Description
Caramel Apple Dessert Cups bring autumn’s sweet charm right to your kitchen table. Crisp pastry shells cradle warm cinnamon-spiced apples drizzled with golden caramel, creating a delightful seasonal treat that connects friends and family around something truly delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
Produce:
- 3 cups peeled and chopped apples
Sweeteners and Spices:
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Dairy and Toppings:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 cups whipped cream
- ½ cup caramel sauce
Instructions
- Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat (350°F). Carefully add 3 cups chopped apples and stir to coat with melted butter.
- Sprinkle ½ cup brown sugar and ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon over apples. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until apples become tender and caramel-like syrup develops.
- Remove skillet from heat and let apples cool for 5-7 minutes. Your apples should be warm but not scorching hot.
- Select clear serving glasses or small dessert bowls. Spoon ¼ cup caramelized apples into the bottom of each container.
- Top the apple layer with ½ cup whipped cream, creating a smooth, even surface. Repeat the layering process to build a visually appealing dessert.
- Drizzle 2 tablespoons caramel sauce over each dessert cup, allowing it to cascade down the layers.
- Refrigerate dessert cups for 30-45 minutes at 40°F to allow flavors to blend and cream to set. Serve chilled and enjoy your seasonal treat.
Notes
- Check apple firmness before baking, selecting crisp varieties like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith for the best texture and flavor.
- Adjust caramel thickness by warming slightly if it’s too stiff, ensuring smooth drizzling over the dessert cups.
- Prepare graham cracker crust ahead of time and chill to help it set firmly, preventing crumbling when serving.
- For dietary variations, swap regular butter with dairy-free alternatives and use gluten-free graham crackers to make the recipe accessible to more people.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 278 kcal
- Sugar: 34 g
- Sodium: 45 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 48 mg