Caramel apples and ice cream are a match made in dessert heaven! Make these super simple ice cream sundae any time of the year.
Caramel Apple Ice Cream Sundae Recipe
Remember those pictures I posted about ten days ago? The ones where snow was falling in our backyard? Well, we're back in shorts because the temperatures shot back up to the 70s. One side of me wants to dive into comfort dishes - soups, stews and apple and pumpkin desserts epitomize autumn. The other side wants to hold onto summer for a few weeks longer - cold drinks, fresh salads. Oh yeah, and ice cream. So, what can one do but make a dessert that bridges both seasons, using the cooling textures of summer with the rich flavors of autumn?
As I learned from the Almond Joy Ice Cream I made in the summer, it's okay to use store-bought ice cream (okay, it needs to be high-quality) if you pair it with some tasty ingredients. In this case, those ingredients are crisp apples, cooked in butter until browned, and tossed in a simple, homemade caramel sauce.
My boys helped me with every step. Well, except for making the caramel sauce. Bubbling hot sugar and children do not mix well. And boy, did they ever enjoy the spoils.
Every last drip.
The recipe:
Core apples and thinly slice, cutting each slice in half.
Spread sugar evenly in a large skillet set over medium heat. Let the sugar sit, untouched, until it begins to melt. Using a fork, stir the sugar until completely it has completely melted and turned medium caramel brown.
Remove from the heat and slowly add the cream. Stand back a little because it will foam and may splatter a little. Hot sugar on bare skin is not a good thing. Return to the heat and whisk until the sauce is smooth. Set over low heat, whisking occasionally, until ready to use.
In the meantime, melt butter in a medium skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the apples and cook until the apples are beginning to turn brown. Add the apples to the caramel sauce and stir until they are coated.
Using four bowls or short glasses, layer the ice cream with the caramel apples, drizzling the extra caramel sauce over top. Serve immediately.
Printable Recipe
Caramel Apple Ice Cream Sundae
Ingredients
- 2 ½ medium Gala apples
- ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¾ quart high-quality vanilla ice cream
Instructions
- Core apples and thinly slice, cutting each slice in half.
- Spread sugar evenly in a large skillet set over medium heat. Let the sugar sit, untouched, until it begins to melt.
- Using a fork, stir the sugar until completely it has completely melted and turned medium caramel brown.
- Remove from the heat and slowly add the cream. Stand back a little because it will foam and may splatter a little.
- Return to the heat and whisk until the sauce is smooth. Set over low heat, whisking occasionally, until ready to use.
- In the meantime, melt butter in a medium skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the apples and cook until the apples are beginning to turn brown.
- Add the apples to the caramel sauce and stir until they are coated.
- Using four bowls or short glasses, layer the ice cream with the caramel apples, drizzling the extra caramel sauce over top. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Liz
LOVE this idea!!! And your sweet boys look like they approve, too 🙂
Monique
Did you make the ice cream ?
I make my own ice cream, relatively easy and no machine.
My daughters make their own too.
No additives, no preservatives,only 3 ingredients.
Nutmeg Nanny
These sundae's look amazing!!! I'm pretty much a sucker for anything caramel apple 🙂
Carolyn
While you had snow, we've had such a warm, warm fall here that I am still harvesting tomatoes from my garden! Your boys are so cute and your gorgeous ice cream sundaes make me drool!
CouponClippingCook
This looks so good. So simple too. Love that the ingredients are right out of the pantry too (including the refrigerator pantry). I'll be making this soon...I'm actually craving it now!
Sandra
What a treat and how cute are your boys!
Krista {Budget Gourmet Mom}
Stellar combination! This definitely helps transition ice cream to fall. Oh, who am I kidding, I could eat ice cream all year round. I love the pictures of your boys...they are too cute!
Becky at VintageMixer
Great idea. I love caramel sundaes!! Or caramel anything for that matter.
carolinaheartstrings
Great treat any time! Love the pics of your boys. Very cute. Come visit. We have a terrific pumpkin panna cotta recipe to share.
Joy
That looks so yummy.
Brooks at Cakewalker
Dara, You've trained your boys well - every last drip! This presentation is beautiful from start to finish and I couldn't agree more that a high quality store bought ice cream is sensational with a couple of homemade embellishments. Brava!
TidyMom
oh this looks fabulous! I've been wanting to make an apple pie shake, but this sounds really good too!!
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc.
oh yum! Great photo too!
Tori @ The Shiksa in the Kitchen
Well, this has my three favorite ingredients in it-- cream, butter, and sugar. What's not to love? 🙂
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen
Your boys are cute, cute, cute. Your dessert looks totally amazing for any time of year.
Wenderly
Oh Dara! These sound divine! I actually *gasped* out loud at the marvelous photo of the apples in the pan covered in the caramel sauce. Gorgeous!!!!!! And your boys, precious as always!
Drick
now that's some finger licking goodness.......and I love how you're straddling the fence between summer and fall with this knockout recipe... really great
Prerna@IndianSimmer
Are you trying to kill people here? This sundae looks so addictive that I wanna make it right NOW and I don not have apples at home. Not Good!! 🙁
Boy, that looks so good and it will not get out of my mind until I make it!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen
Those pictures of the boys are so cute! I'd be licking my fingers clean too if I had one of these in front of me!
kathryn
I love your blog Dara. I've been loving it for a long time and it's just occurred to me that you can't read my mind, so I'm finally leaving you a comment.
Yum, yum, yum and yum; it must be fun to live at your house!
I read every post, and though I'm not a frequent commenter I am a frequent admirer. There must be a lot if us out here, reading, drooling, enjoying yet not saying much. Just know that we're here, ok? I'll try to comment more often than once in a blue moon.
Waving at you from a suburb outside Vancouver BC!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Kathryn, thank you so much. That is truly one of the sweetest comments I have ever received. I'm glad to know you silent types are out there...and I appreciate you!