24 Caramel Apple Desserts

From pies and creamy cheesecakes to fluffy dips and frosted cupcakes, these caramel apple desserts deliver buttery, sweet-tart apple treats that celebrate fall in every bite.

Sweet, toasted caramel and juicy apples are one of the best fall flavor combinations that signals the change of season from hot summer to sweater weather, perfect for cozy fall baking. Each of these caramel apple desserts highlights the contrast between fresh, juicy fruit and rich, buttery caramel and celebrates how seamlessly the flavors complement each other. From creamy cheesecakes to crisp cookies, these caramel apple recipes look and taste like fall in every bite.

This collection of caramel apple treats has a variety of recipes, from no-bake sweets to impressive pies and soft cakes. Some are made for cozy nights in, like a bubbling apple crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Others, like cookies, bars and muffins, are ideal for lunchboxes, potlucks or autumn picnics. You’ll spot plenty of easy apple dessert recipes that can be made ahead and customized with warm, nutty flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg or toasted pecans.

Make dessert feel even more inviting with a mug of hot apple cider or cocoa topped with whipped cream. These beverages play up the vanilla, cinnamon or ginger featured in many of these caramel apple treats. Whether you’re hosting a gathering or curling up on a chilly evening, these caramel apple desserts are a delicious way to bake with the season’s signature fall flavors.

1/24

Fluffy Caramel Apple Dip

Total Time 30 min
Servings 2 cups
From the Recipe Creator: This sweet, smooth and fluffy dip is really a crowd-pleaser. Be careful—it's so good that you won't want to stop eating it! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

2/24

Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Total Time 45 min
Servings 1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Bring these extra special cupcakes to your next event and watch how quickly they disappear! With a caramel topping and spice cake base, they're the perfect mix of two favorite fall treats. —Diane Halferty, Corpus Christi, Texas
3/24

Caramel-Pecan Apple Pie

Total Time 1 hour 50 min
Servings 8 servings
From the Recipe Creator: You'll love the smell in your kitchen—and the smiles on everybody's faces—when you make this scrumptious caramel apple pie recipe. It takes me back home to Virginia, to my granny's table. —Jean Castro, Phoenix, Arizona
4/24

Caramel Apple Dump Cake

Total Time 50 min
Servings 12 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Need a last-minute potluck dessert? This caramel apple dump cake has just five ingredients and is ready in under an hour. —Andrea Mathis, Pinson, Alabama
5/24

Caramel Apple Float

Total Time 10 min
Servings 2 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Who doesn't love the flavors of caramel, apples, and vanilla ice cream together? If I'm feeling fancy, I drizzle caramel syrup around the inside of my glass before adding the apple cider and ginger ale. —Cindy Reams, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania
6/24

Caramel Apple Cheesecake

Total Time 1 hour 35 min
Servings 12 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This apple cheesecake won the grand prize in an apple recipe contest. With caramel both on the bottom and over the top, every bite is sinfully delicious. —Lisa Morman, Minot, North Dakota
7/24

Caramel-Apple Skillet Buckle

Total Time 1 hour 35 min
Servings 12 servings
From the Recipe Creator: My grandma used to bake a version of this for me when I was a little girl. She would make it using fresh apples from her tree in the backyard. I've adapted her recipe because I love the combination of apples, pecans and caramel. —Emily Hobbs, Springfield, Missouri
8/24

Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce

Total Time 1 hour 30 min
Servings 16 servings (1-3/4 cups sauce)
From the Recipe Creator: This apple bread pudding with caramel sauce has been in my life for a long time. It's a family fave and always on my buffet when I put together a brunch. It's also special enough for dinner dessert. —Cleo Gonske, Redding, California
9/24

Caramel Apples

Total Time 40 min
Servings 16 servings (8 apples)
From the Recipe Creator: Who doesn’t love a good gooey caramel apple? Make a double batch because these treats always go fast! —Karen Ann Bland, Gove, Kansas
10/24

Caramel Apple Strudel

Total Time 1 hour
Servings 8 servings
From the Recipe Creator: My father, who was born and raised in Vienna, Austria, would tell us stories about how his mother covered all the kitchen counters with dough whenever she made apple strudel. This recipe is a modern, delicious way to carry on part of my family's heritage. —Sarah Haengel, Bowie, Maryland
11/24

Caramel Apple Pie

Total Time 1 hour 25 min
Servings 12 servings
From the Recipe Creator: I developed this recipe through the years to get it exactly where we want it. I've entered several pie contests with it and placed first each time—one bite and you'll know why this pie's a winner! —Laurel Dalzell, Manteca, California
12/24

Caramel-Apple Shortbread Cookies

Total Time 45 min
Servings 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: There is nothing like seeing my friends almost melt to the floor when they bite into something I made. These cookies never fail to elicit oohs and aahs. —Amber Taylor, Lenoir City, Tennessee
13/24

Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Total Time 50 min
Servings 20 servings
From the Recipe Creator: These bars make an excellent fall dessert. We like to warm individual servings in the microwave and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It quickly became a family favorite; maybe it'll become one of your family's, too. —Carol Stuber, Osawatomie, Kansas
14/24

Oatmeal Caramel Apple Cookies

Total Time 25 min
Servings 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: This recipe for caramel apple cookies is a fun twist on traditional oatmeal raisin. These treats are hard to resist! —Rachel Lewis, Danville, Virginia
15/24

Apple Crostata

Total Time 45 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Like an apple pie without the pan, this scrumptious tart has a crispy crust that cuts nicely and a yummy caramel topping. —Betty Fulks, Onia, Arkansas
16/24

Caramel Apple Coffee Cake with Walnuts

Total Time 1 hour 10 min
Servings 16 servings
From the Recipe Creator: I created this recipe after a trip to an orchard with my family. This moist cake is full of hearty apples and nuts, while the caramel topping adds a delectable finish. —Sharon Cable, Dyersville, Iowa.

17/24

Apple Crisp Pizza

Total Time 50 min
Servings 12 servings
From the Recipe Creator: While visiting the bakery at a Wisconsin apple orchard, I tried this tempting treat. At home, I put together this recipe. As it bakes, the enticing aroma fills my kitchen, and friends and family linger, waiting for a sample. —Nancy Preussner, Delhi, Iowa
18/24

Caramel Apple Muffins

Total Time 45 min
Servings 1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: These muffins are perfect for anyone who loves caramel apples. They are particularly good with breakfast or during a coffee break. —Therese Puckett, Shreveport, Louisiana
19/24

Gourmet Caramel Apples

Total Time 20 min
Servings 8 servings
From the Recipe Creator: These drizzled confections look gorgeous and taste over-the-top yummy. With peanut butter flavor and a salty burst, they'll be the treats you can't wait to make each year. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
20/24

Caramel Apple Bites

Total Time 40 min
Servings about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Kids can help make these perfect fall bites by dipping the baked cookies in caramel and nuts. It's a fun food craft for all of us. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
21/24

Apple Caramel Cheesecake Bars

Total Time 55 min
Servings 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: The streusel topping that comes with this recipe for apple cream cheese bars is absolutely irresistible. If you can’t resist a “taste test” before a party, just arrange each apple bar on a serving platter and no one will know a piece is missing from the pan! —Katherine White, Henderson, Nevada
22/24

Caramel Apple Creme Brulee

Total Time 1 hour 30 min
Servings 6 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Here's the cream of the apple dessert crop. Fruit, caramel and cinnamon flavors enhance the rich, velvety custard. Served warm or chilled, it's a classic end to a meal. —Cheryl Perry, Hertford, North Carolina
23/24

Caramel Apple Crisp

Total Time 1 hour 5 min
Servings 12 servings
From the Recipe Creator: When my kids and I make apple crisp, we use all sorts of apples to boost the flavor and texture. Add melted caramels, and you’ve got something scrumptious. —Michelle Brooks, Clarkston, Michigan

24/24

Apple Pie Egg Rolls

Total Time 35 min
Servings 8 servings
From the Recipe Creator: These easy apple pie egg rolls can be prepared as needed, using egg roll wrappers as vessels for the fruit rather than traditional pie crust. The air-fryer method of cooking results in a crispy, crunchy crust with a tender, juicy filling. Flavored cream cheese spread may be used instead of plain, depending on availability. —Sheila Suhan, Scottdale, Pennsylvania

Caramel Apple Desserts FAQ

What fall dessert ideas are made with caramel and apples?

Crisps, pies, cheesecakes and spiced cupcakes are classic fall dessert ideas and the perfect base for including caramel and apples. These bakes are full of sweet-tart apples, warming spices and buttery caramel, perfuming your home and reminding you it’s finally cool enough to have the oven on all afternoon. Caramel can be baked into a dessert as a way to add sweetness and a toasted sugar taste or drizzled over top before serving.

What easy caramel apple snacks can I make to go in a kid’s lunchbox?

Save the extra gooey and sticky caramel apple snacks for eating at home, and pack your kid’s lunchbox with cookies, bars and muffins. These recipes are still full of cozy fall flavors and ingredients, like oats, cinnamon and nuts. However, their smaller size and handheld format make them easier to pack and eat. For a salty-sweet option, try portioning caramel apple snack mix into reusable containers or snack bags, which hold up well in a lunchbox without melting or making a mess.

What can I top caramel apple recipes with?

You can top caramel apple recipes with chopped nuts, sea salt, cookie crumbs or melted chocolate for extra crunch, contrast or sweetness. A sprinkle of flaky salt balances the richness of caramel, while crushed cookies or spiced nuts add texture to soft bakes. Whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream on a piece of cake or pie is always a great combination, and even simple desserts feel more special with a sprinkle of powdered sugar or a final drizzle of glossy caramel.