Inside: A round-up of ideas for fun apple snacks for kids, plus some healthy apple recipes you can make for your family.
It’s apple season! Whether you have a freshly-picked batch of Honeycrisps from the orchard or a bag of Gala apples from the grocery store, I’ve got some healthy apple snacks you can make for your kids.
10 Fun Apple Snacks For Kids
1. DIY Chocolate Dipped Apples
Set up a cookie sheet with sliced apples, melted chocolate, and toppings and let kids build their own snack. They can dip slices into chocolate and add the fun toppings they like, such as granola, sprinkles, or a drizzle of peanut butter.
2. Slow Cooker Applesauce
Making homemade applesauce in your slow cooker is so easy–and I think it tastes like warm apple pie filling! Even better, my recipe uses no added sugar (most of the applesauce in grocery stores is sweetened with added sugar). Get the recipe for Easy Slow Cooker Applesauce.
3. Apple Cinnamon Fruit Leather
This is a great option if your kids like boxed fruit leathers–because these have actual whole fruit in them! This recipe uses apples, cinnamon, and just a bit of sugar. Get the recipe for Apple Cinnamon Fruit Leather.
4. Apple Nachos
Thinly slice an apple and arrange the slices on a plate. Heat a small dish of natural peanut or almond butter in the microwave for 10 seconds or until thin and smooth. Stir almond butter and drizzle it over the apple slices using a spoon. Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips and dried coconut.
5. Open-Faced Apple Sandwiches
I created this recipe after trying (and failing) to make those cute apple sandwiches I see all over the internet. Open-faced sandwiches are much easier and way more forgiving! You may have seen these called healthy apple donuts. Core an apple and cut it crosswise into thick slices. Don’t have an apple corer? Simply cut into slices and use a paring knife to cut out the centers. Spread the slices with peanut butter and sprinkle with granola.
6. Apple Cheddar Wafflewich
This is a great snack if your kid wants something a bit more satisfying. Apples and cheese are such a great combo, and making this sandwich in the waffle iron is a fun twist your kids will love. Spread butter on one side of two slices of bread. Lay one slice of bread (buttered side down) on a preheated waffle iron. Add a slice of cheese and apple slices and top with second slice of bread (buttered side up). Close the waffle iron and cook until brown and crispy.
7. Apples & Peanut Butter
This is an ultra-simple snack my kids really like. Arrange a sliced apple on a plate. Serve with a dish of peanut butter (or a peanut-free option like sunflower butter) for dipping. Add a sprinkle of mini chocolate chips on top for fun.
8. Snack Plate
Nothing beats a snack plate for making food look fun. Try combining foods your kids already love with ones you’d like them to try or eat more often (maybe that’s veggies or protein-rich foods for your kiddo). Add a dip in the center they like, such as nut butter, hummus, or ranch. Get more ideas here: How to Make a Healthy Snack Plate For Kids.
9. Apples In Juice
Citrus juice helps prevent apples from browning and adds a delicious zing. My kids and their friends gobble these up! Thinly slice an apple and place in an airtight container. Squeeze the juice of one lemon plus a splash of orange juice over the apples.
10. Apple Spirals
Use an old-fashioned apple peeler to create spirals that are fun to make and fun to eat!
Why are apples so healthy?
Apples have already been ranked as kids’ favorite fruit. But besides being delicious, portable, and affordable, there are a bunch of other really great reasons to eat apples:
- They’re filling. Apples have four grams of fiber plus a high water content, which makes them extra satisfying.
- They’ve got vitamins and minerals. Apples contain potassium, which kids and grown-ups don’t get enough of. They’ve even got some vitamin C.
- They’re good for the gut. The pectin in apples (it’s a fiber-like substance) helps feed “good” bacteria in the intestines.
- They may help fight disease. Apples have been studied for their potential to fight diseases like cancer and heart disease and even asthma.
Should I buy organic apples?
The best kind of apples to buy are the ones you can afford. You may have seen apples on the Dirty Dozen list, but keep in mind that the presence of pesticides doesn’t mean the levels are unsafe or that the produce isn’t safe to eat. Even the group that publishes the list advises people to eat fruits and vegetables whether they’re organic or not.
More Snack Kids For Kids
- 20 Cheap + Healthy Snacks Your Kids Will Devour (Print This List!)
- 100+ Healthy Snacks For Teens Who Are Always Hungry
- 35+ Healthy and Easy Protein Snacks For Kids
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
