Thursday, November 3, 2011

Peanut Butter Caramel Apple Bites

Peanut Butter Caramel Apple Bites

Making these Peanut Butter Caramel Apple Bites is a fun activity for little hands. They are a snack and activity in one; and since they take a some time to make, little mouths will be eager with anticipation to eat them! We often make a healthy, simple version using only apples and peanut butter for an afternoon snack. But we add caramel and sprinkles for special fall occasions! I love how they resemble mini pancake stacks with syrup on top! See photo tutorial below.

Step 1: Wash and slice the apple(s), preferably with a mandolin (grown ups only!)
Apple sliced at 1/8" thick.
I recommend slicing apples anywhere from 1/8" - 3/8".

Step 2: Cut the apple slices into tiny, bite-sized shapes
using cookie cutters or tin cutter. Kids will love to help with this!

Step 3: Fill the pieces with peanut butter and assemble with toothpicks (optional).
For a healthy snack, stop here!


Step 4: Top with caramel sauce and sprinkles (optional). I used the recipe below for home-made caramel sauce, then poured the sauce into a candy-making 'Make 'N Mold' bottle (from Hobby Lobby) to decorate with.

For the caramel sauce: Melt 1 stick butter in a small heavy-bottomed pan. Stir in 1 cup light brown sugar and 1/2 cup heavy cream. Cook over very low heat, stirring constantly, until all is melted and blended. Whisking helps bring it together.

Money Saving Tip: My 'cookie cutters' are actually tin cutters found at Hobby Lobby. Look for them in the woodwork/craft aisle - not the baking aisle. A set of 3 different sized circle cutters was less than $2. Hand wash them, or they will rust.

2 comments:

  1. Love this! I will be making these for Max!

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  2. I hope he likes them as much as WP does! He requests them by saying, "Mom, I want to make apples!"

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