Name: Candied Caramel Apple Cream Cheese Spread
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 8 oz cream cheese; caramel sauce (homemade or store-bought); crushed Heath bar candy (toffee bits, or nuts such as pecans or walnuts for topping); sliced apples (pears, pretzels, or graham crackers for serving)

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therOAre you in need of a quick party appetizer for holiday gatherings? This Caramel Apple Cream Cheese Spread is just the thing to serve. A softened brick of cream cheese on a pretty serving tray, topped with thick caramel sauce, and sprinkled with toffee pieces- it can be served as an appetizer, or dessert, and with so many different options for dipping.

The holidays can be such a chaotic time with all the activities, shoot sometimes I get sensory overload from all the bright lights alone.

And planning, hosting, and delivering on family parties and potluck a is often no exception.

So naturally when I came across a recipe that simply doused a block of plain old cream cheese in caramel sauce, I knew it was perfect.

And not just because I can never get enough cream cheese either, although by now you surely know my feelings about cheesecake and dips.

When in doubt keep it simple.

This candied caramel apple cream cheese spread is going to be my new go-to party spread.

Making A Holiday Cream Cheese Spread

Carefully remove a block of cream cheese from its packaging, and neatly transfer it to a serving platter of your choosing.

Allow it to soften to room temperature. This shouldn’t take more than 15-20 minutes.

Don’t worry, this will still meet food safety standards.

Once the cream cheese has softened, it’s time to top it with caramel sauce.

You can use whatever caramel sauce you like, but I recommend a thicker one that will hold it’s shape.

For example, if you use something like caramel sundae topping- it’s thin and going to run.

This will mean less in every dip, and just more mess on your serving tray.

Keep that in mind when choosing yours, and pick one that’s noticeably thicker for better staying power.

After you’ve ‘topped’ your cream cheese brick, sprinkle the crushed heath bar bits evenly out over top.

Be generous! Every scoop will manage to get a little bit of the topping that way, and ensure guests enjoy.

What To Pair This Cream Cheese Spread With

Whether you decide to serve this as an appetizer or dessert, you’ve got a variety of great options to choose from.

We’ve served it, to great enjoyment, with:

sliced apples
pretzels
sliced pears
grapes
graham crackers
vanilla wafers

Find something else you love to pair it with? Share it with us in the comments!

Other Topping Ideas

It’s hard to beat crushed heath candy bars as far as a topping idea, but there are alternatives to toffee bits.

If you’re looking for something different try one of these:

nuts, like chopped pecans or walnuts
crushed butterfinger bars- a great way to use of excess Halloween candy
seasonal m&m candies
a pinch of flaked sea salt – which will really highlight the sweet caramel

According to Buddy, the elf, ‘the best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear.’

And while we whole-heartedly agree, tasty treats are always a close second for spreading warmth and comfort to family and friends anytime of the year.

Serve this cream cheese spread and watch everyone cheer.

We’ve topped it with Heath candy bits, but you could opt for plain toffee bits, or even nuts like pecans or walnuts for a less sweet, more rustic feel.

Either way, it invites guests to dig right in.

Other Sweet Dessert Dips To Try

If you’ve tried this CANDIED CARAMEL APPLE CREAM CHEESE SPREAD, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!