From smoothies to soups to salads to chutneys, apple recipes for kids are only limited by the imagination!
Apples have a special place in my heart. Growing up in New Hampshire, my parents would host an Apple Cider Party every fall — gathering apples from the local orchards and making gallons of fresh cider with an old heirloom press.
Celebrating the fall harvest with family and friends, warm chili, candied apples, and a bonfire was something I looked forward to year after year. Now, with my own kids, I’m always discovering ways to honor this sweet and tangy fruit.
Apple recipes for kids provide an engaging way to learn about how (and where) this orchard fruit grows, the benefits of fiber for kids, and how to turn this common real food into all kinds of delicious meals.
What can I make with apples?
The beauty and versatility of apples is actually a little mind blowing! Savoury, sweet, warm or cold… breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, or dessert. So many delicious ways to enjoy apples of all colors and varieties.
Recipes with apples are exciting to dive into after a trip to the orchard, your local farmers market, or even the grocery store in the fall and early winter.
The creativity that can develop from an overabundance of apples is also worth instilling in your children as you teach them to cook. Encourage the addition of apples in old and new dishes to experiment with flavor and texture.
This recipe round-up is here to give you ideas and share some of our favorite ways to use apples in the kitchen!
Healthy apple recipes for breakfast
This first batch of recipes is an awesome way to start the day.
1. Apple Bacon Galette
Apples and bacon are like PB&J! Sweet and salty, soft and crispy — all baked into a grain-free crust. This Apple Bacon Galette is special enough to serve as dessert, but in our family we love it as a weekend breakfast with a side of eggs.
2. Apple Muffins
If you are looking to teach your kids how to bake with healthier flours, I highly recommend this Sprouted Einkorn Apple Muffin with Pecan recipe from Nourished Kitchen. A moist muffin full of fall flavors with greater nutrient bioavailability and easier digestion for gut health.
3. Baked Apple Oatmeal
If your kids are anything like mine, they’ll excitedly anticipate the breakfast bell when they know that Baked Apple Oatmeal is on the menu. This flavorful apple recipe for kids is like a healthier morning glory muffin, without refined flours and excess sugars. It’s also a great one to prep ahead!
4. Apple Cinnamon Omelette
It may sound like a strange combination, but I promise you that sweet omelettes are worth experiencing. Simple enough for picky eaters, and sophisticated enough for any foodies in your family — give this Apple Cinnamon Omelette recipe from My Active Roots a try.
5. Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
Tried and true, these grain-free Apple Cinnamon Pancakes will win your family over. With a pat of butter, ghee, or unsweetened whipped cream on top, a stack of these griddle cakes will nourish any belly for a great day.
6. Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Cookies
Cookies for breakfast? Yes, that’s right — but, these Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Cookies are packed with nutrient-dense ingredients. This recipe from What Molly Makes is easy peasy, and tough to ration because they are so tasty.
7. Apple Toast
Apple Cinnamon Peanut Butter Breakfast Toast from Jar of Lemons is a must-try. Sub almond butter or sunflower seed butter if you prefer, and opt for bread that best suits your dietary goals: long ferment sourdough, sprouted grain, or gluten-free rice bread.
Apple snacks for kids
A whole apple paired with a healthy fat and/or protein — such as nut butter or sliced cheese — is a great snack in itself. But, these apple recipes for kids are here to spice up snack time.
8. Apple Dippers
One of our family’s favorite snacks, this Apple Dippers Muffin Tin recipe is an awesome way to engage everyone in trying new flavor and texture combinations. This would also be a fun way to compare the flavor in different varieties of apples.
9. Apple Chips
Sure — you can buy a store bought version, but why pay an arm and a leg for fancy packaging when Apple Chips are so easy to make yourself! This recipe from Well Plated is simple, contains no added sugar, and makes for a fun activity with kids.
10. Apple Crisp Balls
Better than an Apple Pie Lara Bar, these Apple Crisp Balls are a delicious and healthy after school snack, or midday pick-me-up! Use your homemade apple chips (from the recipe above) for a special addition.
11. Slow Cooked Apple Butter
Homemade applesauce plus extra spices and a longer cook time results in an Apple Butter that you’ll want to eat by the spoonful. This slow cooker recipe from Detoxinista is unsweetened and perfectly spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and clove.
12. Apple Butter Sandwiches
These Apple Butter Sandwiches are easy and fun to make with your little ones (of course, as a parent, I love to eat them, too!). Let your kids build their own creations, choosing from coconut, raisins, or both, and watch them gain confidence in the kitchen.
13. Apple Salami Bites
Slightly sweet and salty with a creamy and crisp texture, these quick Apple Salami Bites are a go-to for the whole family! It’s easy to put together, naturally colorful, and satisfies hungry bellies with healthy fats and nutrient rich ingredients.
14. Apple Pear Sauce
Apple sauce was always a standard treat for our kids when they were itty bitty. But, the combination of apples and pears kicks it up a notch in flavor and nutrients. This Pear and Apple Sauce with no added sugar from A Savory Feast is sure to please.
15. Apple Guacamole
Did you say Apple Guacamole? YES! Not only do the apples add a bit of sweetness, but they also add texture and tartness to compliment the creaminess of the avocado, bite of the onion, and citrusy taste of the cilantro. Kids love to help smash the avocado and stir the ingredients together.
16. Apple Pie Smoothie
Healthy smoothies for kids go a long way when it comes to snacks, and this Apple Smoothie from Well Plated sets itself apart from the rest! It is full of real food ingredients that blend into a truly delicious taste, and it’s even sweetened with a touch of primal diet approved pure maple syrup.
Main meals with apples
Don’t underestimate the power of apple recipes for kids in a main meal! Whether it’s a side dish or the main focus, these recipes are worth adding into your weekly family meal plan.
17. Apple Sage Butternut Squash
I always find that roasting a little fruit with starchy veggies will encourage your kids to at least try a bite, and ultimately enjoy the dish. This Apple Sage Butternut Squash is a buttery, sweet, and savory combination that’s easy enough for a busy weeknight, and tasty enough for a special gathering.
18. Apple Cinnamon Turkey Burgers
The combination of ground turkey, diced apples, green onions, sweet spice, and savory herbs in this Apple Cinnamon Turkey Burger recipe offers a fun twist on a typical burger. Teach your kids about kitchen safety when it comes to working with raw meat, and let them help you mix the ingredients and form the patties.
19. Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
Squash soup is one of those grain-free comfort foods that is irreplaceable during the fall and winter months, and a dose of apple leaves kids feeling the same way. From My Bowl brings us this yummy Butternut Squash and Apple Soup recipe that can be made dairy free. In our family, we love to dress it up with colorful toppings such as fresh herbs, diced apples, and chopped nuts or seeds.
20. Apple Compote
5 Spice Pork Tenderloin with Apple Compote is a match made in heaven! The cinnamon, star anise, ginger and cloves paired with cooked apples, raisins, and dried apricots are mouthwatering when paired with a bite of grilled pork tenderloin. This dish can also be roasted in the oven as an alternative method.
21. Apple Walnut Salad
Chopped apples, walnuts, onions, and homemade balsamic dressing is a classic salad. My Favorite Apple Walnut Salad recipe from Detoxinista is simple to follow and full of taste. A great opportunity to teach younger kids how to whisk homemade dressing, and older kids how to dice an onion.
22. Sausage Apple Sheet Pan
Broccoli, potatoes, apples, and sausage of your choice — this Sausage Apple Sheet Pan dinner is that simple!!! It’s truly magical to put all ingredients on one pan with a little oil and a dash of seasoning and let the oven do the rest. Tasty, nourishing, and colorful food for your family.
23. Apple ’n Cabbage Slaw with Cider Vinaigrette
Fresh, crisp, and versatile — this Apple ‘n Cabbage Slaw from Picture the Recipe is an easy way to jazz up pulled pork, fish tacos, or grilled chicken. When it comes to “salad oil,” I highly recommend extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil for healthy options.
24. Apple Grilled Cheese
Even my kids love the sophistication of this Apple Grilled Cheese with Turkey and Pesto. The sweet, buttery, salty combination has just the right appeal for a great kid-friendly lunch, or a healthy dinner. Quality bread, sharp cheese, extra protein, something sweet, and a tasty spread pack this sandwich with awesomeness.
Apple treats for kids
Let’s round-OUT this round-UP with a few apple treat recipes. The natural sugars in an apple mean less added sugar is necessary — a win win!
25. Apple Crisp
Rustic in nature with whole food ingredients means you really can’t mess up this Grain-Free Apple Crisp recipe. Without fussiness, this naturally sweet treat is perfect for having young sous chefs be a part of. We love to top our crisp with cream, but you could also opt for homemade coconut cream as a dairy free dessert.
26. Cinnamon Oat Baked Apples
Cinnamon Oat Baked Apples from I Heart Naptime is a great example of how to bring these natural treats from Mother Nature to the dessert table with only a few additional ingredients. Kids love to eat whole baked apples, and I love the wholesome ingredients in this recipe. I do like to switch out the brown sugar for coconut sugar.
27. Apple Monster Mouths
Of course, these Apple Monster Mouths are perfect for Halloween, but they are also fun anytime of year. Cheer up your kiddos with food art that also tastes amazing. For an even healthier option, swap the mini marshmallows for sunflower seeds — many monsters do have rotten teeth you know!
Get your kids in the kitchen with these fun apple recipes for kids!
You are now armed with apple recipes galore! Savory or sweet for any time of day, this recipe round-up is one to mark for fun ideas to celebrate apples with your kids in the kitchen!
