This creamy caramel apple dip is an easy treat made with cream cheese, brown sugar, sour cream, and vanilla pudding. It's thick, sweet, and perfect for dipping crisp apple slices.
It's a simple recipe to make for fall gatherings, holiday parties, or whenever you have fresh apples on hand. And because it makes a big batch, it's great for sharing.
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Why You'll Love This Caramel Apple Dip
- Quick and easy: Mix it up in just a few minutes.
- Makes a big batch: Plenty for parties, potlucks, and family gatherings.
- Thick and creamy: Perfect for piling onto crisp apple slices.
- Great for fall: A delicious way to enjoy fresh apples.
How to Make Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip
- Soften Cream Cheese:
- Let a package of cream cheese sit at room temperature for about an hour.
- Alternatively, remove the cream cheese from the package, place it into a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave for about 30 seconds to soften.
- Beat Cream Cheese:
- Beat the softened cream cheese until creamy.
- Add Brown Sugar:
- Add the brown sugar and mix until smooth.
- Add Sour Cream, Vanilla, and Lemon Juice:
- Add sour cream, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Mix well.
- Add Milk and Instant Pudding:
- Add the milk and instant vanilla pudding mix. Mix until creamy and well combined.
- Chill the Dip:
- Cover and chill until ready to serve.
Tip: The dip will be thick when chilled. For a thinner consistency, serve at room temperature. Serving the dip at room temperature makes it easier for dipping your cut apples into. However, you should not leave the dip out longer than 2-3 hours.
Keeping Apple Slices From Turning Brown
One thing about taking a bowl of apples to a party is that they turn brown if you cut them too far ahead. They still taste good, but they don't look as nice.
There are several ways to keep apples from turning brown. The method I usually use is lemon juice water. Fill a bowl with water and add a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice. Dip the apple slices in the water, then drain them and let them sit on a dish towel for a few minutes to dry.
You can also dip apple slices in salt water. Another option is Sprite - I've never actually done this, but one of my friends did, and it gave them a great flavor.
Apples with Caramel Dip
My family enjoys this creamy caramel dip for apples. And whenever I make it, I may as well be prepared to cut and slice lots of apples. (Apple slicers can be handy gadgets.) Because we sure eat a lot of fresh apples when there's caramel dip to eat with them.
And honestly, I could eat this cream cheese brown sugar dip like pudding. It's delightfully thick and creamy, and I tend to pile it on.
Do I eat the apples for the dip or the dip for the apples? I'm not sure since they just go together so well. But in reality, I probably eat the apples for the dip. 🙂
Frequently Asked Questions
I've had people ask, "Where's the caramel?" The answer is brown sugar. It gives this creamy apple dip its caramel-like flavor without adding actual caramel.
Yes. You can make a different version using heavy whipping cream instead of the milk and instant pudding. Simply pour heavy cream into the other ingredients and mix until the dip reaches the consistency you like. (Or you can whip some cream and then stir it into the brown sugar mixture.)
Store the dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Give it a quick stir before serving if needed.
Crisp, slightly tart apples such as Honeycrisp are especially good with this sweet, creamy dip. But you can use whatever apples you enjoy.
Yes. You can make this dip a day or two ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve it. Give it a good stir before serving.
Apples and My Amish Dad
I've got apples in my refrigerator all year round. They're a fruit that seems to be loved by just about everyone. Or perhaps I'm just a chip off the old block. 🙂 My dad was an apple lover.
He got up at 4 a.m. and had the same routine every morning. His day started with prayer and then 10 minutes of bouncing on his lymphaciser (it's a small personal trampoline/rebounder) before chores.
Just before heading to the barn, he went to the refrigerator for an apple. I guess he believed in the saying that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. And for as long as I can remember, he ate an apple every single morning.
More Amish Holiday Party Recipes
If you're looking for more simple recipes to take to a party or family gathering, here are a few Amish favorites to try:
- Amish Caramel Popcorn Recipe
- Ranch Snack Mix
- Seasoned Pretzels
- Chocolate Covered Pretzels
- Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Balls (Amish Candy Recipe)
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge
- Layered Finger Jello
- Date and Nut Cake (Amish Date Pudding Recipe)
- If you're a caramel lover, make sure you try my homemade chewy caramels!
Enjoy this homemade caramel apple dip with crisp apple slices at parties, potlucks, fall gatherings, or anytime you're craving apples with caramel. It's a simple Amish recipe that's just as good for a holiday gathering as it is for an everyday treat.
I hope you enjoy this caramel apple dip as much as we do. If you try it, I'd love to hear from you in the comments below. Thank you!
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📖 Recipe Card
Creamy Caramel Apple Dip (Amish Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
- ½ - ¾ c. brown sugar (depending on how sweet you prefer)
- 1 c. sour cream
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 tsp. lemon juice
- 1 c. milk
- 1 (3 oz. pkg.) instant vanilla pudding mix
Instructions
- Beat the softened cream cheese until creamy. Add the brown sugar and beat until smooth.1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened, ½ - ¾ c. brown sugar (depending on how sweet you prefer)
- Add the sour cream, vanilla, and lemon juice. Mix.1 c. sour cream, 2 tsp. vanilla extract, 2 tsp. lemon juice
- Add the milk and instant pudding. Mix on low speed, scrape the sides of the bowl, then increase the speed, and mix well.1 c. milk, 1 (3 oz. pkg.) instant vanilla pudding mix
- Cover and chill until ready to serve.
- Serve with sliced apples or any other fruit you would like with caramel dip.
- Refrigerate for up to a week.
Anna
So creamy and delicious!
Billie
This so sounds absolutely delicious 😋! Can’t wait to try it. Thanks for sharing your recipes!! My kids and grandkids laugh because when you open my picture album it’s full of recipes.
Also in my free time I do enjoy reading Amish books! So pure and well written at times I feel like I’m right there with the people! P.S. I also grew up in Missouri. Miss my hometown!
Again, thank you so much for sharing!
Take care!
Anna
I'm so glad that you're here!!