Apple cider caramel smore’s dip is the perfect post dinner treat for a family night in or around a campfire. Make the caramel ahead of time so you can eat apple cider caramel smores dip on demand all fall long!

Fall is here. I have a new darker hair color. I pulled all my sweatshirts and sweaters out of hibernation and swapped them out with all the tank tops in my dresser. I am all in on all apple and pumpkin recipes.

And all of that only means one thing.

Tomorrow the temperature will go back up into the 80’s, I will have to put the AC back on, and I will be sweating my butt off in my new sweater. I refuse to go back to swimsuits and dresses though!

On days when I send Andy to school in fall attire and then he comes all sweaty, I do feel bad.

Being a parent, I do most often times find myself defending my choices or trying to convince the boys I really do know what I am talking about.

For instance, caramel. No. Of course I am not going to talk them into trying more green things! I know what battles to pick and choose.

I tried to tell the boys they would love caramel. Looking back, I shouldn’t have been promoting apple cider caramel with apple wedges.

Rookie mistakes.

I wish I would have gone straight to the apple cider caramel smore’s dip phase. Once Andy saw that dip with all the cookies, graham crackers, and chocolate chips around it, he was all emoji heart eyes.

Also, my poor child. I had styled this whole image and left it unattended while I baked the apple cider caramel smore’s dip. Then, I see Andy coming down from the kitchen and dining room with chocolate chips in his hand.

My immediate response was “Noooo. Andy I needed those for the picture.”

Andy, being the true child of a food blogger, snapped back, “Maaahhhmmm. I know! I didn’t take them from the scene. I took them from the bag.”

Hmm. Ok. You got me kid.

But, I was so proud, because once the dip was baked, I sat with Andy and we had a few dips on graham crackers. I saw he was loving the dip. After he told me apple cider caramel smores dip was the “goodest” dip ever, I informed him caramel was in there.

Part of me was expecting a Chris Farley coffee skit reaction, but he was pleasantly surprised. We sat there and ate half the dip for a little afternoon treat. I am going to call this a mom win for sure!

Oh! And if you want to see how easy it is to make this caramel, head to Instagram for a little tutorial.

Apple Cider Caramel

Yield: about 1 cup

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Reduced apple cider combines with heavy cream, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon to make the perfect fall caramel for dipping or topping all the apple pies.

Print

Ingredients

• 1 cup apple cider
• 1/2 cup room temperature unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

1. Bring the apple cider to a simmer over medium/high heat. Boil and reduce until only about 1/4 cup remains.
2. Reduce heat to low, mix in the butter, cream, sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Whisk to combine.
3. Bring back up to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes until thick.
4. Store in a heatproof container in the fridge for up to a week.

Notes

Before using the caramel, either heat it in a saucepan over low until it is ooey gooey or pop it in the microwave to melt it a bit before using or serving.

Apple Cider Caramel Smore's Dip

Yield: serves 4-6

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 13 minutes

Layers of melted chocolate, apple cider caramel, and toasted marshmallows make the most perfect smore's dip for fall.

Print

Ingredients

• 12oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup apple cider caramel sauce (see above recipe)
• 11 giant marshmallows, cut in half
• graham crackers, animal crackers, cookies, or fruit for dipping

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Add chocolate chips to a medium cast iron skillet. Layer dollops of caramel on top of the chocolate. They don't need to cover the entire chocolate layer. as the caramel melts it will spread. Reserve 1 tbsp of caramel sauce for topping the dip in the end.
3. Add marshmallows, cut side down on top of the caramel layer.
4. Bake the dip for 6-8 minutes until the top of the marshmallows get as toasted as you like.
5. Top the dip with a drizzle of the remaining caramel sauce. Let the dip cool for 3-5 minutes before digging in. Be careful because the skillet is very hot.

Notes

Use whatever size marshmallows you have on hand. I do find the giant ones to be my favorite.