Caramel Apple Dip

Buy an entire bushel of apples to enjoy with this quick caramel dip. Though we call this caramel apple dip, technically it’s a toffee apple dip because it’s flavored with toffee or brickle bits instead of caramel! It has the crunch of a candy apple and the decadence of a caramel-dipped one, all bound up in a creamy vanilla base and without the sticky mess. It’s a lovely seasonal addition to a game day spread, an autumn picnic or a pumpkin carving party. Packed in a little container with apple wedges on the side, it’s an easy way to make back-to-school packed lunches feel more special.

Caramel Apple Dip Ingredients

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• Cream cheese: Tangy and rich cream cheese acts as the base for caramel apple dip. You can substitute neufchatel cheese to make it a little lighter or use mascarpone for a less-pronounced sour note. No matter which cheese you choose, make sure it’s thoroughly softened before combining it with the other ingredients.
• Sugar and brown sugar: Two kinds of sugar whipped into the cream cheese soften and sweeten it and brown sugar contributes a pleasant molasses flavor.
• Vanilla extract: A little vanilla helps the sweet ingredients harmonize with the tangy cream cheese.
• Almond brickle chips or English toffee bits: Look in the baking aisle alongside the chocolate chips to find the key ingredient that gives this sweet dip its caramel flavor.
• Apples: By all means, you can serve this sweet spread with any kind of dipper you like, but tart apples cut into sturdy wedges are an especially good pairing.

Directions

Step 1: Stir the ingredients together

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In a bowl, beat cream cheese, sugars and vanilla. Fold in brickle chips or toffee bits. Serve with sliced apples for dipping. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Alejandro Monfort for Taste of Home

Caramel Apple Dip Variations

• Add nutty crunch: For a nutty twist, substitute chopped peanuts, pecans, or walnuts for up to a third of the almond brickle chips or toffee bits. Toast and cool them first for the best flavor.
• Spice it up: Add a pinch of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice or ground ginger to the cream cheese mixture for a spiced caramel apple flavor.
• Add more dippers: Apples are excellent alongside caramel dip but you can round out the selection by adding gingersnaps, vanilla cookies, pretzels and other sturdy fruits for dipping, too.
• Drizzle caramel on top: For rivers of even more caramel flavor, pour store-bought caramel ice cream topping or homemade salted caramel sauce over top of the finished dip just before serving.

How to Store Caramel Apple Dip

Store leftover caramel apple dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Can you make caramel apple dip ahead of time?

You can make caramel apple dip ahead of time, but know that as it sits its texture will change considerably. The toffee chips begin to soften once they’re mixed with the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla, so as the mixture sits it becomes more integrated and less like crispy toffee bits in a creamy base. If you value that contrast it’s best to mix caramel apple dip just before serving it, but if the priority is to have it ready to go than definitely make it ahead of time!

Caramel Apple Dip Tips

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What’s the difference between butterscotch and caramel? 

Whereas caramel is made by cooking white sugar at high temperatures until the sugars begin to brown, butterscotch is made from a combination of brown sugar and butter melted together that doesn’t require the same high temperatures to cook. Continue cooking butterscotch to high temperatures and you’ll get toffee, which has a brittle texture. We call it caramel apple dip, but it’s a toffee apple dip because it’s flavored with toffee or brickle bits instead of caramel!

Can you use caramel baking chips or butterscotch chips in this recipe?

A better substitute for baking chips if you’re having trouble finding prepackaged toffee bits or almond brickle chips would be crushed butterscotch candies! The baking chips won’t have quite the right texture in the finished dip.

What are the best apples to serve with caramel dip?

This caramel apple dip is quite sweet, so it benefits from being paired with tart apples to balance its flavor. Look for firm, crunchy apples with pronounced tart flavor. Granny Smiths are a reliable option, as are Pink Ladies. Braeburn, Empire and Cortland apples would all be tasty options, too. Slice them and dunk them in a salt water, lemon juice or a white vinegar and water solution to help prevent them from browning.