Apple and Peanut butter is quick, easy go-to snack that is not only healthy but ideal for after-school snacking, a snack before a workout and even an in-between meals snack. There are so many ways to eat apple slices with peanut butter, as this recipe is easily customizable and can be as healthy or as fun as you’d like.
While most people are fine to sticking with just plain peanut butter and apples, you can make this combo much more fun by adding nuts, granola, chocolate chips – pretty much anything you can think of. To make this recipe healthier, you can stick to low or no sugar peanut butter that is all natural and/or organic with apple slices to keep the calories on the lower side. However, you prefer your apple slices with peanut butter, you can’t deny it’s a wonderful fast treat that is perfect for both young children and adults.
The Perfect apple and peanut butter Snack
Apple slices with peanut butter is a great snack because it doesn’t use too many ingredients and it an easy recipe to keep all natural. Depending on the peanut butter you use, peanut butter is a high protein, low carb treat that has usually no preservatives and you can even find peanut butter that has low sugar. This healthy mix paired with apple slices makes this the perfect combination of both sweet and salty.
The crunch of the apple with the smooth or chunky peanut butter is satisfying, and the peanut butter is sure to keep you fuller for longer since it has so much protein. You can’t go wrong with incorporating more fruits into you diet, so this snack combo helps you pack in more protein as well as helps you get more raw fruits into your diet. This is also why this snack is ideal for kids, since sometimes it is a bit of a chore to get kids to eat more fruits and vegetables.
What this Pairs Well With
Apple slices and peanut butter is really great as a standalone, but if you are trying to incorporate a healthy snack or even a healthy side, you could easily use this easy recipe as part of your child’s (or even your) lunch. You can get your peanut butter mix and stir in anything you’d like to incorporate like honey or chocolate chips, pack it in a small air tight jar or container with your cut and dried apple slices, and you have an easy companion to a sandwich.
Since this is both a sweet and a bit salty snack, you can also pair this snack with some whole wheat crackers, or keep up with the peanut butter theme by also incorporating another kid favorite, “ants on a log” which is just peanut butter spread down celery stalks with some raisins on top. You can also have this snack with some yogurt, a smoothie or even as a dessert after a healthy salad if you’re trying to eat more natural, whole foods.
Natural Substitutes
What’s great about this recipe is how easy it is to incorporate substitutes. For example, if you are someone who tends to eat more organic or preservative free food, you can easily find a wide array of natural nut butters. You can also find peanut butter or other nut butters that have lower the sugar, so you won’t be taking in so many calories. A great substitute for peanut butter is almond butter, and while they have many of the same health benefits, almond butter tends to have at least ten fewer calories per tablespoon than peanut butter. All calories matter, right?
If you are allergic to peanuts and/or nut butters, you can always swap in some yogurt or even a caramel sauce instead of peanut butter to spread on your apples. The apples can also be easily substituted for bananas, grapes or even pears. The fruit element to this is up to you and your personal tastes. You could also incorporate several different kinds of fruits as peanut butter pretty much tastes great on just about anything.
Nutritional Information for the apple and peanut butter:
While peanut butter can be a bit high on the calorie intake, ranging from anywhere from 90 calories to 160 per tablespoon, you can incorporate healthier options if you are counting calories. There are even peanut butter powders that, once incorporated with water, give you just about 40 to 60 calories per serving. This is a healthier alternative if you are consciously counting calories yet still want to have a healthy, indulgent snack. You an find peanut butter powders in most health food stores.
There are also fruits you can use that don’t have as much sugars as apples. Strawberries and blackberries, for example, are among the fruits that have the least amount of sugar, so keep that in mind when your shopping for foods to pair well with your peanut butter concoction.
What You’ll Need for the apple and peanut butter:
Ingredients:
- 3 apples
- ⅓ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup chocolate chips
- ¼ cup chopped almond
How to prepare the Apple Slices with Peanut Butter:
Step 1: Slice apple and almonds
This is a very simple recipe! You just need you to wash and chop the apples in slices or bite-size pieces. If you are using a knife to chop your almonds, use caution as almonds can be a bit tedious to chop on their own. A food processor will speed along this step if you haven’t purchased already chopped almonds or other chopped ingredients to incorporate.
Step 2: Spread toppings
Spread each slice with peanut butter and then sprinkle them with chocolate chips, chopped almond, shredded coconut or any other topping you like the most. You can also just dip in your apples to the peanut butter and dip it into the corresponding toppings. Have fun with it!
Step 3: Serve
Serve immediately, best when fresh. Keep them in the fridge up to one day. This is a fresh snack, so the sooner you eat them, the better!
FAQs
How do you keep apple slices from turning brown?
Lemon! If you use a squirt of lemon over your apple slices, this will definitely help preserve the color of your apple slices. Always make sure you store any unused apples in an airtight container and place them in the fridge to prolong their shelf life.
How do you slice an apple?
You’re going to want to core the apple, first, so you can do this either by buying an apple corer, or by carefully using a knife. If you go with the knife method, cut the apple in half, then remove the core on each side and cut apple halves into thin slices.
Can you freeze apple slices?
You can, but due to the high-water concentration of apples, they won’t be crispy once thawed. You can use frozen apples for things like pies, smoothies or other recipes that you’d need to cook with apples.