An easy cream cheese apple dip recipe with just 4 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep!
When local apples are at their peak in late summer and throughout the fall, this is the simple, crowd-pleasing recipe that we always come back to. With just a handful of pantry staples and a few minutes of prep, you can whip up a sweet treat that tastes like caramel cheesecake. Serve it at a tailgate, bring it to a potluck picnic, or set it out after school with fresh apple slices for dipping. It’s always a hit!
A Must-Make Easy Apple Dip Recipe
Apple season is big business in Central Virginia; especially in our rural community of Madison County. In fact, the Graves Mountain Apple Harvest Festival is one of the biggest events of the year around here, drawing tourists from the Washington, DC area down south to share a taste of our favorite local produce. With fresh apples growing on trees in just about every yard (including our own little mini orchard), you better believe that a good apple dip recipe is a must-have for any home cook. This is our absolute favorite! I’ve taken it to more parties than I can count, and someone always asks for the recipe.
Ingredients Notes and Tips for Success
- Use block-style full-fat cream cheese. A tub of spreadable cream cheese will not yield the same texture.
- Make sure that the cream cheese is nice and soft so that it blends smoothly with the other ingredients.
- Brown sugar adds that rich, caramel-like flavor. Light brown sugar is best, but dark brown will work too.
- If the dip is cold and firm when you pull it out of the fridge, let it sit on the counter for at least 10 minutes before enjoying so that it can soften. This will make it easier for dipping!
- Optional additions: Feel free to add warm spices such as ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, or an apple pie spice blend. Readers have also suggested adding Heath bits (or other chopped toffee bits), mini chocolate chips, chopped peanuts, or peanut butter. Those options all sound delish!
Great recipe! Thank you for sharing. Yummy! You will not be disappointed!
– Jennifer
How to Make Apple Dip
- Place the cream cheese, sugars, and vanilla extract in a large bowl.
- Use an electric mixer to beat together the ingredients until the dip is smooth and creamy. No mixer? No problem. Just use a sturdy wooden spoon or whisk and stir until smooth and fluffy.
- Cover and store in the fridge for later, or dig in right away!
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Watch How to Make It
Apple Dip
Ingredients
- 8 ounce block of cream cheese, softened at room temperature
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- For serving: sliced apples
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- Use a hand mixer to combine everything until the cream cheese mixture is soft, creamy, and fluffy. If you don't have an electric mixer, just stir it really well with a wooden spoon or whisk.
- Serve the dip with fresh apple slices.
Notes
- Use block-style full-fat cream cheese. A tub of spreadable cream cheese will not yield the same texture.
- Make sure that the cream cheese is nice and soft so that it blends smoothly with the other ingredients.
- If the dip is cold, let it sit on the counter for at least 10 minutes before enjoying so that it can soften. This will make it easier for dipping!
Nutrition
Preparation and Storage Tips
- Make ahead: This dip can be prepared up to 2 days in advance.
- Storage: Keep it tightly covered in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.
- Serving: Let the dip sit at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes before serving so it’s soft and scoopable.
Recipe Variations
- Peanut butter apple dip: Blend in ¼ to ½ cup creamy peanut butter for a salty-sweet twist.
- Caramel apple dip: Swap the white sugar for caramel sauce or swirl some caramel into the mixture.
- Healthier version: Use Neufchâtel cheese and reduce the sugars slightly for a lighter option.
- Mini servings: Spoon the dip into small cups or jars for individual portions at parties.
FAQs
- What apples work best for dipping? We love tart Granny Smith apples or crunchy, juicy Gala, Fuji, Cosmic Crisp, and Honeycrisp apples. But really, use whatever you love (or what’s growing in your yard near the Blue Ridge!).
- How do I keep sliced apples from browning? A quick water bath with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (or pineapple or lime juice) per cup of water helps slow browning for a few hours. Perfect if you’re prepping ahead or have hungry boys circling your snack table!
- Can I serve the dip with something besides apples? Absolutely! This dip isn’t just for apples. You can create a whole platter of dipping options for a dessert or snack at your next party. For instance, try graham crackers, gingersnap cookies, animal crackers, sliced pears, grapes, strawberries, pretzel sticks, breadsticks, and crackers (like Ritz for that salty, buttery contrast). Include the dip on a fall snack board or dessert platter. It’s great for autumn gatherings, game days, holidays, or just a simple afternoon treat.
I wasn’t expecting much from this since it’s so simple, but boy was I wrong! I might even prefer it to caramel and apples. I nuked mine for 10-15 seconds and mixed it up real well before mixing in the vanilla to make it extra smooth. This stuff is delicious.
– Maia
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Originally published in July, 2018, this post was updated in August, 2025.
Apple dip looks so Yummy I have made this in ages, in pinning it.thanks for sharing it with the fellow people i will surely come across your another article to check out some dishes like this, keep posting.
Omg this is so good!! I even added some honey and it’s perfect for apples! Thanks!
So glad that you liked it! Thank you! 🙂
I made some but the sugars was crunchy in my mixer. What did I do wrong?
Hey, Donna! It’s hard to know, since I wasn’t there with you. Assuming that the measurements for all of the ingredients were correct, the only possibilities that I can imagine would be (1) the cream cheese wasn’t softened enough, and therefore the sugars didn’t “dissolve” or cream into the cheese smoothly because the cheese was too cold and firm; or (2) the brown sugar was too dry and crunchy (if it was old or perhaps not kept in an airtight container). Other than that, I wouldn’t know what else to suggest. 🙂
How about using powered sugar? I’d use less than what the recipe calls for because it measures different than granulated sugar.
Hey, Karen! The powdered sugar should work well! Just use enough to reach the taste and consistency that you love. 🙂
Omg so I had this with a friend and it went with weirdly everything i dipped it in.I’m gonna try and make it tonight can’t wait to see how it turns out. also you should crunch up so chocolate chips with it it’s so good.
Yay! I’m so glad that you liked it! I agree — I’d dip just about anything in it! 🙂
My supervisor always made this for goodie tables at work & she included crushed Heath candies from the baking aisle. So good!
I love that idea, Sheena! Sounds delicious!
Can you substitute Splenda for the white sugar? Will it change the consistency?
Hi, DeeDee! Yes, that should probably work. Just remember that Splenda is a lot sweeter than sugar, so you’ll need to decrease the amount of Splenda that you use. 🙂
Big Hit! I omitted the white sugar and it was fabulous! I am anxious to try it with crackers and other fruit. Thanks for the great recipe!
Thanks, Marilyn!
Great recipe! Thank you for sharing. Yummy! You will not be disappointed!
Thanks, Jennifer! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it!
Tried this recipe and it is soooo good. I put about 1/3 of milk to make a little bit more thin. My boyfriend doesn’t even like cream cheese and he loves it! Thank you so much!
Thanks, Samantha! It’s a great way to eat apples…totally addicting! 🙂
I love this recipe! I would also recommend adding some HEATH toffee bits for an extra crunch. My family loves it with the toffee.
YUM! I bet those Heath bits are an amazing addition! 🙂
I wasn’t expecting much from this since it’s so simple, but boy was I wrong! I might even prefer it to caramel and apples. I nuked mine for 10-15 seconds and mixed it up real well before mixing in the vanilla to make it extra smooth. This stuff is delicious.
Thanks, Maia! I totally agree — I love this dip even more than plain caramel. 🙂
I have left mover dip from a work thing it’s been 3 days I have a Christmas party Sunday 3 days away can I freeze this
Hi, Kim! I wouldn’t try freezing this. While it won’t ruin the dip or make it unsafe to eat, dairy-based foods (like this cream cheese-based dip or cream-based sauces and soups) tend to have a grainier texture when thawed. The dairy can “separate,” which doesn’t make the food inedible, but it does give the food an odd texture that wouldn’t be appealing for a party. Happy holidays!
This is a fabulous dip…I fixed it for our Thanksgiving dinner and everybody absolutely loved it. I was wondering if you can freeze this dip for future dinners?
Thanks, Debbie! You can probably freeze the dip, but be aware that freezing and then thawing it might change the texture of the dip since cream cheese is a dairy-based product (which tend to separate or “break” when frozen).
My family tore this up tonight. 2 were actually playfully fighting over the last few slices. Will definitely make this again! We’ll likely cut the sugar a little, send to get sweeter as it sits. But so good!
We’re so happy it was a hit!
Any suggestions on keeping the apple slices white or do you recommend serving/eating the apples right away? I have read that dipping them in lemon juice works, but I don’t like the added taste of that.
Hi, Donna! I recommend slicing the apples just before serving. When I’ve taken this to parties in the past, I’ve tossed the apples with a little bit of lemon juice to prevent them from browning as quickly. That works fairly well, but if you don’t like the taste of the lemon, I would skip it and just slice at the last minute.
Although you’re correct with 99% of all your recipe…i have always mixed ½&½ with the block and tub cream cheese and it’s turned out better than whipping it like mad … thanks lots