Description
Silky caramel apple dessert cups blend homemade charm with classic autumn flavors. Sweet pastry shells cradle spiced apple filling and rich caramel, creating a delightful bite that welcomes seasonal comforts you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work well)
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsps brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- ½ cup caramel sauce, store-bought or homemade
- Crushed graham crackers or chopped nuts (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Caramelize Apples: Sauté diced apples in butter with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice over medium heat. Simmer until apples become tender but maintain structural integrity, creating a fragrant and rich base with nuanced warmth.
- Prepare Cream Filling: Whip cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until silky. Separately whip heavy cream to soft peaks, then gently fold into cream cheese mixture, creating a light, airy filling with luxurious texture.
- Layer Assembly: In individual serving glasses, alternate layers of caramelized apple compote and whipped cream cheese mixture. Ensure each layer is evenly distributed to balance flavors and create a visually appealing dessert.
- Finish and Garnish: Drizzle golden caramel sauce generously over the layered dessert. Sprinkle crushed graham crackers or toasted nuts on top for added crunch and decorative element.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate dessert for one hour to allow flavors to meld and layers to set. Serve thoroughly chilled, presenting a refreshing and decadent treat that combines multiple textures and tastes.
Notes
- Select Apples Wisely: Choose firm, tart varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp that maintain structure during caramelization and provide balanced sweetness.
- Control Caramelization Temperature: Sauté apples on medium-low heat to prevent burning, allowing gradual sugar transformation and preserving fruit’s natural texture.
- Whip Cream Carefully: Ensure cream cheese and heavy cream are cold before whipping, creating stable, voluminous mixture that holds layered structure without deflating.
- Chill for Optimal Texture: Refrigeration isn’t just resting time – it helps flavors meld, stabilizes layers, and enhances overall dessert’s consistency and taste profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg