4 Ways to Fall in Love With Apples Again

Your basic snack just got so much better.

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Published on March 25, 2021

Are you struggling to come up with snack ideas? We're all spending more time at home these days and it's okay to admit how much we miss the convenience of pre-made, easy, grab-and-go snack foods. But snacks can still be easy, even if you're making them at home! In fact, the perfect snack is likely already on your kitchen counter: the humble apple. Apples can be a great snack eaten as-is, but there are also so many ways to dress them up. Let's talk about a few different ways to make them into a versatile, top notch snack the whole family will love.

Why Apples?

One word: variety. Did you know there are over 7,500 varieties of apple across the world? Some are best for baking, some are best for making ciders, some are best for making jams and jellies, and others are perfect for good old snacking.

Granny smith, Red Delicious, and Honeycrisp are the best varieties for snacking because of their combination of sweet and tart flavors paired with their crisp, juicy texture. Apples also contain lots of fiber and vitamins to keep us fueled throughout the day.

Base for Butters

A crisp apple makes the perfect base for any nut butter. Cut an apple into slices and core out the center, then slather it in your favorite nut butter. Almond butter, sunflower butter, classic peanut butter, you name it. And, yes, Nutella is totally considered a nut butter! The addition of nut butter adds fat to the snack, which will help keep you fuller for longer.

If that's not enough for you, then add toppings like chocolate chips, coconut flakes, or granola. You can also stack another slice on top and turn it into an apple sandwich. Let the kids hop in and make their own apple sandwich for a fun, tactile experience.

multiple red apples and one green apple — Allrecipes

Terrific Toppings

An apple also makes a great topping on things like granola, cereal, or whole wheat crackers crackers. If you like them softer, just pop them into the microwave for a few seconds to bring out that fresh baked taste. Grains provide sustained energy so, just like the fats mentioned above, the addition of grains to your apples will help keep you fuller for longer.

Pro tip: Toss apples in a little lemon juice to keep the slices from browning.

Perfect Pairings

We know that apples make a great solo snack, but they really shine when you pair them with something salty. Apples and cheese are a match made in heaven. They pair well with Cheddar, Brie, Gouda, and so many more. They also go really well with nuts like salted peanuts, almonds, or cashews. Or you can combine all of these to make a fun sweet and salty snack board.

Delicious Dippers

Apples also make great dippers. Slice them into wedges or into a french fry shapes (kids especially love this) and plunge them into your favorite dips like peanut butter yogurt dip, caramel dip, or pumpkin dip. You may also enjoy something more savory like dipping an apple slice into a gooey, melty wheel of Brie. (If you haven't tried this before, trust us, it's delicious!)

No matter which way you choose, apples are an easy way to add variety and fun to your at-home snacking. Get creative––the options are only limited by your imagination!

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