Caramel Apple Slices – Healthy Snack for Kids

I get it. I know that caramel apple nachos sound sketchy by name alone. Erase visions of tortilla chips from your mind as this is one snack you will want in your rotation. These easy caramel apple slices can be taken as an appetizer to parties or served as healthy snacks after school. What kid wouldn’t love a plate full of apple slices with caramel and peanuts and even chocolate? Apple caramel slices are one of those snacks that are so tasty you almost forget they are at least kind of healthy! 

Note: This post was updated and republished in August, 2020.

One of the many things I cherish about fall are caramel apples. Never having been much of a candy apple fan, I’m drawn to the messy caramel and peanut concoctions instead.

Several years ago, I discovered those little apple dipper snacks, beckoning to me from a produce aisle loaded with prepackaged fruit snacks. I typically don’t give in to overpriced convenience snacks like this. But after craving a caramel apple for several weeks, I was caught in a weak moment, and I bought several packs of caramel apple slices.

Sliced Apples with Caramel – Cooking with Kids

Soon after, for my girls’ night at a friend’s house, I decided to prepare a large platter of sliced “caramel apples” as the item I was contributing to the meal. I found an idea for apple nachos on the Marzetti website and knew it deserved a shot.

And, man, it was a hit! So much so that I prepared a second huge batch of caramel apple slices for a work event the following week. 

I knew that this was the perfect snack to let Little One help with. At 22 months, she loves to “help.” Some of the cooking I do with Scooter Britches can still be a bit much for LO, but with these apples, she could gather and sprinkle to her little heart’s content.

How to Make Caramel Apple Slices

To start, I used either two Gala apples or two Red Delicious. I find there is much more flavor with Gala. When making a snack for our family of four, 16 apple slices (from two apples) is usually enough though sometimes I use three apples.

With my handy-dandy apple slicer, I slice each apple into eight even-sized pieces and soak them in a bowl of salt water (one quart of cold water with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of salt) for about five minutes to prevent browning. Then, I arrange the apples on the bottom of a serving plate.

Next, I usually let LO help me drizzle several spoonfuls of warmed caramel dip (warmed for 20-30 seconds in microwave) onto the apples, thus turning the apples into caramel apple slices! Total magic!

Sometimes, if I am concerned with presentation, I pour the caramel into a small Ziploc bag and snip a tiny hole in one corner of the bag. Using the snipped corner of the bag, I drizzle the caramel over the apples.

Toppings for Caramel Apple Nachos

For me, nuts are my favorite topping on a caramel apple. I use a meat cleaver to smash about 1/2 cup of roasted peanuts, and I put them in a small plastic bowl for Little One. Obviously, we have no peanut allergies in this home.

Occasionally, when we don’t have peanuts on hand, I use cereal. Rice Krispies cereal in the pantry. Cereal adds another touch of crunch to the apples. 

Little One has a big time sprinkling on the peanuts and the cereal. 

However, what she is not a fan of is getting her hands messy with the caramel.

Little diva!

Cereal makes for a fun topping on apple slices with caramel.

Caramel Apple Slices - Apple Snack

These apple slices with caramel and other toppings make a great party food and a great afternoon snack for kids and adults, alike.

No ratings yet

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 2 minutes mins

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 16 slices

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 Apples Gala or Red Delicious
• 1 tsp Salt optional
• 1 Store bought container of caramel dip I have used Marzetti's Old Fashioned Caramel Dip and Smucker's Caramel Sundae Syrup
• ¼ cup Chopped peanuts optional
• ¼ cup Rice Krispies Cereal optional
• ¼ cup Mini chocolate chips optional

Instructions

 

• Clean and slice the apples.
• *Soak sliced apples in salt water to prevent browning by adding 1/4 teaspoon salt to a medium bowl of water. Allow apples to soak a couple of minutes.
• Shake off apples to remove water and place them on a plate or platter.
• Drizzle with warm or room temperature caramel syrup.
• Sprinkle on toppings of your choice.
• Enjoy!

Notes

*It is really only necessary to soak the apples if you aren't planning to eat them immediately. If you are slicing the apples to take a party a little later, go ahead and soak them in salt water as it helps prevent browning. If you plan to eat the apples immediately, this step is not necessary.

Keyword caramel apple slices

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!