Description
Homemade caramel apple dessert cups blend autumn’s richest flavors into a delightful handheld treat. Crisp pastry shells cradle warm spiced apples drizzled with smooth caramel, offering sweet comfort in each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy whipping cream
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese, softened
- 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced
- ½ cup (120 ml) caramel sauce, store-bought or homemade
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) brown sugar
- ¼ cup (60 ml) powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) butter
- 1 tsp (5 ml) lemon juice
- 1 tsp (5 ml) cinnamon
- 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp (1.25 ml) nutmeg
- Crushed graham crackers or chopped nuts (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Caramelize Apples: Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Simmer for 5-7 minutes until apples are tender yet structured. Cool the mixture completely.
- Prepare Cream Filling: Beat cream cheese until smooth. Mix in powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Whip heavy cream to soft peaks. Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture, creating a light, airy filling.
- Assemble Dessert Layers: Layer caramelized apples into individual serving cups. Add cream filling, creating textural contrast. Repeat layering, finishing with a cream topping.
- Enhance and Garnish: Drizzle caramel sauce over each cup. Sprinkle crushed graham crackers or toasted nuts on top for added crunch and visual appeal.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate dessert cups for at least one hour, allowing flavors to meld and layers to set. Serve chilled, presenting a refreshing and indulgent dessert.
Notes
- Choose Fresh Apples: Select crisp, firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best caramelization and texture, ensuring they hold their shape during cooking.
- Control Caramelization Temperature: Keep heat at medium and stir frequently to prevent burning, allowing apples to softly caramelize without becoming mushy or bitter.
- Prevent Cream Separation: Ensure cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing and fold whipped cream gently to maintain a smooth, light consistency without deflating the mixture.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap graham crackers with gluten-free alternatives, use low-fat cream cheese for lighter version, or replace heavy cream with coconut cream for dairy-free option.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg