Looking for a quick, no-cook snack your toddler can make? These apple nachos are a perfect entry point into food prep. With simple ingredients and lots of hands-on steps, this snack teaches slicing, drizzling, and decorating. Best of all? It actually gets eaten. If your little one loved our cottage cheese breakfast bowl or parfait, this is your next low-mess win.
Cut apples into thin wedges. Encourage your toddler to use a child-safe knife or crinkle cutter. Talk about shapes and textures.
2: Arrange the Base
Layer the apple slices on a plate. Let your toddler decide the design – there’s no wrong way!
Drizzle some nut butter (or substitute with sun butter). You could also warm it up slightly to drizzle more easily.
4: Sprinkle the Toppings
Add the toppings (mini chocolate chips, sprinkles etc.). Let them sprinkle freely.
Give them a teaspoon of cinnamon (bonus if you wish to give access to the spice jar and let them shake it on). Invite them to smell it first and describe it.
6: Eat & Celebrate
Snack time becomes a moment of pride. Celebrate their effort before you even take a bite.
Toddler Involvement Guide
👶 What Toddlers Can Do:
- Slice soft apples (with supervision)
- Layer slices on a plate
- Drizzle nut butter with a spoon or squeeze bottle
- Sprinkle toppings of their choice
- Shake on cinnamon and describe the smell
🧠 What This Builds:
- Fine motor skills
- Independence and choice-making
- Sensory curiosity (smell, texture, taste)
- Confidence in food prep
🛠 Try This: Encourage them to describe what they’re doing – “I’m making a circle,” or “This smells sweet!” These little moments build vocabulary and confidence while they snack.
- Slice soft apples (with supervision)
- Layer slices
- Drizzle or spread nut butter
- Sprinkle toppings
- Shake on cinnamon
Skills this builds:
- Fine motor coordination
- Decision-making
- Sensory exploration
- Food autonomy
Apple Nachos with Peanut Butter & Cinnamon
A fun way to introduce slicing and layering – with a healthy snack they’ll actually eat.
Equipment
- Cutting Board
- Apple Corer
Materials
- 1 whole Apples cored and halved
- 1 Tablespoon Nut butter Sunflower Seed butter for nut-free options
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon Powder
- 1 handful Sprinkles, chocolate chips etc.
Instructions
- Cut apples into thin wedges. Encourage your toddler to use a child-safe knife or crinkle cutter. Talk about shapes and textures.
- Layer the apple slices on a plate. Let your toddler decide the design – there's no wrong way!
- Drizzle some nut butter (or substitute with sun butter). You could also warm it up slightly to drizzle more easily.
- Add the toppings (mini chocolate chips, sprinkles etc.). Let them sprinkle freely.
- Give them a teaspoon of cinnamon (bonus if you wish to give access to the spice jar and let them shake it on). Invite them to smell it first and describe it.
- Snack time becomes a moment of pride. Celebrate their effort before you even take a bite.