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Caramel Apple Dessert Cups

Caramel apple dessert cups with spiced apple compote, a cinnamon cream cheese mousse, and graham cracker crumble layered in clear glasses. Chilled until set, each cup gets a caramel drizzle for a layered, spoonable finish.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
chilling 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

spiced apple compote
  • 4 apples peeled and diced small
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tbsp butter
cream cheese mousse
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 0.5 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
assembly
  • 1.5 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 3 tbsp butter melted
  • 0.5 cup caramel sauce

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Make the spiced apple compote
  1. Cook the diced apples with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring until softened and syrupy (visual cue: apples look glossy and liquid clings to them).
  2. Remove from heat and cool completely (visual cue: compote is no longer warm and thickened syrup coats the apples).
Prepare the graham cracker crumble
  1. Stir graham cracker crumbs with melted butter until evenly moistened (visual cue: crumbs clump slightly when pressed).
  2. Set the crumble aside at room temperature while you make the mousse.
Make the cream cheese mousse
  1. Beat cream cheese with powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon until smooth (visual cue: no lumps and mixture looks thick and creamy).
  2. Whip heavy cream to stiff peaks (visual cue: peaks stand straight when the whisk is lifted).
  3. Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until no white streaks remain (visual cue: mousse is light and uniform).
Assemble and chill
  1. Layer graham cracker crumble in clear cups as the bottom (visual cue: an even, sandy base).
  2. Spoon in a layer of cream cheese mousse (visual cue: smooth, creamy dome over the crumbs).
  3. Top with spiced apple compote (visual cue: glossy spiced apples sit evenly).
  4. Drizzle caramel sauce over the apple layer (visual cue: thin ribbons of caramel visible through the cup).
  5. Repeat layers once more—crumb, mousse, compote, and caramel drizzle (visual cue: you reach the rim with distinct strata).
  6. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving (visual cue: mousse firms and the layers hold their shape).

Notes

Pro tip: cool the apple compote fully before layering so the mousse doesn’t thin. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; the cups can also be frozen (freeze up to 1 month), though the texture of the crumble may soften after thawing. For a lighter option, use reduced-fat cream cheese and light cream, keeping the whipping step for stiff peaks.