be less pleasant. Edibles are easy to consume inside, giving off no secondary effects at all to the people with whom you’re sharing space.

So if you’ve never given cannabis edibles a try, now might be the perfect time to start!

Preparing your own edibles can be daunting if you’re a newbie, but in fact, the science is pretty basic. Depending on how well-stocked your kitchen is, you may not need to purchase anything you don’t already keep in your home. 

How to Make Cannabis Caramel Apples

Begin by gathering the necessary ingredients for your caramel apples. You will need:

• 12 whole apples (fuji or granny smith are recommended, but any type will suffice)
• 4 tablespoons (¼ cup) cannabis-infused butter. You can make your own by following our step by step instructions.
• 1 cup white syrup
• 14 oz condensed milk
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 teaspoon organic pure vanilla extract
• 12 popsicle sticks
• candy thermometer (recommended but not necessary)
• Optional garnishes: melted chocolate for drizzling, crushed nuts or cookies, small candies for decorating (M&M’s, candy corn, etc.)

Directions:

Butter a cookie tray (go ahead and use regular, non-cannabis butter for this. You don’t want to waste the good stuff!) Prepare your apples by removing the stems and sticking popsicle sticks into the top. Get them in deep so they’ll be sure to hold.

Dissolve the cannabutter, syrup, sugar, and condensed milk over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until the mixture reaches about 240 degrees Fahrenheit. Add the vanilla, stir it in, and then remove it from the heat. Cool for two to three minutes.

Now it’s time to dunk your apples! Make sure each is evenly coated, and hold on tight to your popsicle stick to ensure that they aren’t dropped in the hot caramel. While the caramel is still soft, you can add any garnishes you’d like.

Got leftover caramel? Bonus! Scrape it onto a plate to cool and cut it into bite-sized pieces to enjoy when it becomes hard.

As with any edible, make sure to take your time eating if you’re less experienced. Edibles take longer to take effect than smoking or vaping does, and you don’t want to accidentally ingest more than makes you comfortable. If you’re new to edibles, consider sharing your apple with a friend or loved one inside your quarantine bubble.

Enjoy!