These easy homemade caramel apple sundaes are the best Fall treat. Warm caramel apple sauce is served over cool vanilla ice cream for a rich and decadent dessert that everyone will love!
This post was originally published in October 2017 and has been updated for content.
If you love ice cream all year round, these sundaes are for you. Use fresh apples from the orchard or your local store to make a rich caramel apple sauce. Served warm over vanilla ice cream, this delicious Fall dessert is great for the weekend or even Thanksgiving!
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🍎 Ingredient notes
- Apples - There are over 2,500 known varieties of apples to choose from in the US. For desserts, I typically use gala, fuji or pink lady apples. They all have a fairly sweet flavor that is great for both cooking and baking.
📋 Substitutions and variations
- Nuts - Add chopped pecans, sliced almonds or chopped walnuts.
- Salted - Increase the salt to ½ teaspoon for a salted caramel apple sauce.
- Topping - This caramel apple sauce is not only good on ice cream, but can be cooled and served over cheesecake or greek yogurt.
🔪 Step by step instructions
First, melt the butter in a pot on the stove top and then stir in the apples and the brown sugar. Allow the mixture to cook until the apples are softened.
Remove the sauce off of the heat and stir in the cinnamon, salt and heavy cream. Return the mixture to the stovetop and cook a couple more minutes until it's slightly thickened.
Scoop the ice cream into bowls and pour the warm sauce over the ice cream.
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⭐ Expert tips
- Dice the apples into small similar sized pieces so they cook down quickly and evenly.
- Make sure to stir the apples and the sauce as the mixture is cooking so it does not burn.
⏲️ Make ahead and storage instructions
The sauce can be ahead of time if needed. Cool the sauce completely and store in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Reheat the sauce in the pot over low heat on the stovetop.
🍎 More apple recipes
If you loved this recipe for caramel apple ice cream sundaes, try these other apple recipes that I know you will love too!
- Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail
- Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin with Apples
- Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel Frosting
- DIY Sliced Caramel Apple Bar
📖 Recipe
Homemade Caramel Apple Sundaes
Ingredients
- ½ stick unsalted butter
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 2 medium gala apples, peeled, cored and diced
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 cups vanilla ice cream
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a medium pot over medium heat on the stove top.
- Stir in the brown sugar and apples allow the mixture to cook, stirring frequently, for 6-8 minutes, until the apples are softened.
- Remove the pot off of the heat and mix in the cinnamon, salt and heavy cream. Put the mixture back on the heat and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, until sauce has slightly thickened.
- Spoon ice cream in individual cups or bowls. Top with warm caramel apple sauce.
Notes
- Dice the apples into small similar sized pieces so they cook down quickly and evenly.
- Make sure to stir the apples and the sauce as the mixture is cooking so it does not burn.
Substitutions and Variations
- Apples - There are over 2,500 known varieties of apples to choose from in the US. For desserts, I typically use gala, fuji or pink lady apples. They all have a fairly sweet flavor that is great for both cooking and baking.
- Nuts - Add chopped pecans, sliced almonds or chopped walnuts.
- Salted - Increase the salt to ½ teaspoon for a salted caramel apple sauce.
- Topping - This caramel apple sauce is not only good on ice cream, but can be cooled and served over cheesecake or greek yogurt.
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