My apple donuts are kid-friendly and adult-loved healthy apple snacks. Top them how you like and enjoy a healthy treat any time of the day.
Who said snack time has to be boring for adults? While these healthy apple donuts are definitely kid-friendly, I originally created them for my Summer Cleanse guide for adults. The best snacks have healthy fat and protein along with carbs to boost your energy without the crash afterward.
You can’t help but smile while enjoying these festive apple donuts. And with an endless number of ways to top them, you’re sure to find a combo you love to share or enjoy all on your own.
Table of Contents
Ingredients for a Healthy Apple Snack
- Green Apple: I chose green for this recipe as they have slightly less natural sugar than red. Apples contain four grams of fiber per serving, which makes them a great addition to your daily menu! While an apple a day may not actually keep the doctor away, they are a great snack option.
- Almond Butter: Unsweetened almond butter is a great healthy fat to add to snacks, meals and smoothies. If I don’t use homemade nut butter then I buy Costco brand almond butter since it only contains roasted almonds (that’s it!).
- Vanilla Extract: I use natural vanilla extract for its potent flavor and lack of weird ingredients.
- Ground Cinnamon: Cinnamon adds a lovely spice to the almond butter mixture and goes well with green apples.
The base of this snack is super simple, with only two ingredients! Check out my toppings section for an endless number of ways to top this easy snack for kids (and adults!).
Apple Donut Toppings
Now this is where the fun starts. I recommend a few toppings in the recipe below, yet really you can jazz these apple snacks up however you want! Here are a few more topping recommendations for bedazzled donuts:
- Homemade Nut/seed Butter
- Chopped Nuts- almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews
- Caramel Dip
- Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
- Healthy Granola
- Chocolate Chips
- Dye-Free Sprinkles
- Freeze-Dried Fruit
Use this recipe to get your kids involved in snack time! Apple donuts with a toppings bar make a great playdate snack so that each kid can make their own.
Ingredient Swaps
Since apples don’t always hold up the best once they are sliced, this snack is best made right before enjoying. Yet if you want to take a few toppings and some nut butter on the go, then try using apple chips as the ‘donut.’
I use almond butter on my donuts, yet use the nut or seed butter of your choice. Just look for one with limited ingredients and no added sugar.
Green apples might not be your fruit of choice, so feel free to use a different variety of apples, bananas and pears. Any fruit you want to top and sprinkle. This snack is meant to be a fun and easy way to get in some simple carbs and a boost of healthy fats/protein during the day.
How to Make Apple Donuts
These are fairly easy to make with or without an apple corer. Wash the apple(s) then core them. Once cored, slice into approximately 1/4-inch rings. Now that you’ve got your ‘donuts’, top with nut/seed butter (or grab another spread from my toppings section below). Then sprinkle with coconut flakes, cinnamon, hemp hearts, fresh or dried fruit and more.
Enjoy! If you want to pack this snack, squeeze fresh lemon or lime juice on both sides of the sliced apples to keep them from browning. Pack the nut butter separately from the other toppings. When you’re ready for snack time, top and dig in!
To make these without an apple corer, slice straight through the washed apples with a sharp knife in 1/4-inch disks. Once sliced, take the tip of the knife and gently core each disk to turn it into a ring.
FAQs for Apple Donuts
I’m a huge fan of apples and nut/seed butter. It’s a delicious combo that boosts my energy. I also like topping my apple donuts with nuts, seeds, coconut flakes and more for an even better-tasting snack.
Apples are a great snack option. They are loaded with fiber and fairly low in sugar (especially green apples). Pair them with healthy fat and protein like almond butter to keep you full and energized.
They are both great options! Green apples have slightly less natural sugar in them, yet all apples are good sources of vitamin C.
More Healthy Snacks
I’ve got quite a few snack recipes because, well, I love to snack. Whether you’re looking for a workout snack, a weight loss snack, snacks for work or kid-friendly snacks, I’ve got you covered. Here’s my current favorite snack list:
- Homemade Hummus: I love buying fresh summer produce, and this hummus recipe is the perfect dipping sauce for all those veggies.
- Avocado Caprese Salad: Garden tomatoes and ripe avocados make an easy and satisfying snack.
- Chocolate Covered Banana Bites: I keep these in my freezer for a quick nighttime snack or an easy win with the kids on a hot day.
- Homemade Popsicles: You’ll never know these have leafy greens in them! This is another kid’s favorite.
- Fruit Leather: This recipe is a great way to use up any almost-bad fruit you have. And adding chia seeds gives it a fun boost.
Would you please rate + review this recipe once you’ve made it? How did you top your donuts?
Fun Apple Snacks
Ingredients
- 1 apple
- ¼ tsp cinnamon ground
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp almond butter
Suggested Toppings
- ground cinnamon
- coconut flakes
- hemp hearts
- raisins
- fresh fruit
Instructions
- Core the apple then slice into 1/4 inch rings.
- Stir together cinnamon, vanilla and almond butter.
- Top with your favorite toppings as suggested above.
Notes
- Swap apples with bananas, pears or the fruit of your choice.
- Use the nut or seed butter of your choice.
- Feel free to top however you want. Dye-free sprinkles, chocolate chips, chopped nuts and more all make great toppings.
- If you want these apples to last all morning, squeeze lemon or lime juice on them then store them in an air-tight container until snack time. Store toppings in a separate container until ready to serve.
A word of advice…don’t get hung up on making the rings.
I just used my normal apple corer slicer and then topped the slices with the almond butter and coconut flakes and it makes a great portable lunch snack!
Hey Susan,
That is great advice!!
I am so happy you enjoyed this delicious healthy snack!
anything you would suggest to swap out the almond butter if someones allergic to almonds?
Hi Lyz,
Yes! Swap in another nut or seed butter your body is ok with. Personally, I’m obsessed with honey sunflower butter!
So, with any detox, you do I work away from home and the smoothies for breakfast or lunch are not doable with me. I work anywhere from 8-10 hours a day and a hour drive, so I’m just wondering about the detox??