The flavors of caramel apples and apple pie come together in this amazing Caramel Apple Pie Fudge recipe. A fantastic Fall or holiday dessert mash-up or anytime during the year!
Like a moth to a flame, I love anything caramel. When our kids were little, they used to go on a pumpkin patch field trip with their school every year and one year I spotted caramel apple pie fudge at the gift shop. I bought a ton of it.
When we got home, I immediately went online to find the recipe and pretty much searched everywhere, but nothing! After I cried, I regrouped and went to work on creating my own. This caramel apple fudge recipe tastes just like if a caramel apple and apple pie got married. And absolutely amazing.
Another fun treat I make every fall is caramel apple nachos – a deconstructed caramel apple that is loaded with caramel, chocolate, and lots of fun toppings! And don’t miss our popular caramel sauce and caramel apple grapes!
What’s in This Caramel Apple Fudge Recipe?
Here are the ingredients you need to make this fudge recipe:
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Apple cider – Provides that lovely spiced apple flavor to every bite. You can also use apple juice. Make sure you are not using apple cider vinegar!
- Unsalted butter – Adds flavor and smoothness to fudge and prevents it from being grainy.
- Sweetened condensed milk – This is a key ingredient in fudge, which not only provides sweetness, but more importantly is needed for the fudge to set properly.
- Granulated sugar – For sweetness and also what lends to the firm texture.
- White chocolate chips – Use a really good high quality brand that melts well, like Ghirardelli.
- Dried apple – This fudge recipe does not work with raw fresh apples or cooked apples, since they release too much moisture.
- Vanilla extract – For added flavor.
- Apple Pie Spice – You can use our apple pie spice recipe or buy it at the store where the other spices are located.
- Dulce De Leche – This is sweet, super-creamy caramelized milk and can be found in the baking aisle.
Tips for Success
- This recipe calls for apple cider, NOT apple cider vinegar. You don’t want your fudge tasting like vinegar.
- Make sure you are using sweetened condensed milk, NOT evaporated milk.
- I prefer Ghirardelli white chocolate chips over any other. It seems to have a smoother texture and melts easier.
- After bringing the mixture to a rolling boil, don’t stop stirring! If you stop, your mixture could burn.
- Use Dulce de Leche, not caramel syrup. Caramel syrup is too thin and can add moisture to the fudge, which won’t allow it to set properly.
Proper Storage
This fudge can sit out in a cool, dry place for 2 days. After that it should be refrigerated, in an airtight container, for up to 3 days.
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Caramel Apple Pie Fudge
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup apple cider (NOT apple cider vinegar)
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter , cut into cubes
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 11 ounce bag white chocolate chips (Ghirardelli for best results)
- 1/4 cup finely diced dried apple
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 & 1/4 teaspoons apple pie spice
- 3 tablespoons Dulce De Leche
Instructions
- Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large saucepan combine the apple cider, butter, sweetened condensed milk, and sugar; bring to a rolling boil and stir continuously for 5 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low; add in the white chocolate and stir until completely melted and smooth.
- Stir in the dried apple, vanilla, and spices; blend well, stirring for another minute or so to incorporate.
- Pour mixture into baking dish.
- Heat Dulche de Leche in the microwave for 15-20 seconds to loosen. Drizzle or drop dollops around in the baking dish and swirl through with a dull knife for a marbled effect.
- Refrigerate for at least 8 hours (or overnight), until completely hardened.
- Remove parchment paper from pan and place on cutting board. Cut into squares and enjoy!For tips and storage, please refer to the article.
I can only find freeze dried apples, will they work!
I’ve never tested this recipe with freeze dried apples, so I can’t say. Fudge can be finicky, so for proper results, use dried apple.
Can’t wait to try this fudge! I was looking for something different to make as gifts and thought hmm I wonder if apple cider fudge is a thing and poof found your recipe! I’ve never seen this before but love the fall season and apple picking is a huge part of it for us. I’m just wondering if I could use regular melted caramels instead of the canned Dulche de Leche?
Hi Jenn – Without further testing, I can’t confirm, sorry! Fudge can be finicky, so I wouldn’t change anything to ensure proper results.
I made this recipe last night because it just looked too good to not make. I even made my own Dulce de Leche in my electric pressure cooker from a recipe I found online and dried apple slices from a yummy apple off one of our trees. ( I didn’t have any and didn’t want to run to town to buy them. Anyway, they all turned out good, thankfully.
My fudge, however, has a slightly grainy mouthfeel, unlike the regular fudge I usually make from sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips. It’s a little like brown sugarish in texture, but the flavor is to die for!
My fudge isn’t as pretty as yours either. The caramel didn’t swirl as prettily, even though it was warmed, and remained more in small dollops. This all said, the flavor is DElicious!!
Do you have any suggestions as to improving the texture? Did I overcook it or something, or is this just the sugary texture it’s supposed to be?
Thanks a lot! I love your posts and videos.
This fudge looks amazing, can’t wait to try it! For the dried apples, which type did you use? I have crisp dried apple chips or should I get the dried apple rings that are soft?
Hi Lynn – I use the soft apple rings (diced up very small), but you can use either kind.
I’d like to make this for Mother’s Day gifts but, with it being spring, apple cider is hard to find. I know it’s not the same but might apple juice work?
Hi Stacey! Yes, apple juice will work fine!
Thanks for the response! I’ll keep hunting for the cider but, if I try apple juice, I’ll be sure to let you know.
I thought I’d tried every type of fudge out there, but I was wrong! Loved this. So easy and DELICIOUS. Making it again for a bridal shower I’m hosting.
Made this today and have been anxiously waiting for it to set. It took about 3 1/2 hours and was dangerously good. This recipe is the best and worst thing that could have happened to me. LOL.
Can this fudge be frozen?
You are my hero! My family took a trip to the apple farm this past weekend like we do every year and I bought a few gallons of apple cider and dried apple. Came home and made this the next day. It was absolutely delicious. I’m going to make it again for Thanksgiving!
Made this for Christmas and the family said I have to make them every year from now on. It’s very rich – a little goes a long way!
Made up a batch to bring into the teacher’s lounge. It was gone in seconds and everyone the next day said, “Don’t make that again! It was TOO good!”
So funny story. For some reason I thought it said apple cider vinegar – which obviously it doesn’t! But that’s what I used and it was, well, vinegar-y! Yuck. Looked at the ingredients again and realized I goofed. Made another batch with apple cider and it was out of this world! Thank you for a wonderful fudge recipe!
ACK. Definitely don’t want to use vinegar! I’m glad you were able to laugh about it and start over. It’s absolutely worth it! Thanks, Pamela!
I’m not sure if you used apple chips, or just a regular apple in the recipe. I would like to try the recipe. Thank you!
Hi Judy – I used dried apple. It’s where the other dried fruit is (prunes, apricots, etc.) in the grocery store. Enjoy!
For the Dulce de Leche….. I live in the S.W. of France in a small town. We don’t go in for new-fangled things. Thanks I will try for a recipe online.
I cannot buy dry apple. Could I use fresh apple instead? What is Dulce de Leche?
You do need dried apple – fresh apple will let off too much moisture. Dulce de Leche is sweetened milk that has been caramelized. You can find it in most grocery stores…it comes in a can. Or there are several recipes online to make your own.
Is this the sweetened condensed milk?
Hi Mary – no, sweetened condensed milk and Dulce de Leche are two different things. If your grocer carries it, they’ll know what aisle to direct you. The name Dulce de Leche is right on the can.
Hi Heather – yes, it needs to be stored in the refrigerator, as per my recipe instructions. However, I apologize…I had it written “can be stored” which now reads “should be stored.”
This was amazing!!!
Holy deliciousness batman. This was maybe the best tasting fudge I’ve ever made.
Made this for Christmas and it was absolutely delicious!! Mine set in just a few hours. I might make it again for New Year’s – one more hoorah before I start my diet ;-)
Made this for Thanksgiving. Everyone wanted the recipe. OMG SO GOOD!!!!
I read through the comments as well before making these. If you let it come to a rolling boil and make sure the white chips melt completely it comes out perfectly as the author notes. Mine even set very fast, maybe an hour? It was delicious!!
I couldn’t wait to try this recipe! I added the dry spices to the sugar instead of at the end, did everything else according to your recipe and it turned out wonderful! This requires less time in the fridge, it started setting right up just like regular fudge does. Using this in my gifts for the neighbors this year, they are going to love it!
My daughter was raving about this fudge so I tried it. AMAZING. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
I think I just learned to love you a little more. You’re a genius, Amy. I’m not huge on fudge, but I seriously have to try this. Maybe I can find time before Thanksgiving!
I have had such a comedy of errors prepping to make these – went out for dried apple rings, got home and realized I didn’t have white chocolate. Ran out for white chocolate, got home, and realized what I thought was sweetened condensed milk in the back of my pantry was actually evaporated milk. I firmly believe it will all be worth it – I’ve been thinking about this fudge for days! I’ll let you know how it turns out :)
Too funny. I’ve done that countless times!
This was incredible. I can’t stop eating it. HELP! Lol.
All that weight I lost while marathon training…it was gone as soon as I looked at these and realized I was probably going to make and devour a whole batch. I love/hate you right now. :)
You. Are. Awesome. I’ve seen this for sale at apple orchards and pumpkin patches, too, and always wondered about a recipe. Too excited to make this!! My neighbors will love you, too, because I’m sure it will definitely be one I won’t be able to keep around, or I’ll be 500 pounds as well. Yum!
I knew I couldn’t be the only one searching. Apparently, it’s top secret information…but not anymore! Yay!
It’s chilling in the refrigerator! The flavor is SO incredible. I hope it firms up…all I had was FF evap milk and I’ve not had good luck with that in recipes in the past. I’m hopeful. If nothing else, I can use it as an ice cream topping!
Hm. I don’t know if fat free will make a difference in texture or taste. I guess we’ll find out! *fingers crossed*
It looks like the apple is on top of the fudgy part, with the dulce de leche. Did you sprinkle them on before you drizzled the dulce de leche? Or did you mix the apples into the DdeL before drizzling? This recipe may distract me from the bag of Butterfingers . . . .
Oops, my bad Andrea…I forgot to include the dried apple into the directions. GAH. I fixed it in the recipe and print out. But you mix the dried apple pieces in at the same time as the white chocolate. They just floated to the top (which wasn’t my intention, but in the end, it didn’t matter!)
Goodness, no doubt. And I know you’re familiar with that feeling when you create something basically from scratch. *pats self on back*
Just when I thought I had tried every possible type of fudge. You are my hero for bringing this to my attention!
HEE. I’m here to help, Pam ;-)