Description
No-bake Caramel Apple Dessert Cups with a buttery vanilla wafer crust, fluffy salted caramel mousse, and cinnamon apples. Make ahead for parties and holiday trays. Individual 2-ounce cups keep serving tidy and fun.
Ingredients
For the Vanilla Wafer Crust
1 1/2 cups vanilla wafer cookie crumbs
4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
For the Salted Caramel Mousse
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
3 tbsp powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup salted caramel sauce, plus extra for drizzling
For the Cinnamon Apples
3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced
1 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp brown sugar
Optional Toppings
Extra salted caramel sauce
Crushed vanilla wafer cookies
Instructions
1. Mix cookie crumbs with melted butter until evenly moistened.
2. Add about 1 tablespoon of crust to each 2-ounce dessert cup and press gently.
3. Whip cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla to soft peaks.
4. Add salted caramel sauce and whip until stiff peaks form.
5. Transfer mousse to a piping bag and pipe a generous layer over the crust.
6. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat; add apples, cinnamon, and brown sugar.
7. Cook, stirring often, until apples are tender and glossy, about 10 minutes.
8. Cool apples completely so the mousse stays fluffy.
9. Spoon cooled apples over the mousse layer in each cup.
10. Drizzle with extra caramel and sprinkle crushed cookies, if desired.
11. Cover cups and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.
12. Serve chilled for clean layers and the best texture.
Notes
Recipe yields 12 dessert cups.
Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Great to make a day ahead so flavors meld.
Use Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala for balanced sweetness and texture.
2-ounce clear plastic dessert cups recommended for neat layers.
Use store-bought or homemade salted caramel, both work well.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Christmas Dessert Recipes
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 dessert cup (2 oz)
- Calories: 261
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 111 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 47 mg