Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip with Toffee Bits
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Celebrate the flavors of fall with this Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip! With a handful of ingredients, it’s an easy go-to for cozy gatherings, Thanksgiving spreads, or any autumn celebration where a sweet treat is a must!
Why You’ll Love This Sweet Dip Recipe
I love this easy dessert recipe because it’s like making traditional caramel apples without the hassle and mess but with all the festive flavor!
Ingredient Notes
- 20 Kraft caramels | Use individually wrapped caramels for easy melting. They provide a rich, creamy texture perfect for dipping!
- Heavy cream | Smooths and adds richness to the caramel, helping it melt evenly.
- Cream cheese | Ensure it’s softened for easy mixing and a creamy texture in the dip.
- Powdered sugar | Sweetens the cream cheese mixture without making it gritty.
- Vanilla | Adds a warm, fragrant depth of flavor that complements the caramel and cream cheese.
- Heath toffee bits | Adds a crunchy, sweet topping that pairs wonderfully with the creamy dip.
- Two large Honeycrisp apples | Sweet and crisp apples like Honeycrisp are perfect for dipping— refreshing and delicious!
Recipe Success Tips
How to Make the Best Caramel Apple Dip
Get ready to indulge in a sweet and creamy treat perfect for dipping!
STEP 1 | Melt caramels
Get started by unwrapping the individual caramels and placing them in a small microwave-safe bowl. Pour in the heavy cream, and cook at 50% power for 30 seconds.
Next, remove the bowl from the microwave and stir with a silicone spatula. Continue cooking at 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until the caramels are melted and smooth.
STEP 2 | Mix cream cheese layer
Now, combine the ingredients for the cream cheese mix. Add the vanilla, cream cheese, and powdered sugar to a medium mixing bowl and mix on low speed until smooth.
STEP 3 | Add some caramel
Then, pour about ¼ cup of the melted caramel into the bowl with the cream cheese mixture and mix again until combined. Evenly spread the mixture into the bottom of a shallow bowl or dish.
STEP 4 | Spread caramel layer, add toffee, and serve with apples!
Finally, carefully spread the remaining melted caramel over the cream cheese layer, then top with the toffee bits.
Serve fresh with sliced apples for dipping, or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Dessert dips are easy to make and always a hit! Try my rich and chocolatey Brownie Batter Dip or this Pumpkin Dip with Ginger Snaps fit for the holidays!
Variations and Substitutions
- Try Different Apple Varieties. Choose your favorite apple type to dip in this sweet caramel cream cheese mixture. Use Gala, Fuji, Red Delicious, Granny Smith apples, or a mix of a few!
- Melt Caramels on the Stove. To melt caramels on the stovetop, unwrap them and place them in a small saucepan with 1-2 tablespoons of milk or water. Melt over low heat, stirring frequently to ensure a smooth, even consistency. Keep the heat low and stir constantly to avoid burning.
- More Tasty Add-Ins. Try toasted nuts, like peanuts or pecans, or add a sprinkle of chocolate chips.
- Other Dippers. Get a sweet crunch with Graham crackers, saltiness with pretzels, or creaminess with vanilla wafers.
Storage Tips
- If you’re making the caramel apple dip recipe ahead of time or want to store the leftovers for later, wrap the serving bowl with plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge for up to three days. In an airtight container, the recipe may last an extra day, but you can save dirty dishes by simply covering the bowl tightly.
- If you are making the recipe beforehand, hold off on the toffee bits and sliced apples. Sprinkle the toffee and cut the fresh apples just before serving for the best texture and flavor!
Frequently Asked Questions
A crisp, tart apple like a Granny Smith is perfect for caramel dipping! It balances the sweetness of the caramel with its refreshing tang. But if you like something sweeter, go for Fuji, Gala, or Honey Crisps (my favorite) — they’re juicy and delicious!
A lot of grocery stores have them in the baking aisle, right next to the chocolate chips or baking nuts. If you’re having trouble, try checking out stores like Walmart or Target. You can even find them online!
Easy! Just toss the slices in a little lemon juice or citric acid to prevent browning. You can also soak them in a water-lemon juice mix for a few minutes. No more brown apples!
Looking for more Caramel Desserts?
Caramel is delicious all year long, but something about the holiday season makes it extra tasty! For more caramel lover recipes, try my caramel-pecan Thumbprint Christmas Cookies and crunchy Caramel Corn with cashews and pecans.
What to Serve With Caramel Apple Dip
There’s nothing quite like my homemade Spiced Apple Cider paired with this fresh and creamy caramel dip!
Love this recipe? Bookmark it for the future!
Simply tap the heart symbol located in the lower right corner of your screen, and the recipe will be securely stored in your own recipe box.
Caramel Apple Dip
Ingredients
- 20 Kraft caramels
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 8 oz. cream cheese softened
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup Heath toffee bits or chopped nuts, peanuts
- 2 large Honey Crisp apples sliced into wedges
Instructions
- Unwrap the individual caramels and place in a small microwave-safe bowl. Pour in the heavy cream, then cook at 50% power for 30 seconds. Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir with a silicone spatula. Continue cooking 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until the caramels are melted and smooth.
- Add the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla to a medium mixing bowl. Mix on low speed until smooth.
- Pour about ¼ cup of the melted caramel into the bowl with the cream cheese mixture and mix again until combined. Evenly spread the mixture into the bottom of a shallow bowl or dish.
- Carefully spread the remaining melted caramel over the cream cheese layer, then top with the toffee bits. Serve immediately with sliced apples for dipping, or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- If you’re making the caramel apple dip recipe ahead of time or want to store the leftovers for later, wrap the serving bowl with plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge for up to three days. In an airtight container, the recipe may last an extra day, but you can save dirty dishes by simply covering the bowl tightly.
- If you are making the recipe beforehand, hold off on the toffee bits and sliced apples. Sprinkle the toffee and cut the fresh apples just before serving for the best texture and flavor!
Nutrition
Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
