Enjoy apples like never before with this cream cheese caramel apple dip! Crisp apple slices are dunked into a creamy caramel dip with cream cheese as its secret ingredient.
Serve it up as an easy fall dessert or as a simple crowd pleaser any time of year!
Cream cheese and apples? It couldn’t be… a better combination! This cream cheese caramel apple dip is an absolute sweet treat and SO easy to make. Cream cheese adds a rich and creamy layer of flavor that you just can’t get with any other dip, and the caramel sauce takes it over the top!
We love to serve this up as a fall dessert, but it’s honestly great for any occasion. Topped with some chopped nuts and chocolate chips, this dip is sure to be your kid’s new favorite snack and the star of your next gathering.
Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip Ingredients
- Sugar: we used both granulated sugar and powdered sugar for this recipe.
- Butter: be sure to use unsalted butter as this is a sweet dish.
- Heavy cream: heavy cream is what makes the caramel sauce super rich and creamy.
- Vanilla extract: the flavor of vanilla pairs deliciously with the caramel and cream cheese.
- Cream cheese: make sure you soften your cream cheese before use.
- Mini chocolate chips: adds a subtle crunch and chocolatey finish.
- Peanuts: chopped peanuts are great for adding some texture and a salty, nutty flavor.
- Honey crisp apples: this is our apple of choice, but feel free to use your favorite.
Fun Swaps & Additions
There are many fun ingredients you can add that would make a great addition to this delicious dip. Feel free to experiment and get creative by exploring different flavors! Here are some ideas for inspiration:
Nuts: Swap out the chopped peanuts for other nuts like almonds, pecans, or walnuts. You could even roast them in the oven for an extra crunchy texture.
Chocolate Chips: Rather go for dark chocolate or white chocolate chips? Go for it! These alternative flavors will add their own twist to this caramel cream cheese apple dip.
Cookies: Take your caramel apple dip to the next level by crumbling up your favorite cookies and sprinkling them on top. Oreos, graham crackers, or even gingersnaps are sure to be tasty.
Candy: Nothing ups the decadence like candy! Think heath toffee bits, mini M&Ms, or even gummy bears as toppings. The possibilities are endless with this one!
More Tasty Dipper Ideas
Fresh apple slices aren’t the only thing that would taste delicious in this cream cheese caramel apple dip! Here are some of our favorites to get your imagination going:
- Graham crackers
- Vanilla wafers
- Heath bars
- Oreos
- Pretzels
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Marshmallows
How to soften cream cheese
Looking for a quick method to soften cream cheese? Check out our post – How to Soften Cream Cheese – 4 Ways! Here you’ll learn 4 unique (and quick!) methods to soften cream cheese to the perfect amount for baking and cooking.
Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip FAQs
Why add cream cheese to dessert dips?
Adding cream cheese to dessert dips is a surefire way to take any dish from plain to delicious. Not only does it add some decadence and indulgence, but it also adds an incredible depth of flavor.
Cream cheese has the perfect amount of tanginess that helps balance out the sweetness in desserts like fruit dips or cheesecake dip recipes. Plus, it makes the dip extra creamy and smooth, making it a delightful treat.
What are the best kind of apples to use?
You can use any type of apple for this recipe. But if you want to really bring out the delicious flavor of the caramel, I recommend using tart apples like Granny Smith, Fuji, or McIntosh. These apples are sweet enough to balance out the sweetness of the caramel without being too overpowering.
Should you refrigerate apples before dipping them in caramel?
This is only necessary when you are making whole caramel apples. Our recipe is an apple dip, so you should go ahead and skip this step.
In general, refrigerating ingredients before dipping them in caramel helps to keep the coating smooth and shiny, but you don’t need to worry about that here!
Storage
This homemade caramel apple dip is great for making ahead and stores easily. Whether you have leftovers or are saving it for later, simply place it in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
More Cream Cheese Desserts
- This Cream Cheese Cherry Dump Cake is a delightful combination of cherries and cream cheese, baked to perfection for a comforting dessert.
- Indulge in the rich and creamy Peanut Butter Cheesecake Milkshake, where the flavors of peanut butter and cream cheese are blended together for a luxurious treat.
- Enjoy the tangy and sweet taste of this Blueberry Cream Cheese Pie, with a layer of creamy cheese beneath a topping of fresh blueberries.
- These Lemon Cream Cheese Bars are a zesty and refreshing dessert, where the tartness of lemon meets the smoothness of cream cheese.
- Cream Cheese Mints are a delicate and minty delight, featuring the smooth texture of cream cheese in a candy form that melts in your mouth.
- Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting is a versatile topping that can add a rich and creamy touch to cakes, cupcakes, and other baked goods, with the distinctive flavor of cream cheese.
Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip
Ingredients
Caramel Sauce
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter chunked (~1 stick)
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Dip
- 16 oz. cream cheese softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
- ½ cup chopped peanuts
- 6 honey crisp apples sliced
Instructions
- First, prepare the caramel. Heat the sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, gently swirling every few minutes.
- Whisk in the butter until completely melted. Remove from the heat and stir in heavy cream and vanilla extract. Allow cooling for 10 minutes. Place in a container with a loose lid and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
- After the caramel has cooled, prepare the dip. Add the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract to a bowl and mix using a hand blender. Spread into a serving dish. We used an 8×8-inch dish.
- Pour the caramel sauce over the cream cheese. Top with mini chocolate chips and peanuts. Serve with apple slices.
Tips & Notes
- This is a great recipe to make ahead of time.
- You can top this with other favorite caramel apple toppings; white chocolate chips, chocolate cookie crumbs, or any other roasted nut.
