Need a nice, sweet, creamy dessert that will have everyone begging for the recipe; then Caramel Apple Cheesecake Salad is it. A decadent cheesecakes with smooth, creamy cheesecake and crisp apples that reminds you of the flavors of a traditional caramel apple! Great as a snack or dessert and especially perfect in the fall when apples are in season. An easy no-bake caramel cheesecake recipe so you can make it and knock their socks off in a few simple steps. In this article, we will walk you through how to make this delicious dessert alongside a sweet apple dessert salad that everyone at your picnic or get-together cannot help but love.
Why Choose Caramel Apple Cheesecake Salad?
Apple cheesecake salad is a dessert that combines the creamy decadence of cheesecake with crunchy fresh apples, finished with a drizzle of salty-sweet caramel. The ingredients are similar to making a caramel apple dessert but with a cream cheesy, fluffy base. This is for those who crave fall dessert salads because it has all the flavors of one of fall’s favorite desserts caramel apples and apple pies galore! This dessert tastes so good, and has such a beautiful layered look (and can be cut into servings) that is sure to wow your friends or family.
The best part? This is a no-bake caramel cheesecake dessert, which means it takes virtually no effort but produces HUGE results. This easy caramel apple dessert will impress even the most experienced bakers, but as you can see it also takes just a few simple ingredients and minimal effort to make!
Ingredients for Caramel Apple Cheesecake Salad
Here is what you will need to create this yummy apple cheesecake salad:
For the Salad Base:
- 4 — 5 medium apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), chopped
- One (8 ounce) pack of softened cream cheese
- 1 (5.1 ounce) box of instant cheesecake pudding
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional add-in for additional crunch: ½ cup crushed graham crackers
For the Caramel Topping:
- Crack or 1/2 cup of caramel (store-brought or homemade)
- Chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts optional)
It is an easy recipe and has the kind of ingredients that meld together to make a wonderful creamy dessert, with balanced tartness from the apples & sweetness from the caramel sauce.
How to Make Caramel Apple Cheesecake Salad
Step 1: Prepare the Apples
wash and cut apples up into bite-sized pieces. You can keep the skin for texture or peel them if you want a smoother result. After chopping, place apples into a large mixing bowl. Optionally, toss with bit of lemon juice to keep the apples from browning.
Step 2: Make the Cheesecake Filling
Place cream cheese in another bowl and whip until smooth creamy. Combine the instant cheesecake pudding mix, powdered sugar and vanilla extract until mixed through. In a separate bowl, whip the heavy whipping cream until it begins to form soft peaks. Once whipped, gently fold into cheesecake mixture until fully combined. That is what will create the cream cheese base that tastes like cheesecake salad with apples.
Step 3: Combine the Apples and Cheesecake Filling
After the cheesecake filling is made, add in the chopped apples and gently fold them into the creamy mixture. At this stage you can also fold in crushed graham crackers if you want a little crunch with your dessert. The graham crackers will lend a subtle, crumbly texture as though you are biting into cheesecake crust. It is also the place to stir in chopped nuts, such as pecans or walnuts for another flavor.
Step 4: Assemble the Salad
Once you have your apple and cheesecake mixture ready, transfer it to a serving bowl or divide amongst individual bowls for single servings. After the salad is in place, drizzle the topping with generous caramel sauce accordingly. For a bit of extra sweetness and crunch, top it with some more chopped nuts or crushed graham crackers on top for garnish.
Step 5: Chill and Serve
Here the recipe needs to be covered and kept in the refrigerator for a minimum of 1 hour or until you are ready to serve. Chilling allows the flavors to come together and also helps the dessert set up a bit so that it is easier to serve. After chilling, that is this caramel apple salad recipe at your residence!
Tips for the Perfect Caramel Apple Cheesecake Salad
- Select the Apples Wisely: The kind of apples play a major role in determining your dessert’s flavor. While tart apples like Granny Smith compliment the sweet caramel sauce, sweeter apples such as Honeycrisp ever so slightly mellow the flavor. Anymore complex can be with couple of different apple varieties mixed too.
- Prepare in Advance: The truth is this dessert is more delicious if made the day before. This gives the apples time to absorb all of the flavors in the cheesecake filling, creating a richer taste. Just make sure you keep it covered and in the fridge until you want to use it.
- Sprinkle a little cinnamon or apple pie spice on the dessert before serving to kick it up a notch. It will add dimension to the fall flavors and increase its inviting nature.
- Go for a Lighter Option: To lighten things up a bit, you can switch out some ingredients. You could increase the health vandal by using low fat version cream cheese or swap out a lower calorie whipped topping for the heavy whipping cream for example.
- Whip Up Some Homemade Caramel: If you want to go the extra mile, you can make your caramel sauce from scratch. Adding homemade caramel instantly makes them more decadent while harmonizing the layers of flavor you create with the apples!
Why This Dessert Is Perfect for Fall
This salad makes the perfect fall dessert salad for cozy fall evenings or Thanksgiving. If you love the pairing of apples and caramel, this is your match made in fall heaven plus the cream, cheesecake filling is so decadent! Perfect for a party, holiday dinner or just to make the family a treat.
Variations of the Caramel Apple Cheesecake Salad
- Apple Caramel Salad: To keep it simple, you can forgo the cheesecake filling and just mix chopped apples with caramel sauce and whipped topping to make a basic version of apple caramel salad. A simple free alternative that still tastes just as good!
- More Variation Toppings: Feel free to mix and match any ingredients from your apple cheesecake salad! Mini marshmallows, crushed toffee or even a drizzle of chocolate syrup would be fitting additions for an indulgent flair.
- Dairy Free: For a vegan version, use a non-dairy cream cheese (such as Tofutti brand or similar) and replace the heavy whipping cream with coconut cream. Just make sure you check through the components in caramel sauce as some may consist of dairy elements.
Conclusion
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Salad is both a decadent, but simple dessert that brings you the best of both worlds with creamy cheesecake and sweet caramel apples. This dessert is a fall must-have, even more so because it is no-bake and the preparation process will take you in no time. This recipe will have you craving dessert and more people at your Thanksgiving dinner table to share this caramel apple dessert, whether it’s a dish for party season or wood be one of the New dishes in my Thanksgiving spread.
And this apple caramel salad is sure to become a favorite dessert in your toolbox: creamy and dreamy. So round up your ingredients, try out this recipe and taste the deliciousness of caramel apple cheesecake in each bite.
