Easy Apple Nachos are a fun snack or party treat made with apple slices, caramel drizzle, chocolate chips, and peanuts. Plus, more topping ideas!
This recipe takes classic Caramel Apples and gives it a party-worthy upgrade that a crowd can enjoy. Guests of all ages will love this quick and beautiful apple Dessert made with just 6 ingredients and no stove!
Table of contents
Sabrina’s Apple Nachos Recipe
When the weather cools, and it’s time for Back to School, it’s time for apple season. There are tons of apple treats, and I’ve made most of them. And some of the best are made in minutes with stuff in your pantry. Crispy apple slices smothered in a microwave caramel sauce and loaded with chocolate chips and crunchy peanuts? It doesn’t get much easier than that!
I love this easy Apple Nachos recipe because of its simplicity. There are just a handful of ingredients, and you don’t need an oven or stove. You only need a microwave-safe glass bowl to make the creamy caramel sauce. The assembly of Apple Nachos is probably the most challenging part, and how artistic you want to get is entirely optional!
Chef’s Notes: A Great Party Snack!
Apple Dessert Nachos are great for parties because guests of all ages will enjoy them, plus you can easily dress them up to fit your theme! Spookify them for Halloween with festive M&M’s candies and melted marshmallow topping “spider webs.” You can keep birthday parties simple or add rainbow nonpareils and some whipped cream. I have many topping ideas to get you started, and I’d love to hear your favorite ideas in the comments!
Ingredients
- Apples: I love using a mixture of green apples and pink apples for a beautiful color contrast. My favorite apples for baking and apple desserts are Fuji Apples and Granny Smith Apples because they are tart and crisp.
- Lemon Juice: The lemon juice keeps the apples from browning while you assemble this dessert. It also adds a light citrusy tartness to balance the sugary toppings and prevent it from being too sweet.
- Caramels: Melting soft caramel candies in the microwave is easier than monitoring them on the stovetop! The evaporated milk makes them extra creamy and prevents them from burning as they melt.
Kitchen Tools & Equipment
- Large Microwave Safe Bowl: Use a large bowl that is safe for use in a microwave oven.
- Mandolin: This kitchen tool is used to slice and cut apples evenly.
- Serving Plate: Choose a serving plate that fits the occasion.
How to Make
Time needed: 15 minutes.
- Prep Apples
Thinly slice apple wedges. Use a mandolin for uniform slices and to make it easier. Coat sliced apples with lemon juice in a bowl. Set aside.
- Melt Caramel
Add the caramels and milk to a large glass microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and repeat until smooth. Use hot pads to transfer the bowl to the assembly area.
- Assemble
Place apple slices on a plate in even layers. I like a circular pattern so that each slice gets toppings.
- Drizzle Caramel
Swirl the caramel topping over the apples.
- Add Toppings
Sprinkle chocolate chips and peanuts evenly over the caramel and apples.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 2 Granny Smith apples , cored and sliced into thin wedges
- 2 Fuji apples , cored and sliced into thin wedges
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 11 ounces caramels
- 1/2 cup evaporated milk
- 1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup peanuts , coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Toss the apples with lemon juice.
- In a microwave safe bowl add the caramels and evaporated milk.
- Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring each time, until smooth and creamy.
- Arrange the apples around the plate in a circular pattern.
- Drizzle the caramel sauce over the apples in a circular pattern.
- Top with mini chocolate chips and peanuts.
Nutrition
Want to save this recipe? Create a free account to easily save your favorite recipes
Can this be made ahead of time?
Apple nachos are best served immediately after assembling to maintain the crispiness of the apple slices. Also the caramel will start to harden the longer it sits out and will be hard to drizzle.
Nutritional Facts
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Use crisp, firm apples like Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Granny Smith. These apples hold their shape well and provide a good crunch.
- Arrange the apple slices in a single layer on a serving plate or platter. Layer toppings evenly over the apples.
How to Store
- Serve: You want to serve Apple Nachos when you make them. Apples brown after being cut and at room temperature, even though the lemon juice slows that process down.
- Store: These can be chilled after they are assembled, but the caramel will harden in the refrigerator. Remove them from the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes before serving so the caramel softens. Cover with plastic wrap and keep in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Freeze: It’s not recommended to freeze these because raw apples won’t thaw with the same texture. Also, toppings like melted caramel are not freezer-friendly.
Fun Topping Ideas for Apple Nachos
- Elvis Presley: Party like The King of Rock and Roll. Trade the caramel sauce for melted creamy peanut butter, and add banana slices or chips with the apples. Top the apple and banana nachos with crumbled cooked bacon, crushed peanuts, and chopped banana chips.
- Pumpkin Spice Latte: For a more grown-up fall treat, toss the apple slices in a pumpkin spice and sugar mixture (like cinnamon sugar). Then top with Salted Caramel Sauce, Candied or toasted pecans, whipped cream, and chopped chocolate-covered espresso beans.
- Trail Mix: Next time you go camping, make a fun-themed dessert by topping these nachos with mini M&Ms, raisins, chopped almonds, and cashews. To make it easier, skip the caramel sauce and use chocolate syrup.
- Healthy: For healthy Apple Nachos, skip the sugary caramel sauce and use toppings like dried cranberries, granola, pepitas, and chopped yogurt-covered pretzels. Make a yogurt drizzle with ½ cup Greek yogurt and 1-2 tablespoons honey and finish with a dusting of ground cinnamon over top.
- Tropical: Use the caramel sauce and swap the other toppings for finely chopped dried mango and pineapple pieces, shredded coconut, white chocolate chips, and chopped macadamia nuts or pistachios. These would be great for pool parties!
- Birthday Cake: Heat boxed cake mix in a microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until it reaches 165 degrees. Toss your apple slices into the lemon juice, then ½ cup heat-treated cake mix and a few tablespoons of sprinkles. Top with melted chocolate, Whipped Cream, and more rainbow sprinkles!
Frequent Questions
The lemon juice will keep the apples from browning if you serve them soon after assembling them. However, if you want to prep the sliced apples ahead, the best way is to soak them in a saltwater solution. Mix 1 teaspoon salt for every 1 cup of water, and soak the apples in water for about 10 minutes. Drain and store in an airtight container until you can use them. Rinse them or use them with the slightly salty flavor if you are baking with them.
I use a microwave and melt the caramels with the evaporated milk to prevent them from burning. You can also use a double boiler method if you want. Fill a medium saucepan ¼ the way with water and bring to a boil. Add the caramel candies and milk to a glass bowl that will fit over the pan and go low enough to get steam from the water without touching it. Stir as caramels begin to melt and continue stirring gently until smooth. Don’t let water boil up and touch caramel sauce.
The best kind of apples for caramel are tart, crisp apples. You want tartness to balance out the sweetness of the caramel, but you also want firm apples that will stand up to the warm coating. Of course, there are the classic Granny Smith apples, but also try Pink Lady, Fuji, Golden Delicious, or Honeycrisp apples.
Even More Topping Ideas
- Marshmallow: Add mini marshmallows, bits, or topping for an easy, tasty upgrade. Warm up Marshmallow Fluff and use a spoon to whisk it back and forth over the apple slices. Melt marshmallows and string them over the top like cobwebs.
- Candy: Let kids go wild and make their own delicious Candy Apple treat while using your leftover Halloween candy! Chopped-up fun-sized bars like Almond Joys and Snickers, as well as half-bags of Reese’s Pieces and M&Ms, get new life as toppings.
- Nut Butter: Warm up your favorite nut butter, such as creamy almond butter, peanut butter, hazelnut spread, or sunflower butter, until you can easily drizzle it with a fork. You can replace the caramel sauce with nut butter to make this a healthy treat.
- Fruit: For a healthy option, try adding unsweetened coconut, dried cranberries, raisins, dried cherries, or dried pineapple.
- Chocolate: Mix the chocolate with white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, or chopped-up chocolate candy bars. Add a chocolate sauce on top, like Chocolate Ganache or Magic Shell.
- Toffee: Trade sweet caramel for its buttery cousin, toffee. You can drizzle toffee sauce on the nachos or top them with crushed Toffee Bits or chocolate-covered toffee.
- Spices: To add flavor, top the apples with a sprinkle of cinnamon, Apple Pie Spice, or ground nutmeg. You can also add a bit of cinnamon to the lemon juice, toss the apples in, and coat them lightly all over.
More Delicious Apple Snacks
