Apple Nachos with Peanut Butter (Ready in 10 Minutes)

When you want something sweet but don’t want to turn on the oven, make these apple nachos. Crisp apple slices are drizzled with creamy peanut butter, then topped with crunchy walnuts, raisins, and a little chocolate. It’s a healthy snack that comes together in about ten minutes. It’s simple, satisfying, and just enough like dessert to make an ordinary afternoon feel a little more special.

I first made these on a night when I wanted something sweet after dinner but didn’t want to just dip apple slices in peanut butter or commit to a whole dessert. Now I make them as a snack or even for a quick lunch or breakfast.

How to Make Apple Nachos

1. Slice the apples: Use a sharp knife to cut each apple in half and remove the core with a knife. Slice each half into quarters, then cut each quarter into thinner slices depending on how thin you like them. You can also use a mandolin slicer to slice them thin.
2. Prevent browning: Squeeze a little lemon juice over the sliced apples before adding any toppings. This keeps them from turning brown if you’re not serving right away.
3. Arrange on a plate: Spread the apple slices out in a single layer or slightly overlapping, the way you would lay out chips for nachos.
4. Drizzle the peanut butter: Spoon the peanut butter into a small microwave safe bowl and warm if needed, then drizzle the melted peanut butter over the apple slices. If the peanut butter is too thick, add a little bit of coconut oil or water to thin it out. Peanut butter is one of those ingredients I keep coming back to. My peanut butter energy bites use the same natural peanut butter and come together just as fast when you need something to snack on.
5. Add the toppings: Sprinkle the chopped walnuts, raisins, and cacao nibs or chocolate chips over everything.

Make it Your Way

If you think about it, most recipes are really just a few basic parts put together. Change one part, and you can often turn the same idea into something completely different. That’s the fun of these apple nachos. Start with the apples, add a spread, then pile on whatever toppings sound good. Here are a few ways to change them up.

• Base: apples work best, but sliced pears do too, and so do bananas
• Spread: natural peanut butter, honey, caramel sauce, Greek yogurt. Almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter for a nut-free version
• Crunch: walnuts, pecans, almonds, cashews, or pistachios
• Sweet and chewy: raisins, blueberries, dried cranberries, dried cherries, or chopped dates
• Finish (optional): cacao nibs, coconut flakes, mini chocolate chips, a pinch of cinnamon, or a drizzle of honey

If you like building a plate this way, I use the same idea for dinner too, swapping pieces instead of following a new recipe every night. My free Dinner Builders work the same way. And, I have a whole collection of apple recipes if you want more ways to use up a good bag of apples.

Walnuts add a lot here, both for texture and richness. My healthy chocolate bark with cranberries and almonds uses a similar combination of nuts and fruit with chocolate, and it’s another no-bake option worth keeping in your back pocket.

How to Store Apple Peanut Butter Nachos

Apple nachos are best eaten right away since the apples start to soften and brown once they’re cut. To prep ahead, slice the apples, toss them in a little lemon juice, and store the toppings separately. Assemble just before serving.

How to Serve

Serve on a large plate or platter so everyone can reach every slice, set extra toppings out on the side, or portion them onto individual plates for a single-serving snack. . If you’re putting these out for guests alongside other things, my vegetarian charcuterie board is a good place to borrow ideas for building a shareable spread.

What are the Benefits of Apple and Peanut Butter?

Apples and peanut butter are not only a tasty combination, but they are a healthy combination. Apples bring fiber and sweetness, while peanut butter adds healthy fats and protein, which will keep you full. Not only is this a tasty snack, but together apples and peanut butter make a balanced snack that supports steady energy.

Apple Peanut Butter Nachos Frequently Asked Questions

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