Chocolate-Dipped Apples: Delicious Treats Done the Healthy Way

Chocolate-dipped apples are just as fun and easy to make as they are to eat, and they are a yummy snack. If you're a fan of candied or caramel apples, but not a fan of the stickiness or the mess, you'll want to try this much easier version, which mixes apples with chocolate goodness, plus your favorite toppings.

This recipe for chocolate-covered apple slices might even be too easy—it's as simple as dipping apple slices in chocolate and sprinkling on toppings! But this simplicity yields a perfectly portioned snack with the healthy goodness of apple slices and the antioxidant power of chocolate. Plus, the customizable toppings are a feast for your eyes as well as your tastebuds! These chocolate-dipped apple slices are an easy and versatile treat.

Whether you want to keep these desserts on hand for those days when the chocolate cravings beckon, or make them ahead for a holiday party, you can't go wrong with chocolate-dipped apple slices. And did we mention that making them is a fun activity? You can include your kids or partner to help with the dipping and sprinkling that goes into each apple slice.

Chocolate-covered apple slices taste best when you make them to your liking. Use your favorite type of apple, your favorite type of chocolate, and your favorite toppings. Maybe you like a bit more crunch or perhaps you like something salty?

How to make chocolate-dipped apples

Ingredients:

4 green apples, such as Granny Smith
8 popsicle (or cake pop) sticks
12 oz melting chocolate bars or wafers

Optional Toppings:

1 tbsp pistachios, chopped
1 tbsp coconut flakes
2 tbsp peanuts, crushed
2 chocolate cookies or Oreos, crushed
2 tbsp mini chocolate candies

Preparation:

1. Wash and dry the apples thoroughly. Slice whole apples into ¼ inch slices and remove any seeds and stem. Insert a popsicle stick into the bottom of each apple slice.
2. Microwave chocolate wafers for 30 seconds to melt. Stir and then microwave in 15-second increments, stirring each time, until fully melted.
3. Dip each apple into the melted chocolate. Use a spoon to coat the entire apple slice.
4. Place chocolate-covered slices onto a baking sheet with a cooling rack to let the chocolate drip (or place onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper).
5. Sprinkle desired toppings onto each apple slice, or dip the chocolate-covered apple slices into a shallow dish filled with the topping of your choice.
6. Place covered apple slices in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let chocolate solidify.

Nutrition Facts

Total Servings: 8
Nutrition facts per slice (chocolate only):
Calories: 154
Protein: 4 g
Carbohydrates: 21 g
Fat: 6 g

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes.

Tips for success

• Adding the popsicle sticks makes it easier to dip the apple slices and serve them.
• Be sure not to slice your apples too thin—they may begin to break once you insert the stick if they aren't thick enough. Test the thickness of your slices before slicing your full apple.
• Granny Smith apples have a delicious tartness that is the perfect contrast for chocolate or caramel apple slices, but Honeycrisp or other apple varieties work just as well.
• Semisweet chocolate chips can be used if you do not have melting chocolate. Since chocolate chips are harder to melt, you might want to add heavy cream, coconut oil, caramel or peanut butter to the chocolate chips to help them melt.
• Get creative with these desserts! Melted white chocolate, dark chocolate and caramel can be used in place of (or in addition to) milk chocolate. You can also mix up your sprinkles. Select toppings you like that go well with the dip flavors you choose.
• Not sure which chocolate to choose? Keep in mind that dark chocolate has been shown to have heart and brain benefits!
• If you are short on chocolate, add melted chocolate to a plastic bag, cut the corner, and drizzle the chocolate instead of fully coating the apple slice. This is also a good way to combine dips, such as dark chocolate and caramel, before you sprinkle with the toppings of your choice.

Are chocolate-covered apples healthy?

Besides being a great fall favorite, apples have a reputation for health. They are low in calories and rich in fiber and antioxidants. Apples are also a good source of quercetin, a flavonoid that supports immune system health, promotes a healthy inflammatory response, and helps maintain already-healthy blood pressure and blood sugar.

One of the biggest benefits of apples—and the nutrients inside them—is how accessible they are. Easy to store and transport, apples are inexpensive and available year-round, not just during the fall season. Adding chocolate to apples increases the fat and sugar content, but it also boosts the health benefits. Dark chocolate, in particular, has been studied for heart and brain health. It also helps curb sugar cravings, which makes it ideal for an afternoon snack.

Eating chocolate also may help to boost your happy hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin. Sweet!

Do chocolate-covered apples need to be refrigerated?

We recommend storing your chocolate-covered apple slices in the refrigerator. This will keep your apples crisp and fresher longer, and it will also keep the chocolate cool to prevent softening at room temperature.

Whether storing in the refrigerator or the freezer, place parchment paper between the layers of chocolate-covered apple slices so they are not stacked on top of each other. This will make removing and serving the apples easier, without the toppings and the chocolate on each apple slice sticking together.

How long do chocolate-dipped apples last?

Chocolate-covered apple slices will last the longest if they are kept cold—either for five days in the refrigerator or up to three months in the freezer. If you want to enjoy the apples fresh, eat them the same day that you sliced and dipped them. Chocolate-covered apple slices are great to serve at a party or to enjoy for a snack the same day, as long as you leave time for the chocolate to harden in the refrigerator. Enjoying them the same day they were sliced will ensure the freshest chocolate apples.

Do chocolate-dipped apples provide you with enough polyphenols?

Apples are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, especially polyphenols. Plus, the chocolate used for these candied apples adds even more flavor and benefits to an already-healthy fruit.

But it may not be feasible, or wise, to eat a chocolate-covered apple every day.

You can get the anti-aging benefits of apples—and help maintain your health in the long run—with a dietary supplement. Daily supplements like Applewise deliver standardized polyphenols in a convenient capsule to help support overall health, including healthy levels of oxidative stress and already-healthy blood sugar levels. Polyphenols also encourage healthy blood vessel function, promote cellular health and support healthy DNA function.

References

• "Apples." Harvard School of Public Health. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/apples/
• "Chocolate Health Claims: Sweet Truth or Bitter Reality?" National Institutes of Health. February 2021. https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2021/02/chocolate-health-claims
• "7 Reasons Why Apples Are Good for You." Cleveland Clinic. August 2023. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-of-apples/