Popping Apple Caramel Truffles
Popping apple caramel truffle candy is a crunchy, sweet, and fun treat that combines soft rice cakes, homemade caramel sauce, freeze-dried apple powder, a delicious chocolate coating, and a sprinkle of Pop Rocks candy. Perfect for the season and Halloween!
Servings: 12 Truffles
Calories: 129kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
Caramel Apple Truffles
- 1 cup small rice cakes caramel or apple spice flavor
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup apple cider caramel sauce
- 3 tablespoons freeze dried apples, ground to powder optional
Chocolate Coating
- ⅓ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ teaspoon cold pressed refined coconut oil
- 1 packet green apple pop rocks candy
Instructions
Apple Cider Caramel Sauce
- Prepare the caramel per the original recipe. You can also use maple syrup caramel, or store-bought caramel. Store the leftovers in a glass jar and refrigerate.
Caramel Apple Truffles
- Line the baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper.
- Place the rice cakes in a ziploc bag and crush with your hand or a rolling pin. You want small pebble-size pieces. Note - Depending on your flavor preference, you can use plain rice cakes, caramel rice cakes, or apple cinnamon rice cakes.1 cup small rice cakes
- Transfer the rice cakes to a medium mixing bowl. With a spatula, stir in the salt and caramel sauce. Note - The caramel sauce can still be a little warm, but cool enough to handle to shape the truffles.1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/3 cup apple cider caramel sauce
- Use a small cookie scoop to portion equal size truffle. Roll the truffles in your hand to shape into balls (this may get sticky!). Place on the baking sheet and set aside while you prepare the apple powder.
- In a small blender, add the freeze dried apple pieces and pulse until ground to a powder. You will want about 2 to 3 tablespoons to coat the truffles. Pour the powder onto a small plate.3 tablespoons freeze dried apples, ground to powder
- Roll the shaped truffles through the apple powder and transfer back to the baking sheet. Chill the truffles in the freezer for at least 30 minutes - to give the caramel a chance to cool, and the truffles to set up firm. This will make dunking them in the chocolate much easier.
Chocolate Coating
- 2 options to melt the chocolate: 1. Place the chocolate and coconut oil in a small mixing bowl, and melt in the microwave in 15 second increments until mostly melted. 2. Use the double boiler linked at the top of the recipe. This is a great tool for candy making! Fill the pot with 2 inches of water and bring to a simmer. Add the chocolate and coconut oil to the top pot and stir until mostly melted.1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1/2 teaspoon cold pressed refined coconut oil
- Dunk the chilled truffles into the chocolate. Use a spatula or spoon to make sure all sides are coated. Don't worry if some of the apple powder starts to come off. It will go back into the chocolate to make it tasty!
- Place the chocolate truffles back on the baking sheet. Top with a healthy pinch or two of the pop rocks candy (you may hear some preliminary popping - which is fine). Chill the truffles in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes to give the chocolate time to set.1 packet green apple pop rocks candy
- Because of the chocolate coating, store leftovers in the refrigerator in a ziploc bag for up to 1 week. Or freeze the truffles in a tightly sealed ziploc bag for up to 3 months, and thaw in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Serving Size - This is a small batch candy recipe that can be doubled.
- Yield - The number of truffles will depend on how large you make them. I use a small cookie scoop to make 12 smaller truffles.
- The Recipe is Versatile - You can easily change the rice cake flavor, freeze dried fruit, and even the candy topping.
- Caramel Sauce - Store-bought will work fine for the truffles if you don't want to make homemade.
- Rice Cakes - I like to use the smaller rice cakes because I think they pack bigger flavor - especially the caramel or apple cinnamon.
- Freeze Dried Apples - This is optional, but it adds more flavor to the truffles. You can also mix the apple powder in with the crushed rice cakes - before adding the caramel - and skip rolling the truffles through the powder.
- Where To Find Freeze Dried Apples - They are typically in the aisles with nuts and other dried fruit.
- Pop Rocks Candy - Use any flavor you like. The green apple is a classic flavor with the caramel. Some of the candy may start to pop when you sprinkle it on the truffles. This is fine - you'll still get enough popping when you eat them!
Nutrition
Calories: 129kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.004g | Cholesterol: 0.3mg | Sodium: 79mg | Potassium: 106mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 8IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg