Sliced Apples with Spicy Peanut Butter is a grown up spin on a classic snack time treat. Wow your taste buds with this sweet and spicy bite! This version kicks it up a notch with chili oil, and smoked paprika. Scratch that snack time itch and take a walk down memory lane with this quick easy snack!
Everyone has certain foods that transport them back to their childhood. Apples with peanut butter is one of those foods for me. I remember watching my mom slice up the apples, and slather a big ole smear of peanut butter on a plate. Then my eyes would grow wide she set the plate on the table, and from there, the race was on with my brother to snag the best pieces. It is so simple, but always felt like such a treat! And I know it made my mom happy, because “an apple a day” and all that.. Today my love for this snack remains strong, but being the adventurous adult I try to present myself as, I’ve taken a few liberties and ratcheted up the flavors! Let’s dive in!
Best Types of Apples to Use
There are countless varieties of apples. It seems like every time that I go to the store, they are promoting some new species. I used fuji this time, but below are some of my favorites that would all work well for apples with spicy peanut butter:
- Fuji – One of my favorite apples to eat plain. Originating from Japan, these apples have been found on shelf markets since the 1960’s. They are known for their clean crisp flesh, sweet flavor, and attractive pink and green mottled skins.
- Honey Crisp – With a similar outer appearance to fuji, but slightly shinier, and with more red. Honey Crips apples are firm fleshed, and sweet with a slight acidity. They are know for being very refreshing. Growing rapidly in popularity since their release in the 1990’s, the demand for these apples often outweighs supply!
- Golden Delicious – Golden delicious apples were a smashing success when released. So much so, that in order to keep shelves stocked, they would be harvested too soon, and began gaining a reputation for being dull, and boring. In reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth. When allowed to properly ripen on the tree, these apples take on their signature golden green color, and develop an exceptionally sweet flavor. They are a great choice for baking, savory dishes, or deserts.
- Granny Smith – Thank the Aussie’s for this pucker inducing fruit. Originally discovered in Australia, by a Mrs Mary Smith (hence the name), these apples have a very tough skin, and an extremely acidic flavor that results a that signature tart taste. When balanced, that sour flavor is a wonderful compliment to many dishes.
To Skin or Not to Skin the Apple?
Depending on your mama’s snack serving style, you may have grown up eating apples with their skins on (like me), or off. For my apples with spicy peanut butter, I’m partial to leaving the skins on, but if your on the fence, here are a few things to consider:
Apples with the Skin:
I personally like the snap that you get from eating the apples with the skins on. The skins also carry their own flavors, and add to the taste. Another benefit is that many of the vitamins and minerals are found within the skin. According to Healthline.com “In fact, a raw apple with skin contains up to 332% more vitamin K, 142% more vitamin A, 115% more vitamin C, 20% more calcium and up to 19% more potassium than a peeled apple”.
Apples with Skin Removed:
Some folks find the skins annoying, and unpleasant to eat. Removing the skin also makes apples easier to chew by little mouths, or people with dental issues. Really, aside from someone disliking the skins, I can’t think of any other benefits to removing them for this dish. So I say why not skip the extra work, and enjoy the health benefits!
What Kind of Peanut Butter?
A smear of jiff with grape smuckers on two slices of wonder bread holds a special place in my heart. However, since we are making a grown up snack, we are using grown up peanut butter. Real peanut butter, that is. The ingredients section of the label should be simple. Freshly ground roasted peanuts. That’s it. You could also use raw, but I love the toasty flavor from roasted peanuts.
Where to Find Chili Oil.
Most supermarkets will have chili oil. Sometimes found in an aisle dedicated to asian foods, or labeled “international”. Make sure you are getting chili oil, and are not mistaking it for chili paste, or garlic chili sauce. It should be clear, with a reddish tint.
How to Slice the Apples
If leaving the skins on:
Slicing the apples is straight forward. Cut the apple in half lengthwise, then slice the two half lengthwise again. From there, use a knife to remove the core from each quarter, and proceed to slice into whatever thickness you prefer for your slices.
If removing the skins:
I find it’s easier to remove the skin while the apple is still whole with a vegetable peeler. You have more to grip, and it seems to get done quicker. You can also remove after you have your slices, but that just feels like more work to me. Once the skin is removed, follow the same steps above to create your slices.
How to make the Spicy Peanut Butter.
Since all the ingredients for the spicy peanut butter are ready to use, and nothing requires any additional processing, its simply a matter of combining them and finding the flavor balance you like.
Spicy Peanut Butter Ingredients:
- Peanut Butter – This is your base, and should only contain ground peanuts. You can find some brands on the shelves, or many stores have machines that make it fresh in the bulk section. Go for roasted!
- Chili Oil – To find the right spice balance for you, start slow with about 1 teaspoon per 1/2 cup of peanut butter. I love spice, so I ended up with about a tablespoon. To me it felt like a good amount of heat without being overwhelming.
- Smoked Paprika – A dash of smoked paprika adds a little smokiness.
- Lime – Squeezing a fresh lime wedge adds a pop of acidity, and wakes everything up!
- Agave or Honey (Optional) – Even though this spicy peanut butter was fantastic without any added sweetener, I decided to squeeze about a teaspoon of agave in mine. I just made things tip slightly sweeter, which I like. Especially if you are using Granny Smith Apples!
- Sea Salt – When your spicy peanut butter is ready to serve, add a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. This makes the dish look more appealing, and helps bring out the flavors even more!
Sliced Apples with Spicy Peanut Butter Recipe
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Apples with Spicy Peanut Butter – Grown Up Snack Time!
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Description
Chili Oil gives this snack time favorite a grown up twist. Simple, and crave worthy.
Ingredients
- 2 Apples, sliced
- 1/2 Cup freshly ground Roasted Peanut Butter
- 1–3 Tsp Chili Oil (or more if you like heat!)
- 1 1/2 Tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1/2 Tbsp Lime Juice
- 1–2 Tsp Agave or Honey (optional)
- Flakey Sea Salt to taste for garnish
Instructions
- Wash your apples, and if desired, remove skins
- Remove core and slice
- In a small bowl, mix together Peanut Butter, Chili Oil, Smoked Paprika, Lime Juice, and Agave until smooth and well incorporated. If your Peanut Butter is too thick, stir in a little olive oil to thin it out.
- Drizzle Peanut Butter on top of Sliced Apples or Serve in a bowl for dipping
- Garnish with a sprinkle of flakey sea salt and enjoy!
Notes
Find the right amount of heat for you by starting with 1 Tsp chili oil, and tasting. Add as much as you like until you hit the right balance.
- Prep Time: 00:05
- Cook Time: 00:00
- Category: snacks
- Cuisine: american
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