These Snickers Apple Slices are an extra fun take on our chocolate covered apple slices, with a layer of peanut butter date spread for the "caramel", lots of crunchy roasted peanuts, and a semisweet chocolate coating. Keep a batch in your fridge for a sweet treat, after-school snack, or a better-for-you Halloween candy!
The After-School Snack That Tastes Like a Snickers
Have you ever heard of Snickers Salad? (I know, two words that really don't belong in the same sentence.) It's basically chopped apples mixed with vanilla pudding, whipped cream and chopped up Snickers bars, and isn't that just the most American thing you've ever heard?
No hate at all, it sounds delicious. But we wanted to come up with something just a liiiiiittle better for you. So we topped an apple slice with a 3-ingredient peanut date spread for the "caramel" layer, covered it in roasted peanuts, and dipped the whole thing in chocolate. 10/10, no notes. I could eat 3 of these in a row.
The peanut date spread is delicious as a standalone for apple slices. We've been making a double batch so we have leftovers!
If you're looking for a true Halloween candy copycat, try our homemade Butterfingers, homemade Twix bars, or of course: our real homemade Snickers next.
xoxo, Lexi & Beth
Key Ingredients Needed for Snickers Apple Slices
- Apples: My personal favorites for this are honeycrisp or Granny Smith for tartness, sweetness and crispness. The most important thing is to pat the slices dry with paper towel and to cover them with chocolate right away so they don't oxidize.
- Dates: We use medjool for this and do not recommend swapping for another variety. Medjool dates are the softest, stickiest and most caramel-like date, which is why we use it for our date caramel sauce!
- Peanut butter: We use natural peanut butter, no sugar and no oil added, just salt.
- Peanuts: We used lightly salted roasted peanuts. If you don't like a salty/sweet flavor, use unsalted peanuts.
- Chocolate: This is kind of up to your personal preference. If you prefer less sweet, go for dark chocolate (70-85% cocoa). We like it with semisweet (~45% cocoa). Of course, milk chocolate is totally fine, too! To keep these fully dairy free/vegan, just remember to double check your chocolate chips for dairy!
How to Make Snickers Apple Slices
Make the peanut date spread
Add the pitted, halved dates to a bowl, cover with hot water, and let them soak for 30 minutes. Drain well.
To a small food processor, add the dates and 2 tablespoons of warm water and blend until smooth. Add the peanut butter and vanilla and blend again, adding another tablespoon of water at a time if it's struggling. You're looking for a smooth, spreadable paste.
Melt the chocolate
Microwave the chocolate and coconut oil in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until fully melted. Set it aside to cool slightly while you prep the apples.
Assemble the apple slices
Cut two ½-inch slices from each side of the core, so you get 4 slices per apple. Insert a popsicle stick into the bottom of each slice, then pat both sides dry with paper towel.
Spread an even layer of the date spread over one side of each slice and top with a layer of peanuts.
Working over the bowl, spoon chocolate over the back and edges of each slice, then flip it and cover the peanuts. Let the excess drip off, place on a parchment-lined sheet pan, and refrigerate for about 30 minutes, until set.
Top Tips from the CK Test Kitchen!
- Cut thick apple slices. We slice ours about ½-inch thick, which allows us to easily insert a popsicle stick. If the slices are too thin, the apple will split. (The sticks are optional, they just make coating a lot less messy. You can also use cake pop sticks!)
- Cover the whole slice in chocolate. Any exposed apple will start to brown, so make sure the edges are coated, too.
- Use a small food processor. This is a small batch of dates, and a full-size food processor has a hard time blending it smooth. If you don't have a small food processor, just mash the dates up with a fork until they're super smooth, then stir in the peanut butter and vanilla.
- Storage: Keep these in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. They're best in the first 48 hours. These do not freeze well – the apple gets very mushy when defrosted.
More Easy Sweet Treats You'll Love
We can't wait for you to make these snickers apple slices in your own home! If you do, be sure to let us know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo and tag @crowded_kitchen on Instagram. We can't wait to see what you're cooking!
📖 Recipe
Snickers Apple Slices
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Add the pitted and halved dates to a bowl and cover with hot water. Soak for 30 minutes, then drain.
- To a small food processor*, add the dates and 2 tablespoons of warm water. Blend until smooth and no large chunks remain. If it's having trouble blending, add another tablespoon of water.
- Add in the peanut butter and vanilla extract and continue blending until smooth. Add an additional 1 tablespoon of water if needed to blend. It should be a smooth, spreadable paste.
- Add the chocolate and coconut oil to a heatproof bowl and heat in 30-second intervals in the microwave, stirring well between each interval, until fully melted. Set aside to cool slightly.
- Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Slice off a little bit of the apple on each side. Cut the apple into two ½-inch slices on each side of the apple core, for 4 total slices per apple. If your apples are on the smaller side, you may not be able to get 4 slices.
- Carefully insert a popsicle stick into the bottom of each apple slice. Note: if your apples aren't sliced thick enough, this will be very difficult! You can also skip this step, it just makes these easier to coat in chocolate.
- Use paper towel to pat each apple slice dry on both sides.
- Spread an even layer of date spread on one side of the apple. Top with a layer of peanuts.
- Working over the bowl of melted chocolate, use a spoon to spread the chocolate on the back side and edges of the apple slices, then flip it over and spread chocolate on top over the peanuts. Let the excess chocolate drip off before placing it down on the parchment paper. Repeat with all apple slices.
- Refrigerate until the chocolate is set (about 30 minutes), then enjoy! Keep these stored in the fridge in an airtight container for 3 days.
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