This easy homemade Caramel Dip for Apples is smooth, silky, and perfectly sweet. It’s a fall favorite that pairs perfectly with tart and crisp fresh apple slices.
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Caramel for Dipping Apples
Caramel and apples are truly a match made in heaven, and this Caramel Dip Sauce for Apples is here to prove it. The sweet, creamy salted caramel pairs perfectly with tart, crisp, refreshing apple slices. While it’s still nice and loose, serve it in a bowl for dipping. Or, check out our complete guide for using it to make Caramel Apples.
Since this caramel dip is so stinking easy to make, it’s the perfect fall party food. It uses just a few simple ingredients that you likely already have in your pantry and is delicious for dipping pretzels, too. Plus, it stores and freezes great, so you won’t need to worry about making too much. If you're looking for more caramel recipes, be sure to try all our Best Caramel Recipes.
Ingredients in Apple Caramel Dip
- Butter - you can use unsalted or salted butter, depending on how “salted” you want your caramel to be.
- Sugar - regular granulated white sugar.
- Brown Sugar - we use light brown sugar for this recipe. You can use dark brown sugar, too, which will make a slightly darker caramel sauce.
- Karo Syrup - this is sometimes called corn syrup. It’s added in order to keep the sauce from getting grainy.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk - be sure you purchased sweetened condensed and not evaporated milk.
- Salt - sea salt or kosher salt works great.
How to Make Caramel Dip Recipe
- Melt ingredients together. In a heavy bottomed medium saucepan over medium heat, add the butter, sugar, brown sugar, Karo syrup, sweetened condensed milk and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring with a flat bottomed wooden spoon or a rubber spatula. Be sure and scrape the bottom of the pan constantly until all of the sugar is dissolved and the butter is melted.
- Cook to 225 degrees F. Increase to high heat and cook the caramel mixture, stirring constantly, until it reaches 225 degrees F on a candy thermometer.
- Remove from heat and cool. Once it reaches 225 degrees, remove from the heat immediately to stop the cooking. Allow it to cool for at least 20 minutes before serving. Or, cool completely and then store.
- Store or serve. Pour the caramel into a serving dish, or a jar for storing. Serve with sliced apples and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Caramel Sauce for dipping apples will thicken as it cools. In order to get it back to it’s silky smooth self, you can either microwave it for about 20-30 seconds at a time, stirring in between, or reheat gently in a saucepot with a couple tablespoons of heavy cream. The goal isn’t to get the dip hot but rather to loosen it up so that it’s a good consistency for dipping.
Yes - in order to make sure the sugars caramelize correctly, you’ll need to use a candy thermometer. Cooking to the correct temperature also ensures that the appropriate amount of water evaporates and helps make sure that the caramel doesn’t burn.
As long as it is stored in an airtight container, your caramel dip should last in the fridge for up to 1 month or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Storing and Reheating
- Refrigerator: store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month.
- Freezer: store Caramel Dip for Apples in freezer bags, or an airtight container, in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
- To reheat: add the Caramel Dip for Apples into a saucepan, add a couple of tablespoons of heavy cream, and warm over medium heat. Stir and heat until the caramel is smooth and warmed through.
Other Uses or Variations for Homemade Caramel Dip
This caramel sauce is by no means a one-trick pony! You can use Caramel Sauce for Apples Recipe for all sorts of other things besides apples. Some ideas include:
- Drizzling over ice cream
- Adding to hot coffee or hot chocolate.
- Serving with your favorite pie, cheesecake or cake
- Stirring into Homemade Whipped Cream
- Swap out a splash of coconut extract for the vanilla extract for a fun coconut caramel flavor variation.
Caramel Dip For Apples
Ingredients
- 1 cup Butter
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 cup Light Brown Sugar
- 1 cup Karo Syrup
- 1 14-oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 1 teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- In a heavy bottomed sauce pot over medium heat, add the butter, sugar, brown sugar, Karo syrup, sweetened condensed milk and salt.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring with a flat bottomed wooden spoon or a rubber spatula. Be sure and scrape the bottom of the pan constantly until all of the sugar is dissolved and the butter is melted.
- Increase to high heat and cook the caramel mixture, stirring constantly, until it reaches 225 degrees F on a candy thermometer.
- Take the caramel off the heat immediately to stop the cooking.
- Once it reaches 225 degrees, remove from the heat immediately to stop the cooking. Allow it to cool for at least 20 minutes before serving. Or, cool completely and then store.
- Pour the caramel into a serving dish, or a jar for storing. Serve with sliced apples and enjoy!
Nutrition
Here are more of our favorite apple recipes that you will love!
- Apple Pie
- Homemade Apple Cider Syrup
- Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread
- Caramel Apple Crisp with Crunchy Oat Topping
- Apple Cinnamon French Toast Bake
- More Dessert Recipes
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This sweet, creamy, salted Caramel Dip for Apples is super quick and easy to make. It's perfect for dipping, making caramel apples or even eating with a spoon.
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