Caramel Apple Dessert Cups Recipe
These Caramel Apple Dessert Cups are a delightful combination of tender cinnamon-spiced apples, a buttery vanilla wafer crumb crust, and a luscious caramel-infused vanilla pudding mousse. Perfect individual servings for autumn gatherings or anytime you crave a sweet, creamy treat with a fruity twist.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 28 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Apple Filling
- 4 cups apples, peeled and chopped
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Crust
- 2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs
- ¼ cup salted or unsalted butter, melted
Caramel Mousse
- 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 cup milk
- ⅓ cup salted caramel sauce
- 1½ cups heavy cream
Garnish
- Additional caramel sauce for drizzling
Instructions
- Cook Apples: In a medium saucepan, combine peeled and chopped apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir and cook over medium heat until the apples are soft and the liquid thickens. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- Prepare Crust: In a mixing bowl, combine vanilla wafer crumbs and melted butter. Stir until fully incorporated, creating a buttery crumb mixture.
- Form Crust Cups: Portion the vanilla wafer crumb mixture into 28 individual 2-ounce plastic cups using a small cookie scoop. Press the crumbs down firmly with the back of a plastic cup to create a compact crust layer.
- Make Pudding Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together instant vanilla pudding mix and milk until smooth. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for 5 minutes to set.
- Add Caramel: To the chilled pudding mixture, add the salted caramel sauce. Using an electric hand mixer on medium speed, blend the caramel into the pudding until smooth and evenly mixed.
- Whip Heavy Cream: Pour heavy cream into the caramel pudding mixture. Whip using an electric hand mixer for 3-5 minutes until the mixture thickens and becomes creamy and mousse-like.
- Assemble Dessert Cups: Transfer the caramel mousse mixture into a large piping bag. Pipe the mousse evenly into each plastic cup over the vanilla wafer crust layer.
- Add Apple Topping: Spoon the cooled cinnamon-spiced apples over the caramel mousse layer in each cup. Drizzle with additional caramel sauce as desired for extra flavor and decoration.
- Chill and Serve: Seal each cup with a lid and chill in the refrigerator. The dessert cups can be served immediately or stored refrigerated for up to 2 to 3 days.
Notes
- For best results, use tart apples like Granny Smith for a balance of sweetness and tang.
- Ensure the apples are fully cooled before layering to prevent melting the mousse.
- Use salted caramel sauce for a delicious sweet-salty contrast; use unsalted if preferred.
- Individual serving cups make these desserts perfect for parties and easy storage.
- Leftover dessert cups should be stored covered in the refrigerator and consumed within 3 days.
Keywords: caramel apple dessert, caramel mousse, apple cinnamon dessert cups, vanilla wafer crust, individual desserts, fall dessert recipes
Find it online: https://thefoodrecipe.com/caramel-apple-dessert-cups-recipe/
