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    You are here: Home / Dips / Caramel Apple Cheesecake Dip

    Caramel Apple Cheesecake Dip

    September 25, 2015 Updated April 30, 2020 BySam 10 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

     A sweet, caramel infused cheesecake dip (made with a foolproof, 5-ingredient homemade caramel) that pairs perfectly with freshly-cut Fall-time apples.

    Caramel Apple Cheesecake Dip

    I have a general distaste for caramel apples.  The reason for it is simple and a little silly: I felt that I was deceived by one as a child.

    It was my first encounter, years and years ago at the fair amidst pastel clouds of cotton candy, buckets of butter-saturated popcorn, and chocolate-vanilla swirls of soft serve ice cream.  The over-sized candy-coated orbs caught my attention in a way that the other sweets and deep-fried monstrosities failed to do, making my sweet tooth ache for a bite.

    It wasn’t often that my parents conceded to buying my sister and me snacks, and I’d already managed not only to secure a silver seahorse necklace, but also a trip through the haunted house with my cousins, so it was pressing my luck to ask for a dessert.  But, when my cousins asked their parents for their own apples, my parents graciously allowed me to pick out one of my own– a behemoth of a fruit half the size of my face, supported by a sturdy wooden spike.

    apple slices dipped in chocolate on skewers

    It was nothing short of glorious to behold, the lights of the ferris wheel and balloon-dart games shone on its surface in the night, it was illustrated-storybook-worthy enrobed in a sleek veneer of caramel and a wicked drizzle of chocolate.

    I chomped in for my first bite and it was… sadly disappointing.

    It was too big to secure a satisfying-sized bite.  The caramel stuck to my teeth and was glazed onto the apple on in such a shallow coating that it was utterly underwhelming compared to the overabundance of fruit.  I managed my way through the layer of caramel and then felt like I was being punished as I forced myself to finish a gigantic piece of fruit rather than the sweet dessert I’d been expecting.

    I should have gone for the cotton candy that day, and I’ve carried that regret with me all of those years (I may be acting a bit dramatic here, but I definitely haven’t forgotten the experience) and I haven’t touched a caramel apple since.

    Overhead Caramel Apple Cheesecake Dip

    Recently, though, with the mind-boggling variety of apples available in all hues of red and green (sporting names as colorfully quaint as the ones you usually find slapped on lipstick tubes… Pink Lady, Honeycrisp and Red Delicious, to name a few), candied and caramel apples have been heavy on my mind (as has been apple pie and apple dumplings)

    So here, finally, I’ve taken all of the complaints I had about caramel apples and eliminated them with a vengeance.  With this creamy caramel cheesecake dip, every bite is laden with exactly as much caramel as you would like.  It smacks heavily of cheesecake flavor (with a pound of cream cheese blended into the caramel sauce, it’s no wonder).  Creamy and soft, it suits the apple slices far better than a paper-thin coating of caramel alone would do.

    A sprinkling of walnuts, brown sugar and flour adds another dimension and crunch to the dip, accenting the warm caramel undertones with a distinct nuttiness (you may also double the prescribed amount and sprinkle half of it on the chocolate coated apples, if desired).

    While it’s optional, I strongly recommend dipping your apples in chocolate before serving for an added dimension of flavor (and the satisfying snappy crunch of chocolate breaking between your teeth).

    Caramel Apple Cheesecake Dip

    I know that some of you are going to ask: can I use store-bought caramel sauce instead of making my own?

    Yes… but I don’t know why you would.  If you’re absolutely pressed for time I recommend using the thicker kind that is sold as a sundae topping in a glass jar (not the squeeze bottle of syrup) and, because it is so sweet I would combine it with the cream cheese first and do a taste test before deciding whether or not to add the additional ⅓ cup brown sugar, it might be sweet enough without it.

    But really, this caramel sauce is so easy to make I try to keep a mason jar of it in my house at all times, it goes so quickly, though.

    More Recipes You Might Like:

    • Caramel Popcorn
    • Caramel Cake
    • Apple Butter
    • Caramelitas

    Enjoy!

    caramel apple dip with apple slice

    Caramel Apple Cheesecake Dip

    A sweet, caramel infused cheesecake dip (made with a foolproof, 5-ingredient homemade caramel) that pairs perfectly with freshly-cut Fall-time apples.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    cool time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 1291kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup light brown sugar packed
    • ½ cup heavy cream
    • 5 Tbsp butter cut into Tbsp-sized pieces
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    • ½ tsp salt
    • 16 oz packages cream cheese softened
    • ⅓ cup brown sugar packed
    • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

    Crumble (optional)

    • 3 Tbsp brown sugar packed
    • 1 Tbsp flour
    • 2 cup walnuts finely chopped

    For dipping

    • 4-6 apples cored and sliced (do not slice more than an hour in advance as apples may brown. graham crackers or pretzels would also make good dipping options)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • In medium-sized saucepan over low heat, stir together brown sugar, cream and butter until butter is completely melted and ingredients are well combined.
    • Turn heat up to medium-high, stirring constantly until mixture begins to boil. Continue to stir constantly while mixture boils for one minute.
    • Remove from heat (continue to stir for another minute or the mixture may still burn to the pan).
    • Allow to cool 5 minutes then stir in vanilla and salt.
    • Allow caramel to cool to room temperature before proceeding.
    • While caramel is cooling, prepare your apples by melting chocolate chips or melting wafers in a medium-sized bowl for 30 seconds. Stir, and continue to microwave at 15 second increments (stirring after each round) until chocolate is completely melted.
    • Dip apple slices halfway in chocolate (or drizzle on top).
    • Transfer dipped slices to wax-paper lined cookie sheet and store in refrigerator for chocolate to harden.
    • Prepare the crumble topping by whisking together brown sugar and flour in a small bowl until combined.
    • Finely chop your walnuts (I do this with a large knife, cutting them as if I were mincing garlic) and stir into brown sugar/flour mixture. Set aside.
    • Once caramel has cooled, in KitchenAid mixer (or with hand mixer), beat cream cheese until well-creamed.
    • Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add ⅓ cup tightly packed brown sugar.
    • Beat until well-combined.
    • Add room temperature caramel and beat on low-medium speed until ingredients are well incorporated.
    • Transfer to bowl, sprinkle with walnut mixture, and serve alongside sliced (and dipped) apples.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 1291kcal | Carbohydrates: 112g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 91g | Saturated Fat: 41g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 139mg | Sodium: 551mg | Potassium: 839mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 91g | Vitamin A: 1702IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 218mg | Iron: 6mg
    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!
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    Caramel Apple Cheesecake Dip-- made with an easy 5 ingredient homemade caramel
    Previous Post: « Peanut Butter Blondie Bars
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jena

      April 01, 2021 at 4:08 pm

      This sounds really good, but question on the crumble…. it’s just flour, brown sugar & the chopped nuts mixed together & put on top as is? I’ve never made a crumble that’s not cooked, so this concept is new to me. I’m not worried about the aspect of eating “raw” flour, but want to make sure I’m not missing a step.
      Thanks for all of the time you put into your recipes. As someone who loves to cook, but baking…. not so much, the background, reasoning & history of failed attempts has definitely helped increase my success/failure ratio when it comes to my dessert experiments.

      Reply
      • Sam

        April 03, 2021 at 4:09 pm

        Hi Jena! You didn’t miss anything here, just stir the ingredients together and put it on top. You can always heat treat your flour if there are concerns. I’m so glad you have been enjoying everything and I’m happy to hear how much you appreciate hard work that’s put into the recipes. 🙂

        Reply
    2. Beeta @ Mon Petit Four

      September 28, 2015 at 2:25 am

      Oh yum! What a fantastic idea to make a dip for the apples! I agree that far too many caramel apples have too little caramel and too much apple. This dip is the perfect way to solve that problem. I can’t wait to try this recipe out, Sam!

      Reply
    3. Fareeha

      September 27, 2015 at 12:47 pm

      This looks so amazingly delicious.. talk about cheesecake and u would find me there

      Reply
    4. Medha @ Whisk & Shout

      September 26, 2015 at 11:04 am

      I’d be eating this with a spoon! Caramel apple cheesecake in dip form?! Genius!

      Reply
    5. Annie @ The Garlic Diaries

      September 25, 2015 at 4:32 pm

      5 stars
      This is so perfect for fall! It sounds absolutely delicious :). Pinned!

      Reply
    6. Marsha @ Marsha's Baking Addiction

      September 25, 2015 at 3:08 pm

      This looks sooo good! I don’t need fruit, pass me the spoon!

      Reply
    7. Ana | Espresso My Kitchen

      September 25, 2015 at 12:50 pm

      ooh I like the idea of cheesecake dip! sounds yummy and yes to dipping the apples in chocolate! 🙂

      Reply
    8. Adina

      September 25, 2015 at 12:02 pm

      This sounds really tasty, I have never thought about dipping with something sweet. Well, except chocolate, but I am not a fan of that. This version of a dip is definitely better for me. 🙂

      Reply
    9. Amanda

      September 25, 2015 at 11:53 am

      This looks so addictive. I can imagine putting it out for a get together and having it disappear in five minutes. And having the apples dipped in chocolate beforehand is a really pretty touch.

      Reply

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    The author (Sam) in blue shirt holding donut Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

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