9 Delicious and Wholesome Healthy Apple Dessert Recipes

Healthy Apple Desserts

Apples make for nutritious and delicious desserts. With creative recipes, you can transform this wholesome fruit into guilt-free sweet treats.

Explore these light and healthy apple dessert ideas that satisfy your sweet tooth using natural ingredients and smart substitutions.

Benefits of Apples

Apples offer many health perks, making them an ideal base for nutritious desserts. Benefits include:

• Low in calories - one medium apple is only 95 calories
• Packed with fiber - 4.4 grams per apple, mostly from the skin
• High in vitamin C - 14% of your Daily Value
• Contains antioxidant flavonoids like quercetin
• May promote heart and gut health

By integrating apples into sweets, you add wholesome nutrition compared to traditional dessert fare.

Tips for Baking with Apples

Here are some tips for using apples successfully in baked goods:

• Choose firm apples that hold their shape like Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith
• Prevent browning by tossing sliced apples with lemon juice
• Underbake slightly for a tender bite
• Enhance flavor by adding cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, ginger, and other spices
• Mix in oats, nuts, raisins or other ingredients for texture and taste

Now lets look at some nourishing apple dessert recipes to please any palate.

Healthy Apple Dessert Recipes

1. Baked Apple Crisp

This classic is a crowd pleaser. Apples get topped with an oat crumble spiced with cinnamon and ginger.

Ingredients:

• 4 apples, sliced
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp ginger
• 2 tbsp butter

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Toss apples with cinnamon and vanilla.
3. Mix flour, oats, brown sugar and ginger in a bowl.
4. Melt butter and toss into oat mixture, mixing thoroughly.
5. Add apple mixture to ramekins and top with oat crumble.
6. Bake 30 minutes until apples are tender.

2. Greek Yogurt Apple Parfaits

Layers of vanilla yogurt, apples, and granola make for a satisfying low-calorie dessert.

Ingredients:

• 1 apple, chopped
• 1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
• 14 cup granola
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp honey

Instructions:

1. Toss chopped apples with cinnamon.
2. Layer ingredients in a parfait glass: yogurt, apples, granola, honey.
3. Repeat layers and top with extra granola.

3. Apple Oatmeal Cookies

These soft oatmeal cookies get loaded with grated apples for moisture and fiber.

Ingredients:

• 1 12 cups oats
• 1 apple, grated
• 1 ripe banana, mashed
• 14 cup almond butter
• 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 14 tsp nutmeg
• Pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325F.
2. In a bowl, mix all ingredients thoroughly.
3. Scoop dough and shape into balls, then flatten slightly.
4. Bake 10-12 minutes until lightly browned.

4. Apple Cranberry Crumble

For a tart twist, cranberries are paired with apples and topped with a crunchy oat streusel.

Ingredients:

• 3 apples, diced
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 14 cup honey
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup oats
• 13 cup chopped pecans
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• 3 tbsp butter, melted

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375F.
2. In a dish, mix apples, cranberries, honey, lemon juice and cinnamon.
3. In a separate bowl, stir together oats, pecans, brown sugar and melted butter.
4. Top apple mixture with oat streusel and bake 30 minutes.

5. Apple Nachos

For a fun twist, try baking sweet apple slices into healthy nacho-style chips topped with chocolate, nuts and fruit.

Ingredients:

• 2 apples, sliced into thin wedges
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 14 cup chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp chopped nuts
• 14 cup dried fruit like cranberries or raisins

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 300F.
2. Arrange apple slices on a parchment lined baking sheet.
3. Sprinkle slices with cinnamon and bake 20 minutes until crisp.
4. Remove from oven and top with chocolate, nuts and dried fruit.

6. Apple Bread Pudding

Day-old bread gets transformed into a hearty dessert studded with apples, raisins and fall spices.

Ingredients:

• 5 cups cubed day-old bread
• 2 apples, diced
• 12 cup raisins
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 14 cup honey
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• Pinch of nutmeg

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Toss bread cubes, apples and raisins together.
3. In a bowl, whisk eggs, milk, honey, vanilla and spices.
4. Fold egg mixture into bread mixture.
5. Pour into a greased 8x8 baking dish.
6. Bake 45 minutes until set.

7. Apple Peanut Butter Cookies

The classic combo of apples and peanut butter makes for a chewy and satisfying cookie.

Ingredients:

• 12 cup peanut butter
• 14 cup honey
• 1 egg
• 1 apple, grated
• 1 cup oats
• 12 tsp baking soda
• Pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Mix together peanut butter, honey, egg and grated apple.
3. Stir in oats, baking soda and salt.
4. Roll dough into 1 balls and flatten slightly.
5. Bake 10 minutes until lightly browned.

8. Apple Turnovers

These flaky pastries are filled with cinnamon-spiced apple slices for a portable dessert.

Ingredients:

• 2 apples, diced
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 egg, beaten

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. In a bowl, toss apples with cinnamon.
3. Cut pastry into 4 squares. Place apple mixture in the center of each.
4. Fold pastry over apples into a triangle and crimp edges with a fork to seal.
5. Brush with egg wash and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.
6. Bake 20 minutes until golden brown.

9. Apple Cupcakes

Shredded apples add natural sweetness and moisture to these wholesome vanilla cupcakes.

Ingredients:

• 1 14 cups whole wheat flour
• 14 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 12 tsp cinnamon
• 1 apple, shredded
• 2 eggs
• 12 cup milk
• 14 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line cupcake pan with liners.
2. In a bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and cinnamon.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, milk, coconut oil and vanilla.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry and mix until just combined. Fold in shredded apple.
5. Spoon batter into liners. Bake 20 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.

Creative Ways to Serve Apple Sweets

Here are some fun ways to plate your healthy apple dessert creations:

• Top with frozen yogurt or whipped cream
• Drizzle with caramel or chocolate sauce
• Sprinkle with crushed nuts or coconut
• Garnish with mint leaves or edible flowers
• Serve alongside ice cream or sorbet
• Dust with powdered sugar or cinnamon

With so many options for customizing, you can create a different apple dessert experience every time.

Satisfy Your Cravings the Healthy Way

These smart recipes prove you can bake nutritious, guilt-free apple desserts. Rely on wholesome ingredients and tasty mix-ins like oats, yogurt, nuts and spices.

Explore new ways to savor apples' natural sweetness and amazing texture. Let these creative healthy dessert ideas inspire you in the kitchen.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.