Apples on sticks! We all love the classic caramel apples, right? I created my own version of a yummy coated apple with peanut butter and butterscotch. My recipe for Peanut Butter Butterscotched Apple Bunnies is delicious, fun, and easy to eat. This apple bunny is great for a spring snack or an Easter treat.
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How To Make Bunny Apples 🙂
Have you seen the tool that peels, cores, and spiral cuts apples? It is an awesome tool! I love because it creates a fun spiral cut to an apple. Trust me, kids love eating apples cut this way so the tool will get used. (see below for a link)
To make the apple bunnies, first I spiral cut the apple using the tool. Next dip it in the melted mixture, insert craft sticks for the dual function of bunny ears and to act as a handle. I add a face to the bunny for the final step using chocolate chips, slivered almonds, and a yogurt covered raisin.
For two more additional recipes see the end of this post under recipe notes. I have included a recipe for chocolate peanut butter covered bunnies and a peanut free white chip recipe as well.
The Apple Tool
This tool can be found online at Walmart. However, I recently saw this tool on sale at a local Walmart for only $5.00. Search online for this apple spiral slicer tool. I did a Google search and found there are many different models and brands online to choose from with varying prices.
I haven’t mastered the use of the tool yet as sometimes parts of the peel remain as shown in the above picture. But other times the whole apple is completely peeled. One method I use to ensure a peel-free apple is to simply peel the apple first with a regular hand held peeler before spiral cutting it. I have used a hand held peeler to remove some remaining peel after the spiral cut, it’s just harder to do. The spiral cut of the apple makes it easier to eat than when a whole apple is used as in a caramel apple. However, I have successfully made this recipe both with whole apples and spiral cut apples, so the tool is not absolutely necessary. (scroll down to see a full view of the tool)
Kids Will Love these Bunny Apples, & Mom’s will too
My kids are in love with these bunny apples for several reasons. They are fun and delicious, plus easy to eat and hold. The kids love the end because there is a yummy treat from the cored out space of hardened peanut butter and butterscotch mixture left on the sticks.
I love this recipe not only because the apples are so tasty, but also because the kids are eating healthy foods like an apple and peanut butter. I enjoy making holiday themed recipes for my family because it is enjoyable to all and a great way to build family tradition.
The Apple
Although any type of apple will work, I choose to use Honeycrisp apples for three reasons:
- Honeycrisp apples are crisp and delicious. My family’s favorite apple is honeycrisp.
- They are slow to brown giving me time to work making these bunnies.
- They were developed in my home state at the University of Minnesota (yay!).
Ingredients & Kitchen Tools needed
Ingredients Needed:
- 6 Honeycrisp Apples
- 2 cups Butterscotch chips
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 12 Jumbo craft sticks
- 1 Tablespoon slivered almonds
- 1 Tablespoon milk chocolate chips
- 6 yogurt raisins (alteratives include white chips or mini marshmellows)
Tools Needed:
- Apple spiral slicer tool
- You may need an apple peeler and corer
- large spoon
- microwavable bowl
- measuring cups and spoons
This is an original idea and recipe by Julie Hoag. Copyright ©2017 Julie Hoag. All Rights Reserved.
Peanut Butter Butterscotched Apple Bunnies
Ingredients
- 6 Apples, Honeycrisp any type of apple works. 5-6 apples depending on the size.
- 2 cups butterscotch chips
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup peanut butter smooth
- 12 jumbo craft sticks function both as bunny ears and apple handle
- 6 yogurt covered raisins cut in half to make bunny noses
- 1 Tablespoon slivered almonds for bunny whiskers
- 1 Tablespoon milk chocolate chips bunny eyes
Instructions
- Push the apple on, carefully placing the center of the apple on the three prongs of the spiral cutting tool.
- Turn the crank the correct way to peel, core, and spiral cut the apple.
- The core remains on the prongs and the spiral cut peeled apple can be slid off the core.
- Set up the apples, sticks, and bunny face ingredients. The sticks function as bunny ears and the apple holder. Chocolate chips are for the eyes, the cut in half yogurt raisins are the bunny noses, and the slivered almonds are the whiskers. White chips are optional and can be used as noses.
- Place the 2 cups Butterscotch chips, 1/2 cup peanut butter, and 1 Tablespooon vegetable oil in a microwavable bowl. Heat in the microwave 4 times each in 30 second increments, stir in between heatings.
- Apple dip is ready once all the chips have melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Spoon fill the cored out apple space with the apple dip.
- Insert two jumbo craft sticks into the apple dip in the cored out apple space to make the bunny ears. Slightly press the ears apart and if possible embed slightly into the apple. This is not essential however as the hardened dip also functions to hold the stick handle ears in place.
- Spoon the peanut butter butterscotch dip over the bunny to fully coat it. Scooping it out with a large spoon and placing it on a plate or wax paper works best.
- Pop in the fridge for few minutes or let it sit on the counter for 5 mintues or so until the dip begins to harden. This is important because if done too soon, the face will not stay in place on the butterscotch coating, but will slide down. Add bunny face using two chocolate chips for eyes, half a yogurt covered raisin for the nose, and almond slivers for the whiskers per bunny.
- Refrigerate until hardened before enjoying or store bunnies for later in the fridge. Best when eaten within 24-48 hours from when prepared.
- Ready to serve!
Notes
Tips:
- If apple dip starts to harden, microwave again.
- If apple doesn't sit flat, slice off a spiral or two on the bottom of the apple to get it to sit flat.
- Remember, whole apples can be used too, a spiral cutter tool is not necessary.
- Store apple bunnies in the fridge.
Alternative Recipe Peanut Butter Chocolate Recipe
For an alternative recipe, try the Peanut Butter Chocolate Apple Bunny Recipe made in the same way as listed above, but the apple dip ingredients are different. Follow the directions as listed above for each step to prepare apples. This recipe will cover about three apples depending on the size of the apples.- 1 cup milk chocolate morsels
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
What a fun treat that we usually make in the fall but turn it into a spring bunny treat. Can’t wait to make these.
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE!!!! this looks so delicious!! my pregnancy craving is apples and some sort of spread – nutella, peanut butter, almond butter, sunbutter.. anything! But BUTTERSCOTCH?! whaaaat. I’m going to try this this weekend and for the rest of my life. I don’t have a fancy apple corer like that, but I have one that pushes down and I can totally make it work with that.
That is wonderful! What a great treat for you in your cravings!! You don’t need the fancy tool, it tastes just as awesome without using it! I hope you enjoy it:)
These are TOO CUTE!! Plus the butterscotch sounds really great! 🙂
Thanks! The peanut butter/butterscotch dip is awesome and tastes wonderful with the apple. Hope you enjoy it!
Oh my goodness!! I fell like I will dip anything and everything in the melted peanut butter/butterscotch!! Also, I really need one of these spiralizers before apple picking seasons starts again. Thanks for sharing!
Yes, the tool is awesome and my kids LOVE to eat an apple this way. It really is so much fun! The peanut butter/buttterscotch dip is so good! We just love it and it is so easy! Thanks!
This is so adorable! I am definitely going to make these with my niece. She would love this!
Yes, it’s so fun and really delicious. My boys LOVE these! Enjoy!