Make creepy candy spiders using caramel and chocolate. These caramel spiders are perfect for a Halloween party or an April Fool's prank.
If you are like me and scream at the site of a spider crawling up your wall, you might have a hard time biting into one of these gross Halloween treats.
However, if you love caramel and chocolate, you might just not be able to resist eating a candy spider.
Each sweet spider may look gross but it tastes great.
To make candy spiders, you'll create modeling chocolate (candy clay) using caramel dip and candy melts.
Modeling chocolate is pliable enough to sculpt or mold into just about any shape and it tastes great particularly when made with caramel.
You can add these spiders to a decorated Halloween cake, a fun Halloween cupcake, or a sweet Halloween charcuterie board. They are sure to get a reaction, possibly even a few screams!
So, let's make some chocolate caramel spiders.
Ingredients
caramel dip - I used Wilton's Black Caramel Dip. It made vibrantly black spiders. If you can't find the black caramel dip, you can use caramel apple dip instead or Dulce de Leche. Either will work fine but you'll need to add some black food coloring unless you don't mind having brownish-black spiders.
black candy melts - If you want to make brown spiders, use light cocoa candy melts instead.
optional heavy whipping cream - If you use the Black Caramel Dip, it is quite thick, so you'll need to thin it out by adding some heavy whipping cream.
Supplies
You'll need a thermometer to test the temperature of your candy melts. I use a Thermapen instant-read thermometer. I love how quickly this thermometer responds to changes in temperature.
You can find the silicone spider mold, black candy melts, and a traditionally colored sea salt caramel dip on Amazon.com. (affiliate links, commission earned for sales)
Rubber Silicone Ice Cube Tr...Shop on Amazon 
Wilton Black Vanilla Candy ...Shop on Amazon 
Wilton Caramel Apple Dippin...Shop on Amazon
Instructions
This recipe is super simple. Three ingredients are all you need to create your own black caramel candy spiders. However, you MUST follow the instructions exactly. Just like when making modeling chocolate, temperature matters. If the caramel or candy coating is too hot, the oils will come to the surface, and you will end up with a greasy mess.
If that does happen to you, then go to my Chocolate Making Tips page find my tutorial on How to Fix Greasy Modeling Chocolate, and follow those instructions to fix your candy.
- If using Wilton's Black Caramel Dip, open the box of caramel dip and remove the plastic covering. Heat in the microwave on high power for 45 seconds. Carefully stir in the heavy whipping cream. Allow to cool until it's cool to the touch, stirring often.
- If using caramel apple dip, skip the step above.
- Melt the candy melts then allow them to cool to 91 degrees Fahrenheit, stirring the bowl often to make sure the candy around the edge of the bowl does not harden. This is very important. Don't skip this step.
- Once it reaches 91 degrees, pour in the caramel, and stir slowly until well blended.
- Let it sit in the bowl for 10 minutes.
- Then, pour it out onto a cool surface, like marble, granite, or the back of a cookie sheet.
- Knead until smooth and pliable.
- Press into silicone spider molds or candy molds to create fun Halloween treats.
- Freeze for 10-15 minutes, until very firm, then remove and press the candy spiders out of the mold.
Variations
If you just can't handle eating a caramel spider, you can use this recipe to create other Halloween candy.
For our witch-themed Halloween party, I made black caramel witch hats and black caramel cat lollipops. I was so happy to find that inserting a stick into the caramel modeling chocolate was not only easy, but it held firmly. I put a lollipop in a cake pops stand and allowed it to stand upright overnight and the lollipop held it's shape perfectly. Of course, you might have issues if your house is extremely warm, but that would be the case with chocolate pops too.
To use a plastic candy mold, just press the candy in, pop it in the freezer for 10-15 minutes, remove and invert the mold, and press on the back side of the mold, allowing the candy to pop out.
Recipe
See more creepy Halloween recipe ideas below this recipe card.
- 10 ounces ( 1 box) Wilton Black Caramel Dip or caramel apple dip
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream (don't use if you use caramel apple dip)
- 10 ounces (1 bag) Wilton Black Candy Melts
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If using Wilton's Black Caramel Dip, open the box of caramel dip and remove the plastic covering. Heat in the microwave on high power for 45 seconds. Carefully stir in the heavy whipping cream. Allow to cool until it's cool to the touch, stirring often.
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If using caramel apple dip, skip the step above.
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Pour the candy melts into a microwave safe bowl.
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Heat for 45 seconds, then stir.
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Heat for 30 seconds, then stir.
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Heat for 15 seconds, then let sit in microwave for 3 minutes.
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Remove and stir until melted.
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If you need to, heat for 10 second increments, stirring after each until melted.
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Allow the candy melts to cool to 91 degrees Fahrenheit, stirring the bowl often to make sure the candy around the edge of the bowl does not harden. This is very important. Don't skip this step.
-
Once it reaches 91 degrees, pour in the caramel, and stir slowly until well blended.
-
Let it sit in the bowl for 10 minutes.
-
Then, pour it out onto a cool surface, like marble, granite, or the back of a cookie sheet.
-
Knead until smooth and pliable.
-
Press into silicone spider molds or candy molds to create fun Halloween treats.
-
Freeze for 10-15 minutes, until very firm, then remove and press candy out of the mold.
Store at room temperature for up to 1 month.
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I bet you are thinking those black caramel spiders aren't so bad after all.
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Lara
So I saw this recipe and then was really sad when I found out that Wilton doesn't make the black caramel anymore, but I used the regular caramel packet, thinking it would just make a dark brown with the black candy melts. Then I ended up buying some black food coloring paste at Walmart (just in case), which I was really glad of, because the candy melts turned out purple instead of black once melted, but the black food coloring worked great, and it all turned out perfect! I had to use the How to Fix Greasy Modeling Chocolate link (which, by the way, site owner, is not at the link you posted—I had to click through about 4 other pages to find it, which was annoying, but I eventually did find it, and it was helpful), since I think I stirred too fast to mix the caramel and chocolate. I also found that I really couldn't use my fingers to press the candy into the molds because it would warm up again and get oily and not set properly, but once I got the hang of it (used a regular dinner spoon), it worked really well.
Beth
It's always so disappointing when a product is discontinued. I loved the Wilton black caramel and am sad that it's gone from store shelves. Sorry about the link to the the greasy modeling chocolate tutorial. I used to only have one page with all the information about chocolate and modeling chocolate and as the page has grown as I've added so much more detailed information, I split it into several pages. I have not had time to go back through older posts to change all those links. I am so sorry!
I am so happy to hear the spiders did eventually work for you and I hope you enjoyed them!
karen
I am wondering what is the best way to store these?
Beth
I stored them in a Rubbermaid container. They stayed fresh for well over a week.
tiff
I also bought a mold from the dollar store after i seen this, going to check out micheals friday. Kids are excited as well to try this.
Beth
These were a huge hit at our Halloween party. Everyone was so surprised when they bit into the candy to find it was caramel.
Karen@ Sugartown Sweets
These are creepy for sure...sooo real looking!
You know, I had no idea Wilton had caramel dips..where have I been?! I can't wait to go to Michael's today!
Your spiders look scary good!
Beth
Wilton came out with traditional caramel dip last year, but the black is new this year and is only available at Michael's. It has a really nice caramel flavor and when paired with the black candy melts makes the perfect realistic looking spiders. I'm glad you like them! Thanks, Karen.
Karenb
Beth, Thanks for the GREAT tutorial!! I purchased the same spider silicone mold last weekend at the Dollar Store and was going to make plain black spiders to top cupcakes. These Black Caramel spiders sound so much better!!! I'm going to Michael's now to buy the Wilton carmel.
Thanks for sharing!
Beth
You are so welcome, Karen. I just picked up a few more molds at the Dollar Tree this week too. I only had one and have another project I'll be sharing soon using the mold again, this time with the spider webs. Have fun making your spiders and creeping out your friends.