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These apple nachos are your answer to a mom-approved kid-friendly snack, party dish, or dessert!
If you are looking for more kid-friendly snacks, try our Caramel Apple Wrap (TikTok Viral Hack) and these amazing 3-Ingredient Homemade Blueberry Popsicles.
As parents, we all want to provide our kids with the most nutritional, healthy snacks we can, but the reality is that sometimes we have to spice up that snack a little to make it more appealing to them.
Who can blame those kiddos??? Sometimes a simple apple just doesn’t cut it😉
So we have to get a little creative (ok….sometimes A LOT creative) to ensure that they’re eating healthy with just a little bit of added fun. These caramel apple nachos will win over your pickiest snackers. And they’re the perfect healthy snack for fall, an after school snack, or even an evening treat to satisfy a sweet tooth!
What are apple nachos? This apple nacho recipe is simply a fun play on normal nachos with the messy deliciousness of some fun gooey toppings.
Apples provide a healthy base and a daily serving of fruit, while the caramel and chocolate provide additional layers of flavor and some oooey-gooey fun. They’re basically fun, bite-sized caramel apples!
You can adapt this recipe in so many different ways that your kids will ask for them over and over. There are so many great variations of toppings to use (see ideas down below).
If you love apple snacks and recipes, check out my Chocolate Caramel Apple Pops and Air Fryer Apple Chips!
Ingredients Needed For Nutella Caramel Apple Nachos
Here is what you are going to need to create this sweet, nutritious treat that makes the perfect alternative to the traditional caramel apple!
- Honeycrisp Apples – the type of apple you choose is totally your preference. You may prefer a sweeter apple or one that is more tart. There are so many different options, so experiment to find out which kind your family prefers most. The humble Granny Smith apple can be a great option too!
- Cream cheese – make sure it is softened for easy mixing.
- Marshmallow Creme/Fluff – creme and fluff are essentially the same things; they just might be labeled differently
- Caramel Syrup/Topping – Fleur de Sel Caramel Sauce from Trader Joe’s is a perfect choice, but any caramel topping or syrup of your choice will work as well. Andhomemade caramel sauceis a great option too!
- Nutella Hazelnut Spread – Nutella is perfect for layering those flavors with caramel sauce.
- Milk Chocolate Chips – for a change of pace, try white chocolate, peanut butter, or butterscotch chips.
- Sprinkles – GO WILD!!! There are so many different colors, shapes, and sizes to choose from that you really can’t go wrong.Plus, kids seem to love eating anything colorful!
- Sharp cutting knife
- Cutting board
- Lemon juice mixed with ⅓ cup water (optional to keep apples from turning brown).
How to Make Apple Nachos
Just follow these step-by-step instructions and you will have this apple nachos recipe ready to serve before you know it!
Step 1
Make the Fruit Dip: In a large bowl, combine the whole jar of marshmallow fluff with softened cream cheese. Mix until blended well. Add your desired amount to a small bowl and top with sprinkles. Set aside.
Step 2
Use a sharp knife to cut the apple into thin slices.
Step 3
Place apple slices in a single layer facing the same direction around a big plate or serving platter, leaving space in the center to place the bowl of marshmallow dip. Then make a second layer of apple slices on top of the first layer.
Step 4
Heat the Nutella Hazelnut Spread in the microwave for 10-15 seconds, making sure it is warm enough to easily stir and spread.
Use a spoon and start with thechocolate drizzle. Drizzle the Nutella in circles over thetop of the applesmoving from the outside toward the center.
Step 5
Heat the caramel sauce in microwave for 8-10 seconds. Stir well and drizzle in circles over the Nutella moving from the outside to the center as before.
Step 6
Sprinkle the chocolate chips and remaining sprinkles over theapples nachos and place the marshmallow dip on the platter or plate in the center of the apples.
Serve and enjoy!
Apple Nachos Recipe Tips
Add sprinkles just before serving: If you aren’t going to be serving these immediately, be sure to add the sprinkles right before serving, so that they won’t melt and mix into the dip or Nutella/caramel toppings.
Keep apples from turning brown: If you will not be eating the apple nachos right away, prevent the apple slices from browning by soaking the apples in a lemon juice and water mixture first, then pat dry.
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Possible Variations ForEasyApple Nachos
Here are some fun ideas for adding variety to these apple nachos. This recipe is super flexible, so you can change out toppings based on your mood or what you have in the pantry that day!
You can use:
- Chopped peanuts
- Mini marshmallows
- Raisins
- Melted caramels
- M&M’s
- Toffee bits
- Chocolate sauce
- Chopped up Snickers, Reese’s, or Milky Waycandy bars
- Chopped pecans, or your favorite nuts
- Hot fudge
- Melted peanut butter or almond butter
- Mini chocolate chipsorwhite chocolate chips
- Your kids’ favorite cereal crushed up.
- And more!
Thebest partof thissweet snackis that the customization possibilities are limitless, and that’s what I love the MOST about this apple nachos recipe!
Need more ideas? I’m sure if you ask your kids they will give you some interesting ideas you hadn’t thought of before.😁
Apple Nachos FAQs
Here are some common questions I see from readers about this recipe – and their answers.
What kind of apples work best for this recipe?
Although myfavorite apples to use are Honeycrisp apples, you can easily substitute them for different varieties in thishealthy apple nachos recipe! Try yourfavorite variety of applesuch asfuji apples or otherred apples (if you want to usesweet apples), or go for Granny Smithsliced apples if you wanttart apples!
How long will apple nachos last?
This is going to depend on how hungry your crew is, how many people you are serving, and how much you prepared. Your family and friends will most likely devour them right away, and you won’t have any leftovers to be concerned about.
However, should you have a few leftovers, it’ll be difficult to store them for long because the apples will turn brown and get mushy pretty quickly. If you put the apples inlemon juice and water prior or assembling the apple nachos, they may last a day or two if stored in anairtight container.
Can I make these ahead of time?
Not really…..you could make them a couple of hours ahead of time (if you’re prepping for a party or play date) and that’s only if you prepare the apples so they don’t brown.
If you want to meal prep this, really the only thing you can do is slice and soak the apples (or sprinklelemon water on them) and keep them in the fridge until you are ready to do the rest. And even then, they may still brown a little.
If I don’t have lemon juice, what else can I use to keep the apples from browning?
Lemon juiceis most commonly used to preventbrown apples. Luckily, if you have some lemons, limes, grapefruits, or oranges you can brush the surface of the apple with these citrus fruit juices to help prevent the browning as well.
More Delicious Kid-Friendly Recipes
- No-Bake Energy Balls
- Taco Cups with Cilantro Lime Cream Sauce
- Nutella S’mores
- Caramel Apple Wrap (TicTok Tortilla Wrap Hack)
How About Some Fast & Easy Weeknight Meals? Click on the image to get them FREE!
Pin For Later!
Apple Nachos
Yield: 1 Plate of Nachos and Dish of Dip
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
These apple nachos are your answer to a mom-approved kid-friendly snack, party dish, or dessert!
Ingredients
- 1 block cream cheese, softened
- 7 oz jar marshmallow creme/fluff
- 1 large Honeycrisp Apple
- 1/4 cup caramel syrup/topping
- 1/3 cup Nutella Hazelnut Spread
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips
- 2 tbsp sprinkles
- Sharp cutting knife
- Cutting board
- Optional: 2 tbsp lemon juice mixed in 1⁄3 cup water
Instructions
- Sprinkle the milk chocolate chips and remaining sprinkles over the apples, and place the marshmallow dip in the center of the apples.
- Cut large apple into thin slices using a sharp knife.
- Arrange the apple slices facing the same direction around a plate or serving platter, leaving space in the center to place the bowl of marshmallow dip. Then make a second layer of apple slices on top of the first layer.
- Heat the Nutella Hazelnut Spread in microwave for 10-15 seconds making sure it is warm enough to easily stir and spread.
- Use a spoon to drizzle the Nutella in circles over the apples moving from the outside towards the center.
- Heat the caramel sauce in microwave for 8-10 seconds. Stir well and drizzle in circles over the Nutella moving from the outside to the center as before.
- Sprinkle the chocolate chips and remaining sprinkles over apples and place the marshmallow dip on the platter or plate in the center of the apples.
- Enjoy and serve!!!
Notes
Make the Fruit Dip: In a large bowl, combine the whole jar of marshmallow fluff with softened cream cheese. Mix until blended well. Add your desired amount to a small bowl and top with sprinkles. Set aside.
