Quick and Easy Apple Dip

This quick and easy apple dip comes together in minutes with just a few ingredients for a special treat alongside apples picked fresh from the orchard.

Growing up, Sunday evenings were for snacks.

We’d go to church in the morning, have a big lunch after that, and spend the rest of the afternoon reading and napping (or doing homework, depending on the stage of life). Then at dinner time we usually popped some popcorn and settled in to watch a show or movie.

Sometimes we’d change things up and make a batch of microwave caramel corn. During the summer, Momma would sometimes whip up some strawberry shortcake for our evening treat. 

But in the fall, this apple dip was our family’s favorite snack. Curling up with a bowl of warm, sweet caramel dip and cool, crisp apple slices? Immaculate vibes, 10/10.

And the best part? It’s super quick and easy to make. In fact, it was usually my dad’s job to make this recipe—and that’s saying something because we usually only trusted him to make toast. 😂 

If you’re planning a trip to the apple orchard soon, make sure you save this recipe because your’e gonna want to make it again and again all autumn long.

The easiest apple dip recipe

I love a good caramel apple dip.

You know what I don’t love? Unwrapping what feels like hundreds of those little caramel squares. I know it’s not actually that many, but it always feels like it in the moment.

Instead, this easy apple dip uses just 4 simple ingredients to get that rich, caramel flavor in a fraction of the time. 

This sweet dip is perfect for serving alongside your favorite tart apples. But feel free to add some graham crackers, vanilla wafers, or even pretzels to the mix, too!

This is a simple recipe to make for a family movie night, Halloween party, or for game-day parties. Our friends used to request it all of the time when I was growing up (it was almost as famous as my mom’s fresh apple cake!), and I know yours will, too.

How to make my family’s favorite apple dip

This recipe is so simple, you’ll see why anyone can make it!

Ingredients you’ll need

To make my family’s apple dip, you’ll need:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup lightly packed light brown sugar
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup

I’ll be honest: We made this recipe with margarine when I was growing up. So that works great, too! I just prefer the flavor with butter these days.

I usually use light brown sugar in this dip, but feel free to use dark brown sugar for an even richer flavor if you want!

Make sure you are using sweetened condensed milk, NOT evaporated milk in this recipe. They aren’t the same thing but are usually next to each other in the grocery store, so check the label before you buy!

The corn syrup in this recipe helps keep the sugar from crystalizing. I have not tried this recipe with honey instead, but have readers who have had good experience with it. (Just keep in mind that it will alter the flavor a bit.)

Making this recipe

Add all of the ingredients to a medium saucepan. Place the pan over medium heat.

Stirring constantly, cook until the mixture is well combined and starting to bubble. The dip is going to seem really thin, but it will thicken up as it cools.

Take the dip off the heat. Let it cool slightly before serving warm with fresh apples, cookies, or even sliced pears.

Storage and reheating

This apple dip can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

When you’re ready to enjoy, reheat it in the microwave for 30-45 seconds or until warmed through. Give it a good stir and you’re ready to go! This also makes it easy to make ahead of time for parties.

The best apples to serve with this dip

I think that crisp, slightly tart apples are the best for serving with a sweet dip like this one. 

Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, McIntosh, and Pink Lady apples are all great options. 

If you really love a tart apple, you could use Granny Smith apples. But I personally prefer to save those for things like Danish apple cake.

If you are planning to take this apple dip to a party and want to take sliced apples along with you, you’ll need to prep the apples to keep them from browning after they’re cut.

My favorite way to prevent apples from browning is to soak the apple slices for a few minutes in water with either 1/2 teaspoon of salt per 1 cup of water or 1 tablespoon of lemon juice per 1 cup of water. Drain the apples. If you used a saltwater solution, rinse the apples before packing them up.