Taffy Apple Dip

My official marker for the start of autumn is when grocery stores line the produce shelves with those packaged caramel apples. Everyone loves the tart apples, the sickly-sweet sheets of caramel and the thick peanut coatings. The caramel apples are so quintessentially autumnal that they inspired us to make this taffy apple dip for fall gatherings, and the flavor is spot on.

To mimic the caramel, this dessert dip has a sweet, tangy cream cheese and brown sugar base with a thick layer of chopped peanuts on top. Sliced tart apples are the perfect dippers, but you can also set out other options, such as graham crackers or vanilla wafers, for variety. Taffy apple dip is one of those super-easy dessert dips that’s so good, everyone will be standing over it all night. No one has to know you spent only 10 minutes on it.

Ingredients for Taffy Apple Dip

• Cream cheese: Soften the cream cheese so it whips easily with the brown sugar. Doing this also helps ensure there aren’t any cream cheese lumps in your taffy apple dip.
• Brown sugar: Brown sugar adds a caramel-molasses flavor to the dip—perfect for fall!
• Vanilla extract: When there are so few ingredients in a recipe, the quality of each one matters. I recommend splurging on the best vanilla extract (or vanilla bean paste!) for your taffy apple dip.
• Peanuts: Chop the peanuts well enough so there aren’t big pieces of peanut. Even small details like this can add or detract from a guest’s eating experience.
• Apples: Always wash your apples very well to remove the wax coating. Then, core the apples and slice them into 1/4-inch-thick wedges.

Directions

Step 1: Make the dip base

In a small bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the cream cheese, brown sugar and vanilla extract until well combined, airy and smooth.

Editor’s Tip: Don’t rush this step. It’s how the brown sugar dissolves so the taffy apple dip isn’t gritty.

Step 2: Finish with peanuts

Sprinkle the chopped peanuts all over the top, making sure to reach the edges of the bowl too.

Editor’s Tip: Before adding the nuts, transfer the dip to a clean serving bowl so the sides don’t look messy from all the mixing.

Step 3: Serve with apple slices

Neatly arrange the apple slices on a pretty plate and serve them with the dip. Enjoy!

Recipe Variations

• Change the nuts: Not a fan of peanuts? Feel free to use walnuts or pecans instead. I always like to toast the nuts to remove their raw, oily edge and bring out their sweet, nutty flavor.
• Add baking spices: Fall spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and even a little ginger pair excellently with the brown sugar in this dip. If using nutmeg or ginger, start with a very tiny bit—they’re potent!
• Drizzle with salted caramel: Finish the dip with a drizzle of salted caramel sauce. It will make this dip taste so much more like a caramel apple.

How to Store Taffy Apple Dip

Store leftover taffy apple dip covered in the fridge for up to three days. It’s important to keep it covered because a cream cheese-based dip is prone to absorbing lingering fridge smells.

Can you make taffy apple dip ahead of time?

Yes, you can make taffy apple dip ahead of time. The day before serving, assemble and decorate the dip, then cover it tightly with storage wrap and refrigerate. I would take it out of the fridge 15 minutes before serving so the dip can soften slightly.

Taffy Apple Dip Tips

What else can you serve with taffy apple dip?

Instead of apple slices, serve graham crackers, pear slices, vanilla wafers, pretzels, chocolate-covered pretzels or shortbread cookies with taffy apple dip.

What are the best apples to serve with taffy apple dip?

The best apples to serve with taffy apple dip are those that are crisp and firm enough to hold up to scooping while also being slightly tart to offset the sweetness. I would go for Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Cortland or Granny Smith apples.

How do you keep the apple slices from turning brown?

To prevent apple slices from turning brown, toss them in the juice from a whole lemon. You can dab the apple slices on paper towels to remove some of the wetness.