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A close-up of a delicious caramel apple dessert cup, garnished with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Classic Caramel Apple Dessert Cups

These Classic Caramel Apple Dessert Cups feature tender, spiced apples layered with crunchy cookies and rich caramel sauce. A perfect individual dessert that's easy to assemble and customize.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 2-3 medium, firm apples (like Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji), peeled, cored, and diced
  • 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup store-bought or homemade caramel sauce
  • 1 cup crushed cookies, graham crackers, or granola
Optional Topping
  • Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for serving optional

Equipment

  • medium skillet
  • spoon
  • dessert cups or small jars

Method
 

Cooking Apples
  1. Melt the unsalted butter in a medium skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add the diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the skillet.
  3. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are slightly softened but still have a bit of a bite.
  4. Remove the apple mixture from heat and let it cool for a few minutes.
Assembling Dessert Cups
  1. Prepare 4 individual dessert cups or small jars.
  2. Spoon approximately 1/4 cup of crushed cookies, graham crackers, or granola into the bottom of each cup to create a crunchy base.
  3. Evenly divide the cooked apple mixture among the cups, layering them over the crunchy base.
  4. Generously drizzle about 2-3 tablespoons of caramel sauce over the apple layer in each cup.
  5. If desired, top each dessert cup with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream just before serving, garnishing with extra crushed cookies or a tiny drizzle of caramel.
Serving
  1. Enjoy immediately after assembly.

Notes

For best results, use firm, sweet-tart apples. Adjust the amount of brown sugar based on the sweetness of your apples and personal preference. These dessert cups are best enjoyed fresh, but you can prepare the apple mixture ahead of time and assemble just before serving.