This Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip is the perfect fall snack recipe. Using toffee bits, caramel and a hint of chocolate this dip is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. With less than 10 ingredients and one bowl, anyone can make the delicious dip that will be gone in seconds.
This Caramel Apple Cream Cheese Dip is sure to be a hit at your next fall get-together! It’s layered with the perfect creamy and crunchy savory and sweet notes that make it the best caramel dip for apples!
This caramel cream cheese dip with toffee pieces is a total hit at any fall gathering. It takes just 15 minutes to make. Plus, it's a great recipe for kids and beginner cooks to try since it's so simple.
Save The Recipe!
Add your email below and we’ll send it straight to your inbox+ you’ll receive all our newest recipes!
With less than 10 ingredients and one bowl, you can have snack or appetizer ready to serve. So many people will want the recipe!
With the holidays coming, I’m always looking for great appetizers like The Great Pumpkin Board and Fall Turkey and Cheese Sliders Recipe! Another fun one-bite apple delight are Caramel Apple Bites! They’re fun and quick to make!
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- It’s a Party HIT: It's one of the best fall apple recipes for a party appetizer or dessert that can be made in less than 10 minutes!
- Incredible Textures: The combination of crunchy toffee bits, chocolatey goodness and ooey gooey caramel is tough to resist!
- Sweet and Savory Goodness: It's got the perfect balance of salty and sweet with the notes of autumn we're craving!
Ways Soften Cream Cheese Quickly
- To soften cream cheese quickly, there are a few methods you can try:
- Microwave Method:
- Microwave the cream cheese on a microwave-safe plate it on a low power setting in short 10-15 second bursts. Gently press with a fork or your fingers to see if it's softening. Be cautious not to overheat it, as cream cheese can melt quickly.
- Room Temperature Method:
- If you have some time, you can simply let the cream cheese sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes to an hour.
- Cutting Method:
- Cut the cream cheese into smaller chunks or slices before attempting to soften it. Smaller pieces will come to room temperature more quickly and be easier to mix.
- Warm Water Bath:
- Place the cream cheese in a watertight plastic bag. Fill a bowl with warm (not hot) water and submerge the sealed bag. Allow it to sit in the warm water for 10-15 minutes, gently kneading the bag occasionally to help distribute the warmth.
- Microwave Method:
Ingredients
Scroll Down for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Recipe Card Below
- Cream Cheese: Spread thin and perfectly paired with toppings, this provides richness and creaminess.
- Honey: Adds a light sweetness to the cream cheese and enhances the spreadable texture of the base.
- Vanilla: Both an aromatic to this dip as well as enhancement to all of the flavors of this dip.
- Heath Toffee Bits: Flecks of toffee in every bite adds an incredible crunch and buttery goodness!
- Ghirardelli Chocolate Sauce: Delivers a wonderfully smooth, decadent sweetness and flavor.
- Ghirardelli Salted Caramel Sauce: Adds both a layer of sweetness and savoriness.
- Chopped Peanuts: An added crunch to the dip as well as protein and savory flavors.
- Granny Smith Apples: The perfect tartness to pair with the savory sweetness of the dip and sturdy for a big scoop!
Tools You'll Need
How to Make Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip
- In a small bowl, mix together cream cheese, honey and vanilla with a fork or spatula until well blended.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture on a serving dish. Top the cream cheese with desired amounts of toppings.
- Serve with apple slices.
Recipe Tips and Substitutions
- If you have the time or prefer to make homemade caramel for the apple dip, this stove-top method yields a delicious result:
- Fill a deep saucepan with water, enough to fully submerge a 14oz can of sweetened condensed milk. Cover the saucepan and bring the water to a gentle boil. Simmer in the water for 2 to 3 hours. Check the water level periodically to make sure the can remains fully submerged. Add more water as needed. Cool at room temperature before opening it. This will prevent hot caramel from splattering.
- If you cannot find toffee bits for the topping, you can instead finely dice a Health chocolate bar.
- Honey can be substituted with brown sugar, powdered sugar, agave nectar, or maple syrup.
- Peanuts can be substituted with any of your favorite nut varieties.
- Keep your apple slices from turning brown by tossing them in a mixture of one part citrus juice to one part water.
How to Keep Apples from Turning Brown
- The tartness, slight sweetness and firm texture of a Granny Smith apple makes these my favorite apple to go with this dip. No matter the variety or apple chosen, they can turn brown due to a process called enzymatic browning, when the enzymes in the fruit react with oxygen in the air. To prevent apples from turning brown, you can try the following methods:
- Mix one part citrus juice (lemon, lime, orange) with three parts water. Toss the apple slices in the mixture then drain.
- Coating apple slices with honey or light corn syrup can help create a barrier between the fruit and the air. This method adds sweetness and flavor to the apples.
- If you're serving apple slices immediately or within a short time, you can submerge them in cold water to slow down browning. Drain the water before serving.
- If you've sliced the apples and want to store them, keep them in an airtight container to limit their exposure to air.
- If you have a vacuum sealer, you can vacuum-seal apple slices to remove air and slow down browning. Just be cautious not to crush the slices.
Variations of Cream Cheese Apple Dip
- Pretzels also make for an excellent dipper choice for this recipe.
- Want to make this dip even easier, omit the honey and vanilla and simply garnish a cream cheese brick with the toppings noted.
Storing and Freezing
This recipe is best eaten when made fresh or pulled from refrigerator storage. It can be refrigerated up to 4 days, but the texture of the toppings will be compromised over time. Also, it is best to slice apples fresh when ready to serve.
We suggest not to store this dip in the freezer as it will change the texture.
FAQs
When it comes to apples for dipping, it's has mostly to do with personal apple preference. You'll want apples that have a good balance of sweetness, crispness, and a sturdy texture that holds up well to dipping and coating. Granny Smith, honeycrisp, fuji, pink lady, gala, cosmic crisp are all excellent options.
Generally, this cream cheese dip, if properly stored, can last for about 4 days in the refrigerator. The toffee bits and peanut will soften over time. If you're planning on having leftovers, you can serve a smaller portion and wait to garnish the rest at a later time.
While freezing cream cheese-based dips is possible, it's important to note that the texture might not be exactly the same as when freshly made. The cream cheese may become slightly grainy or separate and the toppings texture compromised. Therefore, this recipe is best suited for freshly made or refrigerated consumption.
Other Fall Apple Recipes
Cream Cheese Apple Dip
Ingredients
- 8 ounces regular or ⅓-less fat cream cheese room temperature
- 1-2 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Heath Toffee Bits
- Ghirardelli Chocolate Sauce
- Ghirardelli Salted Caramel Sauce
- Chopped Peanuts
- Granny Smith Apples sliced
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together cream cheese, honey and vanilla with a fork until well blended.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture on a serving dish. Top with desired amounts of toppings.
- Serve with apple slices.
Video
Notes
- Nutrition calculation is for 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture and doesn’t include the toppings or dippers.
- If you have the time or prefer to make homemade caramel apple dip, this stove-top method yields a delicious result:
- Fill a deep saucepan with water, enough to fully submerge a 14oz can of sweetened condensed milk. Cover the saucepan and bring the water to a gentle boil. Simmer in the water for 2 to 3 hours. Check the water level periodically to make sure the can remains fully submerged. Add more water as needed. Cool at room temperature before opening it. This will prevent hot caramel from splattering.
- If you cannot find toffee bits for the topping, you can instead finely dice a
Health chocolate bar. - Honey can be substituted with brown sugar, powdered sugar, agave nectar, or maple syrup.
- Peanuts can be substituted with any of your favorite nut varieties.
Nancy
This looks so yummy and easy. I always slice my apples and put them in a bowl of cold water with some salt. Then place on a paper towel or in a colander and let air dry a bit. This will keep your apples from turning brown and that little touch of salt would really complement the sweetness of the dip
Laura Ashley
That’s such a great idea! It’ll keep them looking pretty for much longer!!