These Healthy Caramel Apple Donuts are THE thing to make when you want something sweet without turning on the oven. Chopped green apples and medjool dates get pressed into a donut mold with salted peanuts, topped with a thin layer of melted chocolate, then frozen until they hold their shape. They taste like a caramel apple, minus the sticky mess of biting into an actual caramel apple, and since they live in your freezer, they’re ready the second a craving hits.
Friends, I make a batch of these almost every week because they solve a very specific problem: I want something sweet, but I don’t want a long ingredient list or something super unhealthy. This one comes together with five ingredients and about ten minutes of actual hands-on work, then the freezer does the rest.
There’s something about the caramel apple flavor combo that gets me every single time, and I love that all of the sweetness here comes from the dates instead of anything processed. Just chopped medjool dates doing all the work alongside the apples. The peanuts add crunch and the chocolate ties it all together.
I also grab one about twenty minutes before I work out. The natural sugar from the dates and apples gives me a quick boost of energy without anything heavy sitting in my stomach, which makes it an easy pre-workout snack that doesn’t feel like a “health food.” Once these are frozen solid, they just live in a bag in my freezer door, so if you’re someone who likes having a sweet treat stocked and ready to go, these are about to become a permanent fixture in yours too.
What You Need to Make These Healthy Caramel Apple Donuts
- Green Apples: Green apples hold their shape well and give you that tart bite that plays off the sweetness of the dates and chocolate. Chop them small so they pack into the donut mold easily.
- Medjool Dates: These are what give these their caramel flavor without any actual caramel. Medjool dates are stickier and softer than other varieties, which helps everything bind together in the mold.
- Chocolate Chips: One cup of chocolate chips gets melted down and poured over the top for that classic caramel apple coating. Use whatever chocolate chips you already have, or swap in a dairy-free or dark chocolate variety.
- Coconut Oil: Just a little melted in with the chocolate chips, keeps the chocolate smooth and easy to pour instead of thick and clumpy.
- Salted Peanuts: Chopped salted peanuts line the bottom of the mold and get sprinkled on top at the end. They add crunch and a salty contrast to the sweet apples and chocolate. If you’re feeding someone with a peanut allergy, chopped pecans or almonds work as a swap.
How to Make These Caramel Apple Donuts
Start by chopping the apples, dates, and peanuts into small pieces so everything packs evenly into the mold. In a silicone donut tray, add most of the chopped peanuts to each cavity first, saving a small handful to sprinkle on top later. Layer the chopped apples and dates on top of the peanuts, pressing down gently so everything holds together.
Next, add the chocolate chips and coconut oil to a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in two to three 30-second increments, stirring in between, until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth. Pour the melted chocolate evenly over each donut, making sure it settles into the gaps between the apples and dates. Top with the remaining crushed peanuts.
Transfer the tray to the freezer and let the donuts set for at least two hours, or until they’re firm enough to pop out of the mold. Once they’re frozen solid, store them in an airtight container or bag in the freezer, and pull one out whenever you want a bite.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are meant to be made in advance and kept in the freezer, so you can make a batch on a Sunday and have a treat ready to go all week.
Stored in an airtight container, these will keep well in the freezer for up to a month.
Dates are what give these their caramel-like flavor and help bind everything together, so I wouldn’t skip them entirely. If you need a substitute, soaked dried apricots can work in a pinch, though the flavor will shift.
Not as written, since they call for salted peanuts. Swap in chopped pecans, almonds, or sunflower seeds if you’re serving someone with a peanut allergy.
A silicone donut mold makes these easiest to pop out and eat, but you could also use a mini muffin tin, or press the mixture into a small lined dish and cut it into squares once frozen.
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new!
** Photography by Tanya Pilgrim
Ingredients
- 2 Green Apples, chopped
- 6 Medjool Dates, chopped
- 1 Cup Chocolate Chips
- 1 Teaspoon Coconut Oil
- ¾ Cup Salted Peanuts, chopped
Instructions
- Start by chopping the apples, dates, and peanuts into small pieces so everything packs evenly into the mold.
- In a silicone donut mold, add most of the chopped peanuts to each cavity first, saving a small handful to sprinkle on top later. Layer the chopped apples and dates on top of the peanuts, pressing down gently so everything holds together.
- Next, add the chocolate chips and coconut oil to a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in two to three 30-second increments, stirring in between, until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth.
- Pour the melted chocolate evenly over each donut, making sure it settles into the gaps between the apples and dates. Top with the remaining crushed peanuts.
- Transfer the tray to the freezer and let the donuts set for at least two hours, or until they're firm enough to pop out of the mold.
- Once they're frozen solid, store them in an airtight container or bag in the freezer, and pull one out whenever you want a bite.
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