Warm, gooey, smells like apple pie coming out of the oven, and takes exactly ten minutes to bake — this dip is the fall party trick you'll come back to every year. Think of it as apple pie's easygoing cousin: creamy neufchatel base, brown sugar and cinnamon, chunks of fresh Honeycrisp apple, and a sharp cheddar and toasted pecan finish that keeps it from tipping too sweet.
Serve it with cinnamon-sugar pita chips, graham crackers, or (our favorite) crisp slices of a different apple variety for a double-apple moment. For the diced apple in the recipe, we love Honeycrisp or Macoun — both hold their shape and bring a good tart-sweet balance. Ship fresh apples straight to your door by ordering here.
Ingredients
- 8 oz neufchatel or cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 Honeycrisp or Macoun apple, peeled and diced
- 1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons pecans, roughly chopped
- Crackers, pita chips, or apple slices for serving
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese, brown sugar, and cinnamon together until light and fluffy.
- Stir in half of the diced apple.
- Spread the mixture into a small pie plate or oven-safe dish.
- Top with the remaining apple, then the pecans, then the cheddar.
- Bake for 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the edges bubble.
- Serve hot, right out of the oven, with your favorite dippers.
Tips & Variations
- Toast the pecans first for maximum flavor.
- Add a splash of bourbon to the cream cheese mixture for a grown-up version.
- Make it in a mini cast-iron skillet for a rustic look.
- Serve with apple slices from a different variety — the crisp fresh crunch against the warm melted dip is perfect.
Made this? Send us a photo — we'll send you a coupon for your next order. Comment below or email [email protected]. Enjoy!
