These “Caramel” Apple Skewers are a healthier version of caramel apples since the drizzle serves as a source of healthy fats and protein, and they are much easier to make too! You could even set up a DIY caramel apple bar and customize the toppings! Such a cute, fun and healthy appetizer or snack, perfect for those parties and gatherings! {Gluten-free, Paleo & Vegan}
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Caramel Apple Skewers
If you’ve got a craving for caramel apples, these apples on a stick with a delicious vegan caramel sauce will totally satisfy that craving!
These adorable caramel apple skewers are basically a cross between your traditional caramel apples and apple nachos, but the “caramel” drizzle is a much healthier option!
Almond butter, maple syrup and vanilla extract are combined to form a smooth and creamy “caramel” sauce that is drizzled over the apples acting like a glue to bind all of those delicious toppings.
What’s even BETTER, is that these fruit skewers are totally customizable, as you can basically top them up with whatever you’d like. Serve them up to guests at party or gathering or as a fun snack for kids.
And make sure you don’t skimp on those toppings!
Be sure to try my No Bake Apple Crumble and Healthy Apple Nachos too!
Why we love this recipe
- Healthy: Who says you need caramel when you have this healthier, but equally delicious maple almond butter drizzle? It’s packed full of healthy fats, vitamin E and antioxidants, while still exuding that amazing flavour that mimics caramel. It’s free of refined sugar, made without cream and is completely vegan.
- Make ahead: The vegan caramel sauce can be made ahead of time, so it’s a great option for a party snack or appetizer.
- Super fun: These skewers are a fun option to serve as a kid friendly dessert, and are a creative addition to all of your fall parties. Perfect to serve up for Halloween and Thanksgiving!
Ingredient Notes
- Apples: I used Gala apples to make these skewers, but any firm apples will work well.
- Lemon juice: The apples are tossed in a little lemon juice so that they don’t brown too quickly. You can also mix some lemon juice and water and place in a spray bottle to spritz over the skewers.
- Almond butter: For best results, use a runny rather than solid almond butter for this recipe. You can also try subbing in a different nut butter such as natural peanut butter or cashew butter to switch up the flavour.
- Maple syrup: To sweeten and smooth out the sauce. If not vegan, you can also use honey.
- Vanilla extract and salt: For flavour and sweetness.
- Toppings: Have fun with the added toppings! Pecans, almonds, chocolate chips and coconut flakes are all great options!
Step by Step Instructions
- Wash apples and dice into 1/2 inch cubes. Place in a medium sized bowl and squeeze lemon juice over them and mix to prevent them from browning. You can also mix equal parts water and lemon juice in a small squirt bottle and spritz the apple skewers.
- Next, skewer the pieces of apple onto a toothpick. Approximately four pieces should fit on each toothpick. Place the apple skewers on a serving tray or large plate.
- In a small bowl, mix together the ingredients for the caramel sauce. Transfer the mixture into a squeeze bottle if desired.
- Using the squeeze bottle or a spoon, drizzle the caramel sauce evenly over the apple skewers and sprinkle with desired toppings. Serve immediately or store in a container in the fridge for up to a day.
Recipe Tips
- For best results, serve these skewers fresh since the apple may start to brown the longer that it sits. If you’d like to make them ahead of time, prepare the “caramel” drizzle and toppings and dice the apple just before serving.
- When making these skewers, select an apple variety that doesn’t tend to brown as easily. Some good choices might be Gala, Cortland, Cameo, Empire, and Ambrosia.
- If you can find a drippy almond butter with a more runny consistency, that usually works best for the drizzle. If your almond butter is hard, you can soften it by microwaving it for 30 seconds to a minute, or heating the caramel drizzle mixture in a small saucepan on the stove.
- Adjust the consistency of the caramel drizzle according to personal preference. Start with less water and gradually increase if you prefer a thinner consistency.
- If serving these to small children, you may wish to leave the apple chunks off the skewer and place them in a bowl instead. Drizzle with the sauce and top with desired toppings.
Recipe FAQs
You can store these skewers covered tightly in the fridge for up to two days. For best results, eat them within one day. Keep them covered in an air-tight container, or with plastic wrap.
Apples can start to brown fairly quickly, so toss them in a little lemon juice to slow this process. You can also fill a bowl with about 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and soak the apple chunks for about 3-5 minutes. Drain the apples before adding to the skewers. Keep them refrigerated until ready to serve; not at room temperature.
I made these skewers with Gala apples which hold up well and tend to brown more slowly. Cortland, Cameo, Empire, and Ambrosia apples also brown less slowly, so these are all great options.
Tips for setting up your own DIY Caramel Apple Bar
You can pre-assemble this cute little apple appetizer or allow guests or kids to build their own! Here are some tips for creating your own customizable station:
- Chop up the apples in advance and put them on toothpicks for a smaller bite-sized treat or you could even use larger bamboo skewers if you want to fit more apple chunks on the skewers.
- Next, I like to put some lemon juice mixed with water in a mini spray bottle and spritz the apples to prevent them from going brown.
- Make up a batch of almond butter drizzle in a small bowl. I recommend using the drippy almond butter (I get mine from Costco) so that it has a thinner consistency, perfect for drizzling. You can either keep the “caramel” sauce in the bowl OR I prefer to transfer it into a squeeze bottle. I found my squeeze bottle at the dollar store, but you can also get them here. For easier transfer, just use a funnel to get all of that delicious sauce into the bottle! If you have leftovers, you can always drizzle it on other things like oatmeal, apple slices or a muffin!
- Place all of the individual toppings in little bowls with labels. The labels aren’t 100% necessary, they just make for a cuter presentation. And this is where the customization takes place. You can choose all of your favourite toppings. I decided to go with chopped walnuts, pecan pieces, sliced almonds, mini dark chocolate chips, and unsweetened coconut flakes.
- Simply allow guests to grab their own skewers, drizzle on the “caramel” sauce and top it up with their toppings of choice!
Topping Suggestions
These caramel apple bites are great for kids (and adults!) as they can choose their own favourite toppings to sprinkle on top of the healthy caramel sauce.
Try them with:
- Chopped pecans
- Coconut flakes
- White or dark chocolate chips
- Dried cranberries
- Chopped walnuts
- Sliced almonds
- Pumpkin or sunflower seeds
- Hemp hearts
Recipe Variations
- Use another base: Try natural peanut butter or cashew butter instead of almond butter.
- Make nut-free: Use sunflower seed butter, pumpkin seed butter or wow butter instead of almond butter and leave nuts off the topping.
- Make the caramel sauce creamier: Instead of water, use a bit of coconut milk to thin out the sauce.
More similar recipes
- Halloween Fruit Tray Ideas
- Halloween Dirt Cups
- Apple Pie with Whole Wheat Crust
- Apple Bliss Balls
- Healthy Baked Apple Oatmeal
- Gluten-Free Apple Muffins
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Healthy Caramel Apple Skewers
Ingredients
- 2 apples washed and diced into 1/2 inch cubes (I used Gala)
- Juice of half a lemon
- Toothpicks or wooden bamboo skewers
“Caramel” sauce:
- 3 tablespoons almond butter the drippy kind
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2-1 tablespoon water
- Pinch of salt
Toppings:
- Chopped pecans
- Sliced almonds
- Mini dark chocolate chips
- Coconut flakes
Instructions
- Wash apples and dice into 1/2 inch cubes. Place in a medium sized bowl and squeeze lemon juice over them and mix to prevent them from browning. You can also mix equal parts water and lemon juice in a small squirt bottle and spritz the apple skewers.
- Next, skewer the pieces of apple onto a toothpick. Approximately four pieces should fit on each toothpick. Place the apple skewers on a serving tray or large plate.
- In a small bowl, mix together the ingredients for the caramel sauce. Transfer the mixture into a squeeze bottle if desired.
- Using the squeeze bottle or a spoon, drizzle the caramel sauce evenly over the apple skewers and sprinkle with desired toppings. Serve immediately or store in a container in the fridge for up to a day.
Notes
- For best results, serve these skewers fresh since the apple may start to brown the longer that it sits. If you’d like to make them ahead of time, prepare the “caramel” drizzle and toppings and dice the apple just before serving.
- When making these skewers, select an apple variety that doesn’t tend to brown as easily. Some good choices might be Gala, Cortland, Cameo, Empire, and Ambrosia.
- If you can find a drippy almond butter with a more runny consistency, that usually works best for the drizzle. If your almond butter is hard, you can soften it by microwaving it for 30 seconds to a minute, or heating the caramel drizzle mixture in a small saucepan on the stove.
- Adjust the consistency of the caramel drizzle according to personal preference. Start with less water and gradually increase if you prefer a thinner consistency.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted October 2015 and was updated October 2021 to include better tips and photos.
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I want to make this recipe but can’t figure out what brand of almond butter is the ‘drippy kind’? Any suggestions?
Generally I find that it’s best to choose an almond butter that’s not labeled as “creamy” or “no stir” and does not include palm oil. Creamy nut butters have ingredients added to them that make them not as drippy. If it says “stir before use” or has a warning that the almond butter might separate and that’s normal for the product, that’s a good sign it’s going to be “drippy.” When looking at the ingredients list, the only ingredients should be almonds and almond oil. Any stabilizers or added sweeteners seem to cause it to be less drippy. Hope that helps!