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It’s almost September which means it’s APPLE time! I absolutely cannot get enough of desserts with apples.
And these caramel apple nachos fit right in with that can’t-get-enough statement. Especially because they’re infused with tons of hazelnut and chocolate flavor.
When I was a kid I hated peas. They were flavorless, mushy, and green.
I didn’t like green things as a kid. Vegetables? No thank you.
In an ongoing effort to get me to eat my vegetables with dinner, my mom would sprinkle sugar on the peas to get me to eat them. Guess what? It worked.
When I grew up and began eating peas all by themselves minus the sugar, I vowed never to do that for Jordan. She’ll eat her fruits and vegetables the way I cook them darn it! And she’ll never complain! And she’ll know they’re good for her!
It’s really funny how, as a 20-something without kids, you can totally proclaim what kind of parent makes a good one and what you’re going to do as a parent. Then you have a kid and all that goes out the window and you let them eat cookies for breakfast and pizza for dinner three times in a row because oh the whining will it ever stop.
Anyway, Jordan hates vegetables and tolerates fruit. I don’t put sugar on her peas but I do let her buy the apple packs that come with caramel. Because otherwise I know she’s just throwing away her apples at school and telling me she eats them. How do I know this? Because she told me so.
She’s honest, if nothing else.
Anyway, those caramel and apple packs gave me an idea: I needed to make caramel apple nachos for dessert. Because then she’s eating fruit with her dessert. Which maybe doesn’t make it healthy, but it sure does make it healthier than eating a brownie or a bowl of ice cream with no fruit in sight.
Right? That’s totally true. Just go with me on that.
So, let’s talk about caramel apple nachos. You’ve seen them, right? They’re all over pinterest, with all different variations. S’mores, peanut butter, chocolate. Basically you slice some apples and drizzle caramel all over them and some nuts or chocolate or whatnot and you have a sweet snack with apples instead of tortilla chips.
I mean, I love real nachos as much as the next girl, but give me nachos with caramel and chocolate? I love that way more.
These caramel apple nachos are different because they’re hazelnut caramel apple nachos. I infused the caramel sauce with hazelnut flavor, sprinkled the top of the nachos with chopped hazelnuts, and drizzled chocolate hazelnut spread (i.e. Nutella) over the caramel.
In my opinion? Best caramel apple nachos ever. I absolutely love the flavor the hazelnut adds. But don’t worry, you don’t have to go buy another flavored extract (that you’ll probably never use again).
Instead, you can use my secret ingredient to make the hazelnut caramel.
International Delight Hazelnut Coffee Creamer! Chances are, if you love coffee creamer, you have some of this already in your fridge. I think it’s probably one of the more popular flavors (I see it everywhere).
I used the sugar-free, fat-free Toasted Hazelnut flavor, but they also sell regular Hazelnut and sugar-free Hazelnut. Tip: don’t like hazelnut? You can use whatever coffee creamer flavor you like.
To make the caramel, you simply melt caramel squares with some of the coffee creamer until smooth. Normally you’d use heavy cream for this step but, like with chocolate sauce, you can swap the creamer for the cream.
Then, just spread out your apples (I used Gala, but you can also use Granny Smith or your favorite apple) and drizzle with the caramel, chocolate hazelnut spread, and chopped hazelnuts. I also added chocolate chips because, well. Everything is better with more chocolate.
These Hazelnut Caramel Apple Nachos would make a fabulous dessert. Your kids won’t even realize they’re eating something healthier. Or, surprise them with an afterschool snack. You’ll officially be the coolest mom on the planet.
Which, I think, was my mom’s title back when I was a kid. I mean – a mom that actually sprinkled sugar on vegetables? That was probably legendary to my friends. At least, it should have been. 🙂
Hazelnut Caramel Apple Nachos
Ingredients
- 15 caramel squares unwrapped
- 1/4 cup International Delight Hazelnut Creamer
- 2 apples your favorite, cored and sliced into wedges
- 2 tablespoons chocolate hazelnut spread
- Chopped hazelnuts and/or mini chocolate chips for garnish
Instructions
- Place the caramels and creamer in a microwave safe bowl. Heat in 30 second increments, stirring between each, until the caramel is melted and smooth. This will take about 2 minutes, depending on your microwave.
- Chill the caramel until it's pourable but not runny, at least 15 minutes.
- When ready to assemble the nachos: arrange the sliced apples on serving plate. Place the caramel in a sandwich bag with the tip cut off and pipe over apples. Place the chocolate hazelnut spread in a bowl and heat for about 20 seconds in the microwave, or just until it will drizzle without being too thick. Place it in another sandwich bag, cut off the tip, and drizzle over caramel. Sprinkle with hazelnuts and chocolate chips, if desired.
See more of my coffee creamer recipes here!
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Peanut Butter Caramel Apple Dip
Sweets from friends:
Apple Nachos by Shugary Sweets
Fluffernutter Apple Nachos by Inside BruCrew Life
Samoas Apple Salad by Something Swanky
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.
Last Updated on May 13, 2020
Hi Dorothy. I am new to your blog. Absolutely love this idea. I know my daughter will love this.
Welcome!! And thank you!
Welcome!! And thank you!
I was totally that kid that threw away her apples if she didn’t have caramel! I’ve never tried apple nachos, but your version looks delicious! I feel like they’d be an awesome snack to watch football with this fall. Pinned!
Thanks for the pin Krystle!
How creative and delicious! These would be perfect to serve at a party. Definitely going to try these out, especially since apples are coming back in season, yay!
Enjoy Danielle!
I was the kid who got whole wheat bread and apples in my lunch box. While everyone else got wonder bread and twinkies. Nobody ever wanted to trade with me. Sure wish I had apple nachos then – would have been the talk of the cafeteria. Love!!
LOL! I always had a treat in my lunch. So does Jordan (probably a bad thing!) 🙂
Loving this. Crisp apple with the chocolate hazelnut flavour = amazing idea! And what a great idea for using the coffee creamer in the caramel. I know the creamer is sugar free, but sweetened with sweeteners, but how sweet is the caramel sauce? Perfect for a snack, especially with the fall/ Autumn approaching fast. Pinned!
I think it’s sweeter than if you used heavy whipping cream, for sure. But not too bad!
What a super creative use of the creamer! Love that!! Pinned 🙂
throwing away her apples at school and telling me she eats them <—- eek!! Nothing more frustrating as a mom than trying to do the right thing and it ends up in the trash, unused, forgotten about, etc. I'll clean out Skylar's lunch box at the end of the day and see the super perfect healthy xyz item I packed her and mentally belabored over how she'd like it etc and see it in the lunchbox that nite and be like WHY didn't you eat that?! I didn't see it mom. Ugh, okay, how is that even possible. Kids 🙂
How do they not see it?? I swear, sometimes I wonder if they even look in their lunch boxes, lol!
Love these! I never really liked vegetables when I was growing up either, and now I have to sneak them into my own food. Thankfully, my toddler loves them! So these caramel apple nachos are definitely for me 🙂
Ha! Me too!!
Fruity nachos with yummy toppings are so fun and this is PERFECT for Fall. I love that these are caramel and hazelnut. Pinned 🙂
Thanks for the pin Chelsea!
My mom used to put sugar on many things to get us to eat them too; one of my favorites even today is tomatoes, sprinkled with sugar… Weird, I know, but I do eat them plain too. Loving these apple nachos and so much easier than making caramel apples, which I totally stink at!
Ha, that would make me like tomatoes I bet!! 🙂
I love these apple nachos, Dorothy! Such a creative idea. I love how easy this is, and I’m sure your daughter loves the taste, too!
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