No-Churn Caramel Apple Crisp Ice Cream

by Kayla Berman on Aug 21, 2023 (updated Apr 15, 2024) 0 comments

If you’re looking for a delicious dessert to help you bridge the transition from late summer into fall, you have to try my super simple No-Churn Caramel Apple Crisp Ice Cream. Featuring tender chunks of cinnamon roasted apples, crunchy graham cracker bits, and a salty-sweet swirl of caramel, this yummy recipe is a delectable mashup of apple pie and ice cream — all in one delicious scoop.

Why You’ll Love This Apple Crisp Ice Cream Recipe

By the time hot, sticky August rolls around, I’m generally ripe and ready for a brisk autumnal breeze. And, while I can’t control the weather or force my beloved fall season to arrive any faster, I can start getting in the sweater season state of mind by bringing on all the cozy flavors.

It might not be *quite* the time of year to bust out the maple-glazed pumpkin bread or apple cider donut holes – I’m still waiting for the temps to drop before turning on the oven – but this delectably frosty caramel apple ice cream is the perfect dessert to usher in a new season.

Aside from pairing beautifully with all the back-to-school vibes – Think: the smell of freshly sharpened pencils! The allure of a brand-spankin’-new notebook! The fun of plotting a stellar Halloween costume! – this caramel apple pie ice cream recipe is also:

Quick, Easy, & No-Churn – No ice cream machine or maker? NO PROBLEM! You don’t need one for this simple no-churn recipe. Simply whip up some heavy cream and fold it into the ice cream base, then freeze to perfection.
Budget-Friendly – Skip the sky-high scoop shop prices (when did 2 scoops reach $7+?!?!) and bring the frozen party home. This delectable homemade ice cream tastes just as good as what you’d get from Baskin Robbins, but at a fraction of the price!
Sweet, Creamy, & Rich – Just the way ice cream was intended.
Super Impressive – Seriously, friends. Bust out some homemade apple ice cream at your next gathering and watch your friends’ jaws drop in admiration of your kitchen skills. They’ll be floored!

Ingredients & Substitutions

Despite being packed to the brim with a bevy of delicious textures and fall-inspired seasonal flavors, this this vanilla ice cream studded with apple pie filling and graham crackers requires fewer than 10 simple ingredients. Here’s what to grab:

Apples – Red or green, sweet or tart – you can’t go wrong. Use whatever fresh apples you like or have on hand!
Salted Butter – Salty sweet is the name of the game for this caramel swirl apple pie ice cream. If you only have unsalted butter, add a few pinches of kosher salt or fine sea salt to taste.
Light Brown Sugar – For creating a lovely caramelly sauce for your tender apples. Feel free to swap in dark brown sugar for a more pronounced molasses flavor. You can also swap in less refined sugar varieties like muscovado sugar or maple sugar.
Cinnamon – For that cozy, warming vibe that I associate with fall. You can also use apple pie spice if you like!
Heavy Cream – At minimum, you’ll need 30% milkfat to be able to whip the cream into lofty pillows of fluffy excellence.
Sweetened Condensed Milk – This canned pantry staple makes the process of whipping up a batch of homemade ice cream super easy. It’s precooked and pre-sweetened, so all you have to do is fold in the cream.
Vanilla Extract – A little bit for extra warmth and complexity. Feel free to swap in an equal amount of vanilla paste or vanilla powder if needed.
Graham Crackers – For adding sweet crunch to this apple crisp ice cream. Feel free to use either honey or cinnamon graham crackers.
Caramel Sauce – Either store-bought or homemade will work beautifully here.

Equipment

Veggie Peeler
Chef’s Knife
Cutting Board
Sauté Pan
Rubber Spatula
Hand or Stand Mixer, or Balloon Whisk
Loaf Pan or Freezer-Safe Ice Cream Container

How To Make Caramel Apple Pie Ice Cream

This autumnal apple cinnamon ice cream comes together in just a few simple steps:

Step 1: Sauté the diced apples, butter, light brown sugar, and cinnamon in a pan on the stove over low-medium heat for 8-10 minutes , or until the apples are softened and the sauce thickened. Remove from the heat and let cool.

Step 2: Whip the cream in a large bowl until stiff peaks form.

Step 3: Fold in the condensed milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, sautéed apple mixture, and 3 crushed graham cracker sheets. Gently combine, do not over-mix.

process shot - sweetened condensed milk, roasted apples, and crushed graham crackers added to the bowl with the whipped cream.

process shot - caramel apple crisp ice cream base after folding in the flavorings.

Step 4: Pack the ice cream into a loaf pan. Pour about half of the ice cream mixture into the pan. Then add 1 crushed graham cracker sheet and a drizzle of caramel sauce on top of the ice cream. Repeat the process and add the remaining half of the ice cream mixture on top. Then finally another crushed graham cracker sheet and a drizzle of caramel sauce.

Step 5: Cover & Freeze for 4-5 hours, until completely solid and firm.

Step 6: Thaw, Scoop, & Enjoy! Remove the ice cream from the freezer and let thaw for a couple of minutes before scooping and serving.

Optional Variations & Dietary Adaptations

As much as I love this apple flavored no churn ice cream recipe just the way it is written, I want you to feel empowered to make it to your exact specifications. Here are just a few variations worth considering for it to become each and every one of yours favorite dessert:

Dairy-Free/Vegan – Whether you’re a vegan or lactose just doesn’t agree with you, you can still have delectable homemade apple pie ice cream at home. Simply swap in the plant-based butter, whipping cream, sweetened condensed milk, and caramel sauce of your choice.
Gluten-Free – Keep your apple ice cream safe for celiacs by swapping in your favorite gluten-free grahams.
Different Fruit – Apples are awesome, but they’re not your only option. Use pears for another fun fall-flavored twist, or swap in the stone fruit of your choice (e.g. peaches or cherries) for more of a summer fruit pie ice cream vibe.
Different Cookie – Grahams are great, but don’t feel limited. Snickerdoodles, chewy peanut butter cookies, or oatmeal sandwich cookies are all lovely choices.

Expert Tips

Whip it real good. Make sure to whip the heavy cream into stiff peaks — this is what gives the apple ice cream its smooth, soft, scoopable consistency since we aren’t churning it. That said, be careful not to overwhip. Whipped cream can turn to butter in the blink of an eye!
Start with cold cream & implements. I like to refrigerate or freeze my mixing bowl and beaters for about 15 minutes before whipping cream to make it easier to whip into billowing mounds of fluffy goodness. Wondering how that works? Cold fat holds its shape better (think about bacon fat after cooling to room temp), so cold cream can hold the air pockets from whipping much better than warm.
Fold gently. I suggest swiping the spatula deep around the sides of the bowl, ending each pass by lifting the bottom contents to the top. As a righty, that sort of looks like drawing a backwards “G” with the spatula. Rotate the bowl 90 degrees each time to hit all corners and sides.
Pack in layers. Adding the creamy ice cream base to your freezer container in 3 layers separated by additional mix-ins like broken graham crackers and caramel ensures that each scoop gets a generous amount of flavorful swirls.

Serving Suggestions

I feel like ice cream is one of those dishes that doesn’t require any accompaniments, especially when it’s loaded with chunky bits like stewed, caramelized apples and graham crackers.

That said, while you definitely don’t need anything other than a spoon to enjoy this apple pie ice cream, there are lots of ways to put it to good use. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Autumn Affogato – Take a page from the Italian playbook and top a scoop of this caramel apple crisp ice cream with some steaming hot apple cider.
Breakfast Bonanza – Try dessert for breakfast by topping your favorite pancakes or waffles with a scoop.
Caramel Apple Ice Cream Bars – Pack your apple pie ice cream base into popsicle molds instead of a loaf tin. When frozen solid, remove the bars and dip them in caramel Magic Shell.
Blondie Sundae – Pairing this apple ice cream with chewy, caramelly blondie bars and a hefty drizzle of caramel seems like a no-brainer.
Ice Cream Sandwiches – Make a fall-inspired It’s-It by smooshing a scoop between two of your favorite soft cookies. Think maple, molasses, or caramel! After adding the scoop and smooshing, consider rolling the exposed edges in toffee bits for added flair, then freeze for another hour or two until set.
Double Apple Deliciousness – Top my easy apple cobbler with some apple crisp ice cream for a bona fide apple party a la mode in your mouth.

FAQs

What is the difference between heavy cream vs whipping cream?

Heavy cream has a minimum 36% milkfat, making it the richest option of cream. Whipping cream, on the other hand, can range from 30-36% milkfat. You’re welcome to use either, but heavy whipping cream is the best for creating strong peaks to keep this no-churn apple ice cream nice and soft.

What kind of apples should I use?

I personally like Honeycrisp, but feel free to use your favorites. Other good options include Fuji, Pink Lady, Cosmic Crisp, and Granny Smith Apples.

Who makes apple pie ice cream?

With this easy recipe, YOU DO!

Should you eat apple pie hot or cold?

How about both?? Top your hot apple pie with a scoop of frozen apple pie ice cream for the best of all worlds.

Why is there no apple ice cream?

With this super easy ice cream recipe in your bookmarks tab, you literally never have to ask that question again!

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Connect With Me!

If you make this apple crisp ice cream recipe or any of my other recipes, I would absolutely love to know! Tag me @wellnessbykay on Instagram so I can see and share your recreations.

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