Caramel Apple Nachos

This fun twist on nachos delivers the flavor and crunch of a caramel apple, but in finger-food form. A hit with adults and kids alike!

When I think back to the cool fall days of my childhood, apples weave their way into so many fond memories. Bobbing for apples at Halloween parties, picking apples from a local orchard, making applesauce with my grandmother (and eating her apple cake!), and holding out my trick-or-treat bag as my neighbor placed one of her homemade candy apples inside.

For the record, Mrs. Fegley was known throughout the neighborhood for her homemade candy apples. My sister and I always felt like we had quite the haul after the weighty treats made their way into our plastic pumpkins－and Mrs. Fegley never missed a year.

Clearly, there’s no better time of year to have fun with your food. (Spooky spaghetti stuffed peppers, anyone?) But rest assured, the following snack has practical merit, too.

The loaded apple plate covers all of the flavor and texture bases－sweet, tart, salty, creamy, and crunchy－with the benefit of filling protein and fiber. The colorful apples are ideal as an after-school or evening snack. Truth be told, I’ve enjoyed them for breakfast!

This fun twist on nachos delivers the flavor and crunch of a caramel apple, but in finger-food form. A hit with adults and kids alike!

A few details:

You may use your favorite variety of apples, whether sweet, tart, red, green, or a mix.
I typically use creamy peanut butter, but crunchy would work well, too.
Use your favorite granola, whether store-bought or homemade. For those wishing to make your own, a few of my favorite recipes include Chunky Homemade Granola, Lolita’s Low Sugar Granola, and Coconut Pumpkin Granola.
The caramel sauce may also be homemade or store-bought. My go-to recipe is a slight variation (pictured below) on this 7-minute holiday caramel sauce, where I use heavy or light cream in place of the eggnog. (If you think the eggnog sounds weird, trust me. It works!) To make a salted caramel sauce, I use ¾ teaspoon kosher salt instead of the ¼ teaspoon called for in the regular recipe.

Making your own caramel sauce is easy with my foolproof 7-minute holiday caramel sauce, although you may absolutely use your favorite store-bought…or simply opt for extra peanut butter and an optional sprinkle of chocolate chips!

Paired with the crisp apples and creamy peanut butter, granola adds a satisfying crunchy element. When purchasing, I tend towards a basic oats and honey-type variety. When making at home, my family enjoys Chunky Homemade Granola or Lolita’s Low Sugar Granola. Coconut Pumpkin Granola provides one more option that adds yet another fall favorite to the mix.

No caramel sauce? No worries. You can make a slightly different but equally satisfying snack with just the melted peanut butter and granola. If you’d like an added hint of sweetness, simply sprinkle with a few chocolate chips.