Caramel Apple Nachos are a total party on a plate. Fresh apple slices get piled high, drizzled with gooey caramel and sweet peanut butter, then topped with crunchy pretzel pieces, mini chocolate chips, and just enough toffee to keep things exciting. It’s the perfect fall treat for Halloween parties, movie nights, or anytime you’ve got extra apples and a craving for something fun and a little wild.
Caramel Apple Nachos have completely taken over snack time at our house and honestly, life is better for it. They’re fast, easy, ridiculously customizable, and just healthy enough thanks to all that fresh fruit (never mind the gooey caramel, sweet peanut butter drizzle, and avalanche of toppings).
It’s the kind of sweet snack that feels like you’re making a good choice… while quietly shutting down your calorie counter and pretending it didn’t see anything.
Cooler weather always gets me so excited to break out the fun snacks and make things feel a little extra, especially for the kids. Whether it’s Homemade Caramel Apples, Easy Caramel Apple Dip, Twix Caramel Popcorn, Monster Mix, or a Decorate Your Own Halloween Cupcake Board, these party-ready treats bring the energy, the color, and the kind of sugar-fueled chaos we all secretly love.
Why We Love This Recipe
- It’s super quick to make and turns crisp apple slices into a gooey, caramel-loaded snack everyone loves.
- The topping combos are endless, so it’s easy to mix things up with whatever you’ve got on hand.
- It’s a fun way to get little hands helping in the kitchen, especially when it comes to piling on the treats.
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Red Apples – Bring sweetness and color to the mix. Fuji or Honeycrisp are great for their crunch and balance.
- Green Apples – Add tartness and contrast that pairs beautifully with the caramel and toppings. Granny Smith is the go-to here.
- Peanut Butter Chips – Melt into a sweet, creamy drizzle that adds that classic flavor combo we all love with apples.
- Coconut Oil or Shortening – Helps the peanut butter chips melt smoothly and stay pourable for easy drizzling.
- Caramel Sauce – Use store-bought for convenience or homemade for an extra-rich, gooey finish.
- Lemon Juice (optional) – This isn’t for flavor, but it helps keep the sliced apples from browning so they stay fresh and pretty.
Optional Toppings
- Mini Chocolate Chips – Melt just enough into the caramel for little pockets of chocolate in every bite.
- Crushed Pretzels – Add a salty crunch that balances the sweetness perfectly.
- Toffee Bits – Bring extra buttery crunch that sticks to the caramel like magic.
- Rainbow Sprinkles – Just for fun! They add color and whimsy, especially for Halloween parties.
- Crushed Oreos – For a cookies-and-cream twist that’s always a hit with kids.
- Granola – Adds crunch and a bit of a wholesome vibe (or at least the illusion of one).
- Shredded Coconut – Light, chewy texture and subtle sweetness.
- Chopped Nuts – Peanuts, pecans, or whatever you like for extra crunch and nutty depth.
How to Make Caramel Apple Nachos
- Melt peanut butter chips. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine peanut butter chips and coconut oil. Heat in 20-second bursts, stirring between each, until smooth and pourable.
- Prep apples. Wash and thinly slice the red and green apples. Immediately place them in a large bowl with ½ teaspoon of salt dissolved in about 4 cups of cold water to prevent browning. Let them soak for 5-10 minutes, then drain and pat dry with paper towels. I don’t even feel like you need to rinse them after soaking because I don’t notice a salty taste, but you can if you want to.
- Arrange apples. Layer sliced apples on a large platter or baking sheet in a slightly overlapping pattern to form a solid base.
- Add drizzles. Drizzle melted peanut butter mixture over the apples, then follow with caramel sauce. A spoon works great, but squeeze bottles or piping bags make it feel extra fancy.
- Top it off. Sprinkle with your favorite toppings like mini chocolate chips, crushed pretzels, or toffee bits. Go wild.
- Serve fresh. These are best enjoyed right away while the apples are crisp and the toppings stay put.
Recipe FAQ’s
Granny Smith apples are a classic for their tart crunch, but Honeycrisp and Fuji are also great if you want something sweeter and still firm enough to hold toppings.
Definitely! Try melted chocolate, hot fudge, or white chocolate chips. A swirl of homemade caramel sauce adds depth, but store-bought totally gets the job done.
Turn it into a caramel apple nacho bar by setting out a variety of apples, sauces, and toppings in separate bowls. It’s a fun snack station that kids (and grown-ups) won’t be able to resist.
Place any extras in an airtight container or Ziploc bag and refrigerate. The apples may soften and the toppings can shift, so they’re best eaten within 24 hours.
Freezing isn’t recommended. Fresh apples don’t thaw well, and the toppings can get weird and mushy.
You can prep the apples in advance and store them in a large bowl or bag in the fridge. Save the drizzles and toppings for just before serving to keep things fresh and crisp.
Tips for Success
- An apple slicer or corer makes prep so much faster, especially when you’re slicing apples for a crowd.
- Use a variety of apples like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp for that perfect sweet-tart bite and a crisp base that holds up under all the gooey toppings.
- Don’t skimp on layering – make sure toppings are scattered all the way to the top of the apples so every bite is loaded with flavor and texture.
- Warm your caramel sauce or homemade caramel just enough to drizzle easily, but not so hot that it melts everything into a puddle.
- Set out separate bowls with additional toppings so guests can pile on extras and create their own caramel apple nacho bar moment.
How to Keep Apples from Browning
After years of prepping sliced apples for kids lunches, I have found that my favorite approach that seems to work best is soaking the apples in salt water. Just combine 4 cups of water with ½ teaspoon of salt in a large bowl and stir to dissolve. Add your sliced apples and let them soak for 5-10 minutes, then drain well.
Another popular approach is tossing your fresh apples with a tablespoon of lemon juice. It doesn’t affect the flavor much, especially once all the toppings are on, and helps keep that just-sliced look for hours.
With either method, it is helping to inhibit the enzymes that cause browning and you can then store the sliced apples in a Ziploc bag or airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to party.
More Fall Desserts That Bring the Fun
- Pumpkin Roll
- Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Pumpkin Delight
- Apple Crisp
- Dutch Apple Pie
- Caramel Apple Pie Crescent Rolls
- Dark Chocolate Halloween Chip Cookies
- Graveyard Dirt Cake
Caramel Apple Nachos
Ingredients
- 2 red apples sliced thin
- 2 green apples sliced thin
- 1/2 cup peanut butter chips
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil or shortening
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Toppings
- Mini chocolate chips, chopped peanuts or pecans, crushed pretzels, crushed Oreos, granola, shredded coconut, rainbow sprinkles, toffee bits, etc.
Instructions
- Wash and thinly slice your apples. A mix of tart green apples (like Granny Smith) and sweet red apples (like Fuji or Honeycrisp) gives the perfect sweet-tart balance and a crisp bite. To prevent browning, let them soak in a bowl with 4 cups of cold water and ½ teaspoon of salt for 5-10 minutes before draining well and patting dry.2 red apples, 2 green apples
- In a microwave-safe bowl, add peanut butter chips and coconut oil. Microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth and pourable.½ cup peanut butter chips, 2 teaspoons coconut oil or shortening
- Arrange apple slices on a large platter or baking sheet in a slightly overlapping layer.
- Use a spoon or piping bag to drizzle melted peanut butter chip mixture over the apples. Then drizzle the caramel sauce on top.½ cup caramel sauce
- Sprinkle with your favorite toppings like mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or crushed pretzels.Mini chocolate chips, chopped peanuts or pecans, crushed pretzels, crushed Oreos, granola, shredded coconut, rainbow sprinkles, toffee bits, etc.
- Best enjoyed fresh so the apples stay crisp and toppings stay pretty!
Notes
Storage & Make Ahead
- Store: Best enjoyed fresh, but if you have leftovers, pop them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. The apples might soften a bit, but the flavors still hit.
- Freeze: Not recommended. The apple slices and toppings don’t hold up well in the freezer and tend to go soft or lose their texture.
- Make Ahead: You can slice apples and prep toppings in advance. Just toss soak the sliced apples in the cold sat water, pat them dry, and store everything in separate bowls or a Ziploc bag in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble.
