Halloween Chocolate Covered Apple Slices (Easy No-Bake)
Chocolate covered apple slices on a stick, dipped in orange candy melts and covered in sprinkles and candy eyes, ready in about 10 minutes of actual work.
Chocolate covered apple slices are apple wedges on lollipop sticks, dipped in melted candy melts or chocolate and decorated before the coating sets. They take about 10 minutes of hands-on work and 30 minutes to set, and a batch of two apples makes six.
These Halloween chocolate covered apples are the version of a caramel apple that gets eaten at a party. A whole candy apple is a commitment nobody wants while holding a drink. A slice is two bites and you’re done, which is also why they disappear off a tray faster than anything else I put out.
What You Need
Amounts are in the recipe card.
Apples. Granny Smith is what I use. The tartness cuts through the candy melts, and firm apples hold a stick without splitting. Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, and Fuji all work. Softer apples like Red Delicious will tear when you push the stick in.
Orange candy melts. Candy melts set harder and faster than chocolate chips and they hold the Halloween color, which is the whole point here. They’re also what makes this a no-bake recipe that a kid can help with, since nothing goes near a stove. If you’d rather use real chocolate, add a teaspoon of coconut oil per cup so it thins enough to coat evenly. Dark, milk, semi-sweet, and white all work, though white takes color best if you want to tint it.
Sprinkles and candy eyes. These go on wet. Once the coating starts to set, nothing sticks.
Lollipop sticks. Popsicle sticks or short skewers work too. Lollipop sticks look neatest in photos.
How to Make Chocolate Covered Apple Slices
- Wash and dry the apples completely. Water is the enemy here. Any moisture on the skin and the coating slides off.
- Core and slice into wedges, about half an inch thick. Leave the peel on for color and grip.
- Push a stick into the bottom of each wedge, going about halfway in so it holds.
- Melt the candy melts in 30 second bursts in the microwave, stirring between each one. Stop while a few pieces are still visible and stir them out with the residual heat.
- Dip and let the excess drip off. Hold the slice over the bowl for a few seconds so you don’t get a puddle at the base.
- Decorate immediately, then lay them on parchment.
- Let them set 30 minutes at room temperature, or 10 in the fridge.
How to Keep the Apple Slices From Turning Brown
This is the first thing that goes wrong when you make them ahead, so here are my tips to avoid this.
Apples brown because cutting them exposes the flesh to air. The chocolate coating solves most of it on its own, since a sealed surface can’t oxidize. The problem is the exposed edges and the cut face near the stick.
Toss the slices in acidulated water before dipping. A tablespoon of lemon juice in a bowl of cold water, slices in for five minutes, then drain and dry them completely. Salt water works as well, about half a teaspoon per cup, rinsed after.
Dry them properly afterward. Pat every slice with a towel and give them a few minutes on a rack. This is the step that decides whether the coating grips or slides, so don’t rush it.
Or dip them the same day. If they’re getting eaten within a few hours, skip all of it. Browning takes time and the coating buys you most of the window you need.
If you’re taking these to a party, the order that works is slice and treat the night before, dry them, then dip and decorate the morning of. Chocolate dipped apple slices hold their look far better than they hold their crunch, so the closer the dipping is to serving, the better they eat.
Decorating Ideas
- Monster slices. Mini marshmallows for eyes, candy corn for teeth.
- Mummy slices. White chocolate drizzled back and forth in a crisscross, with two candy eyes peeking through.
- Jack-o’-lantern slices. Orange coating, then black chocolate piped into a face once the orange has set.
- Spiderweb slices. Pipe rings of dark chocolate over the wet orange, then drag a toothpick from the center outward.
- Haunted forest slices. Crushed chocolate cookies pressed into the wet coating.
Tips
Chill the apples for 30 minutes before you dip them. Cold fruit sets the coating on contact, which gives you a smooth shell instead of a drippy one.
- Stop microwaving early. Overheated candy melts get thick and grainy and there’s no coming back from it.
- Keep water away from the coating. A single drop makes it seize.
- Work in small batches. Melted coating firms up as it sits. Reheat in short bursts as you go.
- Set them on parchment, never straight onto a plate.
Storing Them
Airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
They’re best the day you make them. After that the apple starts releasing juice, and that liquid softens the coating from underneath, so the shell loses its snap even though nothing has spoiled.
Don’t freeze them. The apple goes mealy on thaw and the coating clouds over.
FAQs
What kind of apple works best? Firm and tart. Granny Smith is the standard choice because the tartness balances how sweet the coating is, and the flesh is dense enough to hold a stick. Honeycrisp and Pink Lady are both good. Avoid anything soft.
Why did my chocolate seize? Water got into it. Even a drop from a wet bowl, a damp spoon, or steam off a double boiler will turn melted coating grainy and stiff. Dry everything before you start, and melt in the microwave rather than over water if you’ve had this happen before.
How far ahead can I make these? One day, two at the outside if they’re fully coated and refrigerated. Past that the apple weeps into the coating.
Can kids help make these? The dipping and decorating are the fun parts and they’re safe for kids. Keep an adult on the slicing and on the melted coating, which comes out of the microwave hotter than it looks.
Halloween Chocolate Covered Apple Slices
Equipment
- Lollipop sticks
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
- 2 Granny Smith apples
- 1 ½ cups orange candy melts
- Sprinkles
- Edible eyeballs
Instructions
- Wash and dry the apples thoroughly. Use a sharp knife or an apple corer to cut the apples into slices, removing the seeds and core. You can choose to keep the apple peel on for extra color and nutrition.
- Melt the candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl or using a double boiler. Be sure to follow the instructions to prevent overheating the chocolate.
- Insert lollipop stick or popsicle stick into the bottom of each apple slice. Make sure they are securely in place.
- Dip apples into the melted chocolate, allowing any excess to drip off.
- Before the chocolate hardens, quickly sprinkle on your choice of Halloween-themed toppings. Get creative with your designs, from mummies with drizzled white chocolate to bats made from dark chocolate.
- Place the apples on wax paper, parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to allow candy coating to cool and harden. This should take about 30 minutes. Can also add to refrigerator to speed up the process.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided is calculated based on industry-standard software and should be used as a general guide only. The information may vary depending on ingredient substitutions, cooking techniques, and individual serving sizes. It is the responsibility of the reader to ensure the accuracy and appropriateness of the nutritional information provided. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized medical or nutritional advice.
More Halloween and Chocolate Treats
- Easy Pumpkin Cake Pops
- Homemade Snickers Chocolate Bars
- Healthy Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
- Chocolate Covered Cookie Dough Bites
- Chocolate Pecan Caramel Turtles
- Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats
If you make these, leave a star rating and tell me which design you went with. Tag me @basicswithbails so I can see them, or save this to Pinterest before you forget it exists in October.
About Bailey
I love to bake, cook, exercise, and document all of the above. Nutrition is not low fat. It is not low calorie. It’s not feeling deprived or being hungry all the time. It’s nourishing your body with real, whole foods so that you are consistently satisfied and energized to live your life to the fullest! Read more…
