You won’t believe this caramel apple dip recipe until you taste it! Stir just 4 ingredients into a glossy peanut butter caramel that’s vegan and gluten-free. It’s so simple and the best healthy snack!
When I need an easy snack for parties, here’s what I turn to almost every time: my easy caramel apple dip recipe! It’s just 4 ingredients, which come together into a glossy caramel texture, but it’s completely no cook and dairy free. It’s like some kind of kitchen sorcery!
My kids go crazy over this stuff (so do I, let’s be honest), and it’s so easy to mix up with ingredients you might already have on hand. It’s a great healthy snack and it’s also perfect as a fall appetizer. This might be my #1 healthy snack recipe!
5 Star Reader Review
Ingredients You’ll Need
This caramel apple dip has just 4 ingredients that stir together into a quick caramel texture: it’s like magic! A standard caramel recipe has heavy cream and sugar that make the sweet, sticky texture. I created this recipe to use peanut butter and maple syrup to mimic this common ingredient, making it a healthier alternative using a natural sweetener. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Creamy peanut butter: We used no sugar added peanut butter. A quality peanut butter makes a nicer tasting apple dip. For peanut allergies, try a high quality creamy almond butter or cashew butter. (Feel free to experiment with sunflower butter for nut free.)
- Pure maple syrup: For all of our recipes with maple syrup, we prefer using Grade A: Dark Color and Robust Flavor. We find it tastes better than bottles labeled Amber or Golden.
- Neutral oil: The oil in this recipe makes the glossy texture; we do not recommend leaving it out. We used organic grapeseed oil; you can also substitute melted coconut oil.
- Vanilla extract: The vanilla brings the classic flavor to the caramel.
- Salt (optional): Depending on the saltiness of the peanut butter brand you use, you may want to use a pinch of salt. Don’t go overboard, because all you need is a little!
Oil Alternatives
While olive oil is a healthier oil, it does bring quite a strong flavor to the caramel. I’ve made it with olive oil and I don’t like the flavor as much!
So I highly recommend using a neutral oil. You can also use melted coconut oil, but keep in mind it does become solid when refrigerated, whereas grapeseed or vegetable oil stay soft.
Ways to Serve Caramel Apple Dip
This apple dip is the perfect fall appetizer for a party or great as a healthy snack anytime! It’s kid friendly and adult friendly, and everyone we’ve served it too gobbles it right up. If you’d like, you can top it with a sprinkle of crushed peanuts. Here are a few ways to serve this healthy caramel dip:
- Fresh fruit like apple slices, pear slices, or fresh strawberries
- Graham crackers
- Vanilla cookies or ginger cookies
- Pretzels
Storing Leftovers
This caramel apple dip stores very well refrigerated. Enjoy it immediately, or refrigerate it for up to 2 weeks.
Dietary Notes
This apple dip recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tart apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady work well with this sweet dip as they provide a nice balance of flavors.
Yes, you can make this dip ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. We recommend serving within a few days, but leftovers last up to 2 weeks.
If the dip is too thin, add a little more peanut butter. If it’s too thick, add a little more maple syrup or even water to thin it out.
Easy Apple Dip (4 Ingredients)
const share_pin_buttons = document.getElementsByClassName( ‘share-pin button’ );
if ( share_pin_buttons ) {
for ( let share_key = 0; share_key {
e.stopPropagation();
window.open(e.target.dataset.href,’targetWindow’,’toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,width=500,height=500′);
return false;
} );
}
}
You won’t believe this caramel apple dip recipe until you taste it! Stir just four ingredients into a glossy peanut butter caramel that’s vegan and gluten-free. It’s so simple and the best healthy snack!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup
- Category: Dip
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Vegan
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter (no sugar added)
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons neutral oil (like grapeseed or vegetable, or melted coconut oil; see Notes)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt (optional)
- Sliced apples, for serving (we like Pink Lady or Granny Smith)
Instructions
- Mix the peanut butter, maple syrup, oil, vanilla extract, and salt in a small bowl. Enjoy immediately with apple slices, or refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
For the oil, a neutral oil is best. While olive oil is a healthier oil, it does bring quite a strong flavor to the caramel (we tested it and liked the flavor better with neutral oil). You can also use melted coconut oil, but keep in mind it does become solid when refrigerated, whereas grapeseed or vegetable oil stay soft.
For the maple syrup, we prefer using Grade A: Dark Color and Robust Flavor.
For the nut butter, you can substitute a creamy almond butter or cashew butter. You can experiment with sunflower butter for nut-free (we have not tested).
(function(){
window.addEventListener( ‘message’, function( event ){
if ( ( ‘https://nutrifox.com’ !== event.origin && ‘https://nutrifox.test’ !== event.origin ) ||
typeof event.data !== ‘string’ ) {
return;
}
var payload = JSON.parse( event.data );
switch ( payload.event ) {
case ‘setHeight’:
var iframe = document.getElementById( ‘nutrifox-label-‘ + payload.recipeId );
iframe.style.height = payload.height + ‘px’;
break;
}
} );
}());
window.trCommon={“minRating”:6,”ajaxurl”:”https:\/\/www.acouplecooks.com\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php”,”ratingNonce”:””,”postId”:164835};
window.TastyRecipes = window.TastyRecipes || {};
window.TastyRecipes.smoothScroll = {
init() {
document.addEventListener( ‘click’, ( e ) => {
let anchor = e.target;
if ( anchor.tagName !== ‘A’ ) {
anchor = anchor.closest( ‘a.tasty-recipes-scrollto’ );
}
if ( ! anchor || ! anchor.classList.contains( ‘tasty-recipes-scrollto’ ) ) {
return;
}
const elementHref = anchor.getAttribute( ‘href’ );
if ( ! elementHref ) {
return;
}
e.preventDefault();
this.goToSelector( elementHref );
});
},
goToSelector( selector ) {
const element = document.querySelector( selector );
if ( ! element ) {
return;
}
element.scrollIntoView( { behavior: ‘smooth’ } );
}
};
document.addEventListener(
‘DOMContentLoaded’,
() => window.TastyRecipes.smoothScroll.init()
);
window.TastyRecipes = window.TastyRecipes || {};
window.TastyRecipes.cookMode = {
wakeLockApi: false,
wakeLock: false,
cookModeSelector: ‘.tasty-recipes-cook-mode’,
init() {
if (“wakeLock” in navigator && “request” in navigator.wakeLock) {
this.wakeLockApi = navigator.wakeLock;
}
const cookModes = document.querySelectorAll(this.cookModeSelector);
if (cookModes.length > 0) {
for (const cookMode of cookModes) {
if (this.wakeLockApi) {
cookMode.querySelector(‘input[type=”checkbox”]’).addEventListener(“change”, event => {
this.checkboxChange(event.target);
}, false);
} else {
cookMode.style.display = “none”;
}
}
}
},
checkboxChange(checkbox) {
if (checkbox.checked) {
this.lock();
} else {
this.unlock();
}
},
setCheckboxesState(state) {
const checkboxes = document.querySelectorAll(this.cookModeSelector + ‘ input[type=”checkbox”]’);
for (const checkbox of checkboxes) {
checkbox.checked = state;
}
},
async lock() {
try {
this.wakeLock = await this.wakeLockApi.request(“screen”);
this.wakeLock.addEventListener(“release”, () => {
this.wakeLock = false;
this.setCheckboxesState(false);
});
this.setCheckboxesState(true);
} catch (error) {
this.setCheckboxesState(false);
}
},
unlock() {
if (this.wakeLock) {
this.wakeLock.release();
this.wakeLock = false;
}
this.setCheckboxesState(false);
}
};
(function(callback) {
if (document.readyState !== “loading”) {
callback();
} else {
document.addEventListener(“DOMContentLoaded”, callback);
}
})(() => {
window.TastyRecipes.cookMode.init();
});
window.TastyRecipes = window.TastyRecipes || {};
window.TastyRecipes.staticTooltip = {
element: null,
tooltipElement: null,
deleting: false,
init( element ) {
if ( this.deleting ) {
return;
}
this.element = element;
this.buildElements();
},
destroy() {
if ( ! this.tooltipElement || this.deleting ) {
return;
}
this.deleting = true;
this.tooltipElement.classList.remove( ‘opened’ );
setTimeout( () => {
this.tooltipElement.remove();
this.deleting = false;
}, 500 );
},
buildElements() {
const tooltipElement = document.createElement( ‘div’ );
tooltipElement.classList.add( ‘tasty-recipes-static-tooltip’);
tooltipElement.setAttribute( ‘id’, ‘tasty-recipes-tooltip’ );
const currentTooltipElement = document.getElementById( ‘tasty-recipes-tooltip’ );
if ( currentTooltipElement ) {
document.body.replaceChild( tooltipElement, currentTooltipElement );
} else {
document.body.appendChild( tooltipElement );
}
this.tooltipElement = document.getElementById( ‘tasty-recipes-tooltip’ );
},
show() {
if ( ! this.tooltipElement ) {
return;
}
const tooltipTop = this.element.getBoundingClientRect().top
+ window.scrollY
– 10 // 10px offset.
– this.tooltipElement.getBoundingClientRect().height;
const tooltipLeft = this.element.getBoundingClientRect().left
– ( this.tooltipElement.getBoundingClientRect().width / 2 )
+ ( this.element.getBoundingClientRect().width / 2 ) – 1;
const posLeft = Math.max( 10, tooltipLeft );
this.maybeRemoveTail( posLeft !== tooltipLeft );
this.tooltipElement.setAttribute( ‘style’, ‘top:’ + tooltipTop + ‘px;left:’ + posLeft + ‘px;’ );
this.tooltipElement.classList.add( ‘opened’ );
},
maybeRemoveTail( removeTail ) {
if ( removeTail ) {
this.tooltipElement.classList.add( ‘tr-hide-tail’ );
} else {
this.tooltipElement.classList.remove( ‘tr-hide-tail’ );
}
},
changeMessage( message ) {
if ( ! this.tooltipElement ) {
return;
}
this.tooltipElement.innerHTML = message;
}
};
window.TastyRecipes.ajax = {
sendPostRequest( url, data, success, failure ) {
const xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
xhr.open( ‘POST’, url, true );
xhr.send( this.preparePostData( data ) );
xhr.onreadystatechange = () => {
if ( 4 !== xhr.readyState ) {
return;
}
if ( xhr.status === 200 ) {
success( JSON.parse( xhr.responseText ) );
return;
}
failure( xhr );
};
xhr.onerror = () => {
failure( xhr );
};
},
preparePostData( data ) {
const formData = new FormData();
for ( const key in data ) {
formData.append( key, data[key] );
}
return formData;
},
};
window.TastyRecipes.ratings = {
defaultRating: 0,
currentRatingPercentage: 100,
savingRating: false,
init( minRating ) {
this.minRating = minRating;
this.formWatchRating();
this.closeTooltipWhenClickOutside();
this.addBodyClassBasedOnSelectedRating();
this.backwardCompFormRatingPosition();
},
formWatchRating() {
const ratings = document.querySelectorAll(‘.tasty-recipes-no-ratings-buttons [data-rating]’);
if ( ratings.length {
event.preventDefault();
this.defaultRating = event.target.closest( ‘.checked’ ).dataset.rating;
this.setCheckedStar( event.target );
this.maybeSendRating( this.defaultRating, event.target );
this.setRatingInForm( this.defaultRating );
} );
}
},
closeTooltipWhenClickOutside() {
window.addEventListener( ‘click’, e => {
// Bailout (don’t remove the tooltip) when the clicked element is a rating star, or it’s the tooltip itself.
if ( e.target.closest( ‘.tasty-recipes-rating’ ) || e.target.classList.contains( ‘tasty-recipes-static-tooltip’ ) ) {
return;
}
window.TastyRecipes.staticTooltip.destroy();
} );
},
setRatingInForm( rating ) {
const ratingInput = document.querySelector( ‘#respond .tasty-recipes-rating[value=”‘ + rating + ‘”]’ );
if ( ! ratingInput ) {
return;
}
ratingInput.click();
},
addBodyClassBasedOnSelectedRating() {
const ratingInputs = document.querySelectorAll( ‘input.tasty-recipes-rating’ );
if ( ! ratingInputs ) {
return;
}
for ( const ratingInput of ratingInputs ) {
ratingInput.addEventListener( ‘click’, currentEvent => {
const selectedRating = currentEvent.target.getAttribute( ‘value’ );
this.handleBodyClassByRating( selectedRating );
this.toggleCommentTextareaRequired( selectedRating );
} );
}
},
handleBodyClassByRating( rating ) {
if ( rating < this.minRating ) {
document.body.classList.remove( 'tasty-recipes-selected-minimum-rating' );
return;
}
document.body.classList.add( 'tasty-recipes-selected-minimum-rating' );
},
toggleCommentTextareaRequired( rating ) {
const commentTextarea = document.getElementById( 'comment' );
if ( ! commentTextarea ) {
return;
}
if ( rating {
window.TastyRecipes.staticTooltip.changeMessage( response.data.message );
window.TastyRecipes.staticTooltip.show();
this.updateAverageText( response.data, recipeCardElement );
this.maybeFillCommentForm( response.data );
// Hide the tooltip after 5 seconds.
setTimeout( () => {
this.maybeResetTooltip( recipeCardElement, response.data, rating );
}, 5000 );
},
() => {
this.resetTooltip( recipeCardElement );
}
);
},
updateAverageText( data, recipeCardElement ) {
if ( ! data.average ) {
return;
}
this.setRatingPercent( data );
if ( ! data.count ) {
return;
}
const quickLink = document.querySelector( ‘.tasty-recipes-rating-link’ );
if ( quickLink ) {
this.setTextInContainer( quickLink, data );
this.setPartialStar( quickLink );
}
const cardStars = recipeCardElement.querySelector( ‘.tasty-recipes-ratings-buttons’ );
cardStars.dataset.trDefaultRating = data.average;
this.setTextInContainer( recipeCardElement.querySelector( ‘.tasty-recipes-rating’ ), data );
},
setTextInContainer( container, data ) {
if ( ! container ) {
return;
}
if ( data.label ) {
const ratingLabelElement = container.querySelector( ‘.rating-label’ );
if ( ratingLabelElement ) {
ratingLabelElement.innerHTML = data.label;
}
return;
}
const averageElement = container.querySelector( ‘.average’ );
if ( averageElement ) {
averageElement.textContent = data.average;
}
const countElement = container.querySelector( ‘.count’ );
if ( countElement ) {
countElement.textContent = data.count;
}
},
setPartialStar( container ) {
const highestStar = container.querySelector( ‘[data-rating=”‘ + Math.ceil( this.defaultRating ) + ‘”]’ );
if ( highestStar ) {
highestStar.dataset.trClip = this.currentRatingPercentage;
}
},
setRatingPercent( data ) {
this.defaultRating = data.average.toFixed( 1 );
const parts = data.average.toFixed( 2 ).toString().split( ‘.’ );
this.currentRatingPercentage = parts[1] ? parts[1] : 100;
if ( this.currentRatingPercentage === ’00’ ) {
this.currentRatingPercentage = 100;
}
},
setCheckedStar( target ) {
const cardRatingContainer = target.closest( ‘.tasty-recipes-ratings-buttons’ );
const selectedRatingElement = cardRatingContainer.querySelector( ‘[data-tr-checked]’ );
if ( selectedRatingElement ) {
delete selectedRatingElement.dataset.trChecked;
}
const thisStar = target.closest( ‘.tasty-recipes-rating’ );
thisStar.dataset.trChecked = 1;
thisStar.querySelector( ‘[data-tr-clip]’ ).dataset.trClip = 100;
},
maybeFillCommentForm( data ) {
if ( ! data.comment || ! data.comment.content ) {
return;
}
const commentForm = document.querySelector( ‘#commentform’ );
if ( ! commentForm ) {
return;
}
const commentBox = commentForm.querySelector( ‘[name=comment]’ );
if ( ! commentBox || commentBox.value ) {
return;
}
// Add comment details for editing.
commentBox.innerHTML = data.comment.content;
if ( data.comment.name ) {
commentForm.querySelector( ‘[name=author]’ ).value = data.comment.name;
commentForm.querySelector( ‘[name=email]’ ).value = data.comment.email;
}
},
maybeResetTooltip( recipeCardElement, data, rating ) {
if ( this.savingRating === rating ) {
this.resetTooltip( recipeCardElement, data );
}
},
resetTooltip( recipeCardElement, data ) {
window.TastyRecipes.staticTooltip.destroy();
this.savingRating = false;
// Reset the default rating.
const cardRatingContainer = recipeCardElement.querySelector( ‘.tasty-recipes-ratings-buttons’ );
if ( cardRatingContainer ) {
this.defaultRating = ( data && data.average ) ? data.average.toFixed(1) : cardRatingContainer.dataset.trDefaultRating;
cardRatingContainer.dataset.trDefaultRating = this.defaultRating;
this.resetSelectedStar( cardRatingContainer, data );
}
},
resetSelectedStar( cardRatingContainer ) {
const selectedRatingElement = cardRatingContainer.querySelector( ‘[data-rating=”‘ + Math.ceil( this.defaultRating ) + ‘”]’ );
if ( selectedRatingElement ) {
selectedRatingElement.querySelector( ‘[data-tr-clip]’ ).dataset.trClip = this.currentRatingPercentage;
selectedRatingElement.parentNode.dataset.trChecked = 1;
}
const previousSelectedElement= cardRatingContainer.querySelector( ‘[data-tr-checked]’ );
if ( previousSelectedElement ) {
const currentSelectedRating = previousSelectedElement.querySelector(‘[data-rating]’);
if ( currentSelectedRating !== selectedRatingElement ) {
delete previousSelectedElement.dataset.trChecked;
}
}
},
backwardCompFormRatingPosition() {
const ratingsButtons = document.querySelector( ‘#respond .tasty-recipes-ratings-buttons, #tasty-recipes-comment-rating .tasty-recipes-ratings-buttons’ );
if ( ! ratingsButtons ) {
return;
}
const ratingsButtonsStyles = window.getComputedStyle(ratingsButtons);
if ( ! ratingsButtonsStyles.display.includes( ‘flex’ ) ) {
ratingsButtons.style.direction = ‘rtl’;
}
if ( typeof tastyRecipesRating !== ‘undefined’ ) {
// Select the rating that was previously selected in admin.
ratingsButtons.querySelector( ‘.tasty-recipes-rating[value=”‘ + tastyRecipesRating + ‘”]’ ).checked = true;
}
const ratingSpans = ratingsButtons.querySelectorAll( ‘.tasty-recipes-rating’ );
for (const ratingSpan of ratingSpans) {
ratingSpan.addEventListener( ‘click’, event => {
if ( ratingSpan === event.target ) {
return;
}
ratingSpan.previousElementSibling.click();
} );
}
}
};
(function(callback) {
if (document.readyState !== “loading”) {
callback();
} else {
window.addEventListener( ‘load’, callback );
}
})(() => {
window.TastyRecipes.ratings.init( window.trCommon ? window.trCommon.minRating : 4 );
});
More Dip Recipes To Try
- Fruit dips like our easy fruit dip or chocolate hummus
- Veggie dips like veggie dip, dill dip or hummus
- Chip dips like ranch dip, taco dip, spinach dip, bean dip, dill pickle dip or spinach artichoke dip
