Apple Donuts

Steps

1. Wash and dry the apples. Turn them on their sides and slice into rounds about 1/2 inch thick. You’ll get 3-4 good “donut” slices from the center of each apple.

2. Use a small round cookie cutter or a paring knife to cut out the core from the center of each round, creating the donut hole shape.

3. Pat the apple rounds dry with a paper towel. Any moisture on the surface will prevent the almond butter from sticking.

4. Spread a generous layer of almond butter on the top surface of each apple ring, covering it edge to edge like frosting on a donut.

5. Set out small bowls of toppings — shredded coconut, granola, mini chocolate chips, cacao nibs, crushed nuts, or whatever your kids love. Let them press their chosen toppings into the almond butter.

6. Serve immediately on a plate. These are best eaten fresh, as the apple begins to brown after 20-30 minutes.

Why It Works

Apple donuts work because they hijack the visual appeal of a donut — the ring shape, the “frosting,” the toppings — while delivering a snack that’s actually nutritious. The crisp apple provides fiber and hydration, the almond butter adds protein and healthy fats, and the toppings add crunch and excitement. Kids see a donut. Parents see a balanced snack. Everyone wins.

Tips

• Use firm apples. Soft or mealy apples fall apart when you cut out the core. Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Gala hold their shape and have a satisfying crunch.
• Let kids decorate. The real magic of this recipe is the customization. Setting up a topping bar and letting each kid build their own turns snack time into an activity.
• Prevent browning. If you’re prepping these for a party, a quick dip in water with a squeeze of lemon keeps the apple rings from turning brown for up to an hour.