Your quest for the ultimate healthy-yet-decadent no-cook sweet treat ends here! This has been my secret-weapon recipe all through my weight loss and maintenance phases. These Weight-Loss Apple Nachos tick all the boxes especially when it comes to incredible whole-food flavor with lower fat and calories. Learn exactly how to get all the apple-y caramel-y goodness for less than 135 calories per portion!
Whether you’re nutritarian or just looking for an incredibly simple, healthy and satisfying breakfast, snack or dessert idea, I think you’re going to love this Weight-Loss Apple Nacho recipe!
Let’s go…
What are apple nachos?
Apple nachos are a modern twist on the classic chips and cheese savory nachos. Appearing on the scene in the mid-2010s, apple nachos used sliced fresh apples to serve as the “chips” and nut butters, caramel and melted chocolate in place of the melted “cheese”. People get very creative with additional toppings. The toppings can be healthier whole foods like fresh fruits, jams, granolas, coconut flakes, nuts and seeds. But there are lots of conventional recipes too using more processed ingredients like candies, marshmallows, cookie crumbs, pretzels and sprinkles.
I fell in love with apple nachos a few years after beginning my nutritarian journey and you’ll see them featured regularly in my daily menus.
In the collage above you can see some of the apple nachos I’ve enjoyed and created over the years:
- Top left: I cut the apples into doughnut shapes using a small cookie cutter for the core, topped with almond butter, Raspberry Chia Jam, a few fresh raspberries and a sprinkle of hemp seeds.
- Top right & bottom left: The typical no-fuss way I enjoy this treat, with just a nut butter drizzle, cinnamon, fresh raspberries and hemp seeds.
- Bottom right: This version was inspired by a caramel apple, I used a Granny Smith apple and topped it with my whole-date Caramel Sauce or 1-Minute Caramel Sauce. Then sprinkled with Rawnola, cinnamon and date-sweetened oil-free chocolate chips.
What makes these Weight-Loss Apple Nachos special?
I created this recipe because I wanted to give you maximal-flavorful-saucy-goodness while you’re meeting your goals!
The truth is that even “healthy” apple nachos can pack a pretty big caloric punch. Two tablespoons of nut butter comes in between 190 to 200 calories alone. That’s even before the apple and toppings. While it’s perfectly fine to enjoy more calorie-rich versions when you’re in weight maintenance it’s nice to have something that works while you’re losing weight.
- Perfect when you’re in a calorie deficit or following the Dr. Fuhrman’s Aggressive Weight Loss plan.
- Lower in fat and calories while keeping all that good-for-you fiber and beneficial phytochemicals from the fresh fruit.
- No cooking required and less than 5 minutes to prepare.
- 130 calories and 4.5 grams of fat for a generous and filling portion!
What 4 simple ingredients do you need for these Weight-Loss Apple Nachos?
- fresh apple slices
- date caramel sauce (I use my 1-Minute Date Caramel Sauce recipe)
- berries
- raw hemp seeds
- cinnamon (optional but recommended)
Apples: I like to use crisp apple varieties that are best when eaten fresh. Some great choices are Fuji, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Gala, Honey Crisp and Cosmic Crisp. Since most of the nutrients reside in the apple skin it’s always best if you can get organic varieties. Soak your whole apples in a bowl with water overnight to help remove the food-grade wax coating.
Date Caramel Sauce: I created this 1-Minute Date Caramel Sauce specifically for this apple nacho recipe. It is a simple 3-ingredient recipe that uses date syrup, almond butter and a bit of unsweetened plant milk. If you don’t happen to have date syrup on hand you can use the same amount of this recipe instead.
Berries: You can use fresh, frozen or even freeze-dried berries in this recipe. Berries are preferred because they’re low in natural sugar and calories. Just be mindful to keep it to about 9 small raspberries and 2 to 3 strawberries sliced or diced.
Raw Hemp Seeds: Just a pinch for some omega-3s and added plant-protein. Good substitutes are flaxseed or chia seeds.
How to make this recipe:
Start by cutting your apple. This recipe calls for 100 grams of the apple of your choice. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, 100 grams is equal to a little more than half a medium apple.
While you can slice your apples as thin as you’d like, I’ve found about-1/4-inch to be a nice thickness.
Layer your apple slices on your serving plate and drizzle with 1-1/4 Tbsp. of the 1-Minute Date Caramel Sauce.
Top with your berries and raw hemp seeds. You can finish with an optional sprinkle of ground cinnamon if you’d like.
Serve immediately!
What is the taste and texture like?
The texture is a beautiful melange of crispy and saucy elements.
The flavor is a satisfying mix of sweet, tart and caramel-y!
What are the storage recommendations?
As written this recipe makes one perfectly-portioned serving. I don’t recommend storing any leftovers as the apples will oxidize. This recipe is best served fresh.
What is the calorie breakdown for this Weight-Loss Apple Nachos recipe?
- 100 grams apple = 52 calories
- 1-1/4 Tbsp. caramel sauce = 59.1 calories
- 30 grams fresh raspberries = 15.3 calories
- 1/2 gram raw hemp seeds = 2.8 calories
- TOTAL CALORIES: 129.3
If you want to have the full 2-1/2 Tbsp. portion of the 1-Minute Caramel Sauce then the calories will breakdown as follows:
- 100 grams apple = 52 calories
- 2-1/2 Tbsp. caramel sauce = 118.3 calories
- 30 grams fresh raspberries = 15.3 calories
- 1/2 gram raw hemp seeds = 2.8 calories
- TOTAL CALORIES: 188.4
How much can you have on the nutritarian plan?
If you’re following the Aggressive Weight Loss Plan: I recommend one portion exactly as the recipe is written. This will leave with you with plenty of leeway with your dates and nut/seed allotment.
If you’ve reached your ideal BMI (under 23): You can enjoy the full 2-1/2 Tbsp. of the Date Caramel Sauce and use a full apple for the recipe. You can also add more of the raw hemp seeds on top.
Weight-Loss Apple Nachos
Ingredients
- 100 grams sliced apple just over 1/2 a medium apple
- 1-1/2 Tbsp. 1-Minute Vegan Caramel Sauce
- 9 fresh raspberries 30 grams
- 1/4 tsp. raw hemp seeds 1/2 gram
- ground cinnamon, to taste optional
Instructions
-
Slice your apple: While you can slice your apples as thin as you'd like, I've found about-1/4-inch to be a nice thickness.
-
Layer your apple slices on your serving plate and drizzle with 1-1/4 Tbsp. of the 1-Minute Vegan Caramel Sauce.
-
Top with your berries and raw hemp seeds. You can finish with an optional sprinkle of ground cinnamon if you'd like.
Recipe Notes
Makes 1 serving.
Apples: I like to use crisp apple varieties that are best when eaten fresh. Some great choices are Fuji, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Gala, Honey Crisp and Cosmic Crisp. Since most of the nutrients reside in the apple skin it's always best if you can get organic varieties. Soak your whole apples in a bowl with water overnight to help remove the food-grade wax coating.
Date Caramel Sauce: I created this 1-Minute Date Caramel Sauce specifically for this apple nacho recipe. It is a simple 3-ingredient recipe that uses date syrup, almond butter and a bit of unsweetened plant milk. If you don't happen to have date syrup on hand you can use the same amount of this recipe instead.
Berries: You can use fresh, frozen or even freeze-dried berries in this recipe. Berries are preferred because they're low in natural sugar and calories. Just be mindful to keep it to about 9 small raspberries and 2 to 3 strawberries sliced or diced.
Raw Hemp Seeds: Just a pinch for some omega-3s and added plant-protein. Good substitutes are flaxseed or chia seeds.
Storage: As written this recipe makes one perfectly-portioned serving. I don't recommend storing any leftovers as the apples will oxidize. This recipe is best served fresh.
I’d love to know what you think if you give this recipe a try!
Your comments and recipe ratings motivate me so much to keep creating memorable and delicious recipes while helping the website get rankings in those ever-important search engines.
