Easy Caramel Dip For Apples

This easy caramel dip for apples only needs 5 ingredients! Creamy and buttery with a salty twist, this caramel apple dip is way better than store-bought.

Caramel and apples just go together like basil and tomatoes. And this caramel dip for apples? 

It’s so irresistibly smooth and creamy that double dipping is a crime you’ll be willing to commit!

So, what makes this the best caramel apple dip recipe? Well, it’s so easy to make, and it doesn’t taste super sweet like store-bought caramel.

The condensed milk and salted butter make this caramel dipping sauce taste more than just sweet. It won’t hurt your throat with its sweetness, and the only thing it’ll ask in exchange for the smooth and creamy bliss it’ll give you is that you stir it constantly as it cooks. 

What Is Caramel Dip For Apples?

Caramel dip for apples is a creamy caramel with a consistency right between thin and thick. It’s the perfect sauce for apples because it won’t slide off the apple slice, but it’s also not too thick that dipping won’t be enjoyable.

There are many caramel apple dipping sauce recipes, but this only needs 5 ingredients, and you’ll have the luscious dip ready in 20 minutes. 

It’s made with salted butter, corn syrup, condensed milk, brown sugar, and vanilla extract for a complex flavor beyond sweet. 

But, of course, this is still a caramel sauce. If you want the smoothest and most delicious dark brown caramel dip for your favorite apple varieties, you must watch it and stir the mixture constantly as it cooks. 

After all, a labor of love always pays off. 😉

I wouldn’t mind stirring and scraping for a few minutes if I’ll be rewarded with the best caramel apple dip!

Why You’ll Love This Easy Caramel Apple Dip Recipe

• Sweet, Salty, And Buttery: You’ll love this caramel dipping sauce for apples because it’s not sickly sweet. The salted butter contrasts the deep sweetness of brown sugar and condensed milk, making it rich and creamy. It’s perfect with tart and sweet apple varieties!
• More Than Just A Dip: This caramel apple dipping sauce recipe makes it easy to control the caramel’s consistency. Depending on the cooking duration and temperature, your dip can be perfectly drippy for drizzling, lusciously sticky for dipping, or extra thick for toppings! 🤤
• Beginner-Friendly: You don’t need to be intimidated by this homemade caramel apple dip recipe. It’s easy to safeguard against burning, and with vigilance, you’ll get a perfectly smooth caramel dip without dark flecks!

What Does Caramel Dipping Sauce For Apples Taste Like?

This caramel dip for apples tastes sweet, rich, and more complex than your average caramel dipping sauce from the store. 

You’ve probably made a caramel dip with cream before, but let me tell you, sweetened condensed milk changes the game!

This caramel has dulce de leche’s milky goodness without losing the deep, sweet, toasty flavor of caramelized brown sugar.

If you love the complexity of salted caramel, you’ll also get that in this caramel apple dip.

I opted for salted butter because butter is a must in any caramel! And this way, you don’t need to guess the perfect amount of salt to add. 

Overall, if there’s such a thing as dating in the food world, I think all the crisp apple slices will be lining up for this dipping sauce. 😋

Ingredients For Caramel Apple Dipping Sauce Recipe

• Salted butter – You can also use unsalted butter, then salt to taste.
• Corn syrup – This is the key ingredient to keep your caramel apple dip from getting grainy. 
• Condensed milk – We’ll use sweetened condensed milk in this caramel apple dipping sauce instead of cream. 
• Brown sugar – You can use light or dark brown sugar, but I highly recommend the latter, especially for caramel. It has more molasses that gives the caramel dip a deeper flavor.
• Vanilla extract – This is optional, but caramel just tastes incomplete with a touch of vanilla.

Tools Needed To Prepare Your Homemade Caramel Apple Dip Recipe

• Saucepan for cooking the caramel dip
• Spatula for stirring the caramel dipping sauce

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Caramel Dip

Corn syrup substitute

The reason why this caramel apple dip recipe has corn syrup is to keep the sugar from crystallizing. Without it, your sauce will become grainy. 

But if you don’t have corn syrup, you can use a bit of lemon juice as its acidity also functions similarly to corn syrup. 

Cinnamon

Caramel apples are always fun for fall. If you need to make a version of this caramel dip that will boost your autumn spirit to the next level, stir in some cinnamon and give your caramel a lovely, warm flavor. 

Apple slices

Since you’re already in this caramel dip for apples recipe, you might be curious about what variety to pick when choosing the fresh apple slices to serve with this sauce.

Personally, I love the tartness of Granny Smith, but I won’t refuse sweet Honeycrisp slices with this salted caramel apple dip. 😋

How to Make Caramel Apple Dip

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup salted butter
• 3/4 cup light corn syrup
• 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
• 1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Tools you need:

• Saucepan
• Spatula

Instructions:

STEP 1: Gather and measure the ingredients for your caramel apple dip.

STEP 2: Melt butter over medium heat.

STEP 3: Stir in the corn syrup, condensed milk, and brown sugar.

STEP 4: Continue stirring the caramel until it bubbles slightly.

STEP 5: Remove the caramel dip for apples from the heat.

STEP 6: Stir in the vanilla extract.

STEP 7: Serve and enjoy warm or at room temperature.

What To Serve With Caramel Apple Dip

This caramel dip for apples is best served with, well, apples! 🍎

As I’ve mentioned earlier, you can choose any apple variety and present them however you want. You can slice them, cut them into fries, or even toss them in spices to pair with this caramel dipping sauce. 

But besides using it as a dip for apple slices, this salted caramel sauce is also fantastic with other fruits. Try it with pears, bananas, or even dried fruits like figs!

If you want to start your day with caramel (because why not???), try this caramel with our apple crisp frappuccino and caramel apple pancakes! Maybe something sweet is all you need to make it easy to rise and shine. 😄

Tips About Making Caramel Dip For Apples

• Let me reassure you that you won’t burn this caramel dip for apples. Just don’t let your guard down and stir it constantly! Or if you’re unsure when to remove it from heat, use a candy thermometer and wait until the caramel reaches 225°F.
• Avoid burnt flecks in your caramel apple dip by scraping the bottom of the pan until the sugar is dissolved. This will also help melt the butter so the sauce is smooth and creamy. 
• Simmer your caramel dip until it bubbles slightly. But if you like thicker caramel (we all have our preferences), take it to a higher temperature or cook it longer.

How To Store Homemade Caramel Dip For Apples

• Fridge: Store your easy caramel apple dip in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. But for longer storage, it keeps well in the fridge for up to a month. Just note that it will also become thicker when chilled.
• Freezer: This simple caramel apple dip can be frozen for up to 3 months!
• Reheating: Reheat your caramel dip in the microwave for a few seconds, then stir to revive its dipping consistency. If it’s from the freezer, thaw it overnight. 

Can You Just Melt Caramel for Apple Dip?

Want a quick and easy caramel dipping sauce for apples? You can just melt caramel candies!

Melt those bad boys with water over medium-low heat, of course, stirring constantly. Then, cool the mixture to room temperature. And to take our “shortcut” caramel to the next level, you can fold a cream cheese mixture (just beat sugar and cream cheese) into the melted caramel.

How Do You Get Caramel to Stick to Apples?

If you want to use this caramel dip to make caramel apples (as in whole apples covered in caramel and not just dipping apple slices in caramel), the secret to getting the caramel to stick to the apples is in the prep work of the apples themselves.

Remove the wax around the apples and chill them before dipping. That’s it! 

How Do You Clean Apples Before Dipping in Caramel?

To remove the waxy coating around the apples, just rinse them under hot water, then scrub them with a paper towel. Some people even rub their apples with a paste made from baking soda and water!

But whatever technique you use to remove the wax coating on apples, don’t forget to rinse and dry them well before chilling and coating them. 

And if you have some leftover apples, you can use them on our apple mug cake. This one’s ready in 10 minutes, so it can be your snack while waiting for the caramel to cook!

FAQ About Caramel Dip For Apples

Conclusion

Make the best caramel dip for apples from scratch using 5 simple ingredients!

This easy caramel apple dip combines brown sugar, condensed milk, salted butter, and vanilla extract for a complex flavor combination of rich, sweet, salty, and buttery. 🤤

This sauce also uses light corn syrup, so you can be confident that your caramel will have a perfectly smooth and creamy consistency. 

As long as you watch, stir, and scrape, you don’t have to worry about burning your homemade caramel. So grab some fresh apples and pour yourself a generous serving of this caramel dessert dip for a delectable treat this fall!

Love caramel? These recipes feature this indulgent confectionery in the most delicious ways:

• Apple Pear Slaw with Caramel Cider Vinaigrette
• Easy Caramel Apple Tart
• Easy Homemade Copycat Starbucks Caramel Brulee Latte
• Bananas Foster Croissant Bread Pudding
• Best Apple Pie Milkshake Recipe