This caramel apple dip is easy to make from scratch with 6 ingredients including butter, heavy cream and brown sugar. This smooth, creamy caramel dip makes a delicious dessert or snack.
You know it's fall in the grocery store when you start seeing the tubs of caramel apple dip strategically placed in the produce section.
I always prefer homemade to store-bought, and this caramel dip is no exception. It's made with 6 ingredients (no corn syrup, condensed milk, preservatives, etc.) in 15 minutes and is irresistibly delicious!
Enjoy the flavor of caramel apples, with less work with this caramel apple dip recipe.
Caramel Apple Dip: Ingredients & Substitutions
- Light brown sugar. Dark brown sugar can be used but will impart a bolder molasses flavor.
- Salted butter. Unsalted butter works well too.
- Heavy cream. There is no substitute for heavy cream.
- Vanilla extract. an equal amount of vanilla bean paste can be used in place of the vanilla extract.
Caramel-making equipment
There are a few key piece of kitchen gear you need to make flawless homemade caramel. Be sure to have everything you need laid out and ready to go.
- Tall, heavy bottomed pan. This is absolutely critical when making candy, especially caramel (or toffee). I suggest a thick pot like this one, it's 2.5 mm thick on the bottom for even heating. If you really want to splurge you could get a copper version (I bought this and love it). If you use a pot that is too thin the caramel could burn and you will end up with flecks of crystalized sugar in the candy.
- Candy thermometer. Sure, you could do the ball test to determine if your caramel is done, but that is too subjective for my analytical mind - and I never make candy without a thermometer. I use a digital, instant read thermometer for all my candy making (and meat cooking).
- Metal Whisk and silicone spatula. The caramel needs to be stirred often, so you need a heat-proof utensil to make this recipe. I suggest a metal whisk or high-heat silicone spatula.
How to Make Caramel Apple Dip
Making caramel can be tricky, but this caramel apple dip is easy to make once you get the method down! Let's walk through the recipe step-by-step, and don't forget to watch the video.
Begin by adding water and brown sugar to a heavy-bottom pan. Cook over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves, whisking often.
Then, add the butter and whisk until it is melted. Then, bring the mixture to a boil.
Once boiling, lower the heat and cook/boil over medium-low heat until the mixture is thick and pulls away from the sides (about 10 minutes), whisking occasionally.
Then, whisk in the heavy cream and sea salt until smooth. Bring the mixture to a boil again and boil for 1 minute.
After 1 minute, remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract.
Then, transfer the caramel to a glass storage dish or jar and let it cool completely before serving (mixture thickens as it cools).
Serve
Serve the caramel apple dip slightly chilled or at room temperature. Enjoy it with your favorite apple varieties, or other dippers like pretzels, graham crackers, pears, etc.
Store
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Recipe FAQs
You have to be able to recognize the stage between "thread" and "soft ball". Place a glass or bowl of cold water next to you as you make the caramel. You will know you reached the correct stage when the caramel starts turning darker brown, pulls away from the sides and forms a firm "thread" when put in cold water.
What apples are best for dipping in caramel?
Here are my top suggestions:
Honeycrisp
Pink Lady
Jazz
Granny Smith
Fuji
Gala
Besides apples, you can dip so many delicious foods in this caramel dip recipe. Try other fruits like pears, bananas, peaches, nectarines, etc. You can also enjoy this dip with pretzels, graham crackers, etc.
Yes, double the ingredients and make it in a 5-quart saucepan.
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Caramel Apple Dip Recipe (Caramel Dip)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup water
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup salted butter
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add water and brown sugar to a heavy-bottom pan. Cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, whisking often.
- Add butter and whisk until the butter is melted.
- Once the butter is melted, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and cook/boil over medium-low heat until the mixture is thick and pulls away from the sides (about 10 minutes), whisking occasionally.
- Whisk in the heavy cream and sea salt until smooth, then bring the mixture to a boil again and boil for 1 minute.
- After 1 minute, remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract.
- Transfer the caramel apple dip to a glass storage dish or jar and let cool completely before serving (mixture thickens as it cools).
Video
Notes
- Light brown sugar. Dark brown sugar can be used but will impart a bolder molasses flavor.
- Salted butter. Unsalted butter works well too.
- Heavy cream. There is no substitute for heavy cream.
- Vanilla extract. an equal amount of vanilla bean paste can be used in place of the vanilla extract.
Nutrition
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Marilyn
Can this be nade Sugar-Free ?