You just need 5 minutes and 4 ingredients to make this easy Warm Caramel Apple Dip. It’s perfect for dipping all kinds of apples!
Caramel apples are delicious, but it’s difficult to get the perfect consistency of caramel to stick to the apples. It has to be JUST the right temperature or it’ll slide right off.
Which is why this Warm Caramel Apple Dip is the perfect alternative!
It takes just 5 minutes to make, and you need 4 ingredients: butter, brown sugar, light corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk. You can also add a hefty pinch of salt if you’d like a salty caramel sauce (I recommend this!).
It’s perfect for dipping apple slices, but no need to stop there. Banana slices, pretzels, and pear slices would be delicious, too. And if you have some dippers leftover, try this Chocolate Chip Dip next!
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Top tips
- If the dip starts to separate after sitting for awhile, just give it a quick whisk.
- I love serving this with tart apples, such as Granny Smith, to get that irresistible sweet/tart combination.
- Use dark brown sugar (instead of light brown sugar) for a more pronounced molasses flavor.
Ingredients
- Butter makes this dip super creamy and decadent
- Brown sugar and corn syrup make it nice and sweet. You can use either dark brown sugar or light brown sugar. If you don’t have corn syrup, honey works, too!
- Sweetened condensed milk adds creaminess—make sure the can says sweetened condensed milk and not evaporated milk!
- A pinch of salt contrasts the sweetness nicely.
- Apples! Use your favorites. I used a mixture of Granny Smith and Fuji.
How to make homemade caramel apple dip
Place the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk in a saucepan. Place the pan over medium heat and whisk until combined.
Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally.
Lower heat slightly, and let simmer for 3 minutes, whisking constantly.
Remove from the heat and serve.
Can I make Warm Caramel Apple Dip ahead of time?
You can easily make this dip up to several days in advance. Let it cool and store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
When you’re ready to serve it, warm it in the microwave or on the stovetop. Give it a good whisk before serving.
Serving ideas and variations
Transfer the warm dip to a heat-safe bowl, and surround it with apple slices. A mixture of green and red apples looks really pretty!
Here are a few other ideas:
- Serve with pear slices or banana slices
- Add finely chopped peanuts to the top of the dip
- Add pretzels to the platter for dipping (I like pretzel rods for this)
Frequently Asked Questions
Since caramel is sweet, a tart apple contrasts the sweetness nicely. Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Cortland, Braeburn, Empire, McIntosh, and Jonathan all have tart flavor profiles, and would pair nicely with caramel dip. But honestly this dip is delicious with any kind of apple.
Either light or dark brown sugar work for this recipe. Light brown sugar will produce a lighter colored dip, and dark brown sugar will create a darker brown dip with more molasses flavor. I recommend using whichever one you have on hand.
Caramel apple dip should be stored in the refrigerator. It’ll keep for at least one week.
Sharing caramel apple dip
This recipe makes several cups of dip, so it’s perfect for sharing! Pour it into a mason jar and tuck it into a basket with some apples, and you have a great hostess gift or surprise for a neighbor.
More apple recipes
- Taffy Apple Salad
- Apple Cinnamon Bread with Streusel
- Apple Oatmeal Muffins
- Snickers Salad
- German Pancake with Apples
- Easy Crockpot Apple Butter
📖 Recipe
Warm Caramel Apple Dip
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar (light brown or dark brown is fine)
- 1 stick butter
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 pinch sea salt
- To serve: apple slices
Instructions
- Place the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, sweetened condensed milk, and salt in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally.
- Let the mixture boil, stirring constantly so the bottom doesn't burn, for 3 minutes. Take off the heat.
- Transfer the dip to a serving bowl and serve with apple slices.
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