Description

Delight in these easy-to-make Caramel Apple Dessert Cups featuring tender cinnamon-spiced apples layered over a buttery vanilla wafer crust, topped with silky caramel mousse and drizzled with rich caramel sauce. Perfect for a crowd-pleasing treat or a cozy autumn dessert.

Ingredients

Scale

Apple Filling

4 cups apples, peeled and chopped
½ cup light brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Crust

2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs
¼ cup salted or unsalted butter, melted

Caramel Pudding Mousse

1 pkg instant vanilla pudding mix (3.4 ounces)
1 cup milk
⅓ cup salted caramel sauce
1 ½ cups heavy cream

Garnish

Additional caramel sauce for garnish

Instructions

Cook the Apples: In a medium saucepan, combine peeled and chopped apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir and cook over medium heat until the apples are soft and the liquid thickens. Set aside to cool completely.
Prepare the Crust: In a mixing bowl, combine vanilla wafer crumbs and melted butter. Stir until fully incorporated to form a crumbly mixture.
Form Crust in Cups: Portion vanilla wafer crumb mixture into twenty-eight 2-ounce plastic cups using a small cookie scoop. Press the crumbs down firmly using the back of a plastic cup to create an even crust layer.
Make Vanilla Pudding: In a large mixing bowl, combine instant vanilla pudding mix and milk. Whisk thoroughly until smooth, then chill for 5 minutes.
Add Caramel Sauce: Stir salted caramel sauce into the chilled vanilla pudding mixture. Use an electric hand mixer on medium speed to blend the caramel until smooth and even.
Whip the Cream: Pour heavy cream into the pudding mixture. Using an electric hand mixer, whip for 3-5 minutes until the mixture becomes thick and creamy, resembling mousse.
Pipe the Mousse: Transfer the caramel mousse to a large piping bag. Pipe the mousse evenly on top of the vanilla wafer crust in each cup.
Add Apple Topping: Spoon the cinnamon-spiced apples over the caramel mousse layer in each cup. Drizzle with additional caramel sauce as desired for extra sweetness and decoration.
Chill and Serve: Seal the cups with lids, then chill in the refrigerator. These dessert cups can be served immediately or stored refrigerated for 2 to 3 days for optimal flavor and freshness.

Notes

For a more intense caramel flavor, use homemade salted caramel sauce.
Ensure apples cool completely before layering to prevent the crust from becoming soggy.
Use firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for best texture.
These cups are perfect for parties and can be prepared a day ahead.
To make this dessert Gluten Free, substitute vanilla wafer crumbs with gluten-free cookies.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Stovetop cooking and no-bake assembly
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 2 ounces
Calories: 150
Sugar: 18g
Sodium: 110mg
Fat: 7g
Saturated Fat: 4.5g
Unsaturated Fat: 2g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 21g
Fiber: 1.5g
Protein: 1.5g
Cholesterol: 25mg

Keywords: caramel apple dessert, caramel mousse cups, apple cinnamon dessert, no-bake dessert cups, autumn dessert recipe, easy party dessert