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    Home » Recipes » Baking + Desserts

    Homemade Caramel Apple Sundaes

    Published: Oct 22, 2021 · Modified: Aug 1, 2022 by Amanda · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads

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    Jump to Recipe
    two wooden bowls filled with ice cream topped with apple caramel sauce

    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!

    two wooden bowls filled with ice cream topped with caramel apple topping a cinnamon sticks

    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!

    Jump to:
    • 🍎 Ingredient notes
    • 📋 Substitutions and variations
    • 🔪 Step by step instructions
    • ⭐ Expert tips
    • ⏲️ Make ahead and storage instructions
    • 🍎 More apple recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🍎 Ingredient notes

    salt, stick of butter, two apples, ground cinnamon, brown sugar, heavy cream and vanilla ice cream
    • 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.

    melted butter in a pot with a wooden spoon and cooked down apples on a spoon

    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.

    spoon mixing cream with cooked apples and finished caramel sauce with apples in a pot with spoon

    Scoop the ice cream into bowls and pour the warm sauce over the ice cream.

    ice cream in two wooden bowls and small ladle dripping apple caramel sauce over ice cream

    If you ever don't recognize a tool or skill that I mention, be sure to look it up in the Glossary of Cooking Terms and Definitions for more information.


    ⭐ 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.
    wooden bowl filled with ice cream, caramel apple topping and two cinnamon sticks next to apples

    ⏲️ 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.

    For a quick overview of this recipe, check out my web story for these caramel apple ice cream sundaes!

    🍎 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
    • Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel Frosting
    • DIY Sliced Caramel Apple Bar

    Don't Forget! If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and give it a rating. I love to hear from each and every one of you! Tag me on Facebook and Instagram as well! It makes my day to see all of your photos of the food you have made.


    📖 Recipe

    wooden bowl filled with ice cream and apple caramel topping and two cinnamon sticks

    Homemade Caramel Apple Sundaes

    Amanda
    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! 
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 389 kcal

    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.

    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.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.5cupCalories: 389kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 3gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 74mgPotassium: 262mgFiber: 3gSugar: 37gVitamin A: 899IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 116mgIron: 1mg
    Did You Make This Recipe?Mention @SaporitoKitchen or tag #SaporitoKitchen!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Toni

      October 23, 2021 at 1:32 pm

      5 stars
      My kids loved it! Such a delicious treat!

      Reply
      • Amanda

        October 24, 2021 at 4:45 pm

        Thanks Toni!

        Reply
    2. Jeri

      October 23, 2021 at 9:17 am

      5 stars
      Oh my gosh! This caramel apple ice cream was so good! It's our new favorite! Thanks!

      Reply
      • Amanda

        October 23, 2021 at 10:58 am

        Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed it:)

        Reply
    3. Lindsay Howerton-Hastings

      October 23, 2021 at 6:56 am

      5 stars
      These were such a hit with my kids!

      Reply
      • Amanda

        October 23, 2021 at 8:24 am

        I'm so happy to hear that!

        Reply
    4. Kristina

      October 23, 2021 at 4:13 am

      5 stars
      My kids love it as an after school treat.

      Reply
      • Amanda

        October 23, 2021 at 8:24 am

        What a great idea!

        Reply
    5. Lara

      October 22, 2021 at 6:46 pm

      5 stars
      Mmmmm so good! Apple pie sundae…. So so good and waaay easier than making a pie!

      Reply
      • Amanda

        October 23, 2021 at 8:24 am

        Yes!!! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Elizabeth

      October 22, 2021 at 1:53 pm

      5 stars
      So delicious! We’ll definitely be making again!

      Reply
      • Amanda

        October 22, 2021 at 4:45 pm

        Thanks, so happy to hear!

        Reply
    7. Tatiana

      October 22, 2021 at 10:54 am

      5 stars
      warm apples and cold ice cream is unbeatable combination

      Reply
      • Amanda

        October 22, 2021 at 11:28 am

        Soooo good!

        Reply
    8. Angela

      October 22, 2021 at 10:33 am

      5 stars
      Caramel and apple is one of my very favorite combinations. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Amanda

        October 22, 2021 at 11:29 am

        Absolutely, enjoy!

        Reply

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