Chocolate dipped apples are a fun and easy make at home treat for any time of year, but they're especially popular at Halloween.
Toffee apples may be a more traditional Irish Halloween treat, but chocolate dipped apples are even simpler to make, and a great way to entertain and involve kids with a simple, yet delicious activity.

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Easy Apple Treat for Halloween
This is one of my favorite Halloween recipes to make with children, since there's no need for messy candy thermometers and watching temperatures to get the perfect sticky toffee consistency required for toffee apples.
And in 2020, make at home, easy fun is all important for a safe and healthy Halloween.
Enjoy this inspirational, Halloween, how-to post for children, to help stir a little creativity this year.

Simply melt some chocolate, coat the apples and dip into your favorite decorative and tasty toppings. These apples really are that easy. They hardly deserve the title recipe. As my granny would say, "sure that's so simple, it's hardly a recipe, at all, at all."
You can use any type of apple you enjoy. I like to use honey crisps or granny smiths.
Whether or not you deem this to be a real recipe, it's still a fun family activity. Get creative and let your imagination loose as you choose your flavor and topping combinations for your own personal chocolate apples. Here's a quick guide to help you plan.
Suggestions for Topping Combinations
This blog post photo shoot features milk chocolate dipped apples decorated with crushed peanuts and multicolored button shaped candies, such as M and M's or Smarties.
But always remember, the topping choices are all yours.

First, pick the type and color of chocolate that tickles your fancy. Here are some ideas.
- dark chocolate
- milk chocolate
- white chocolate
- drizzled and swirled dark and white chocolate combos
- colored chocolate melts
- orange infused chocolate
Once you've coated your apple in chocolate the fun truly begins. Dipping the hot melted and sticky chocolate in crushed toppings is ever so satisfying.
Here are some ideas for creative toppings. You can choose from any of these dry toppings.
- crushed peanuts
- chocolate candy
- desiccated coconut
- crushed macadamia nuts with white chocolate
- crushed cashew nuts
- crushed pistachios
- crushed almonds with dark or milk chocolate
- jelly tots or dolly mixtures (Irish candies)
- bacon bits combined with dark chocolate coating
- mini marshmallows
- decorative sprinkles or hundreds and thousands
- stars and fireworks style sprinkles
- orange and brown colored sprinkles
- crushed oreos
- crushed pecans
- crushed hard candy bars

Ingredients for Chocolate Candy Apples
Here's my recipe and tutorial for these delicious apples. Just below you'll find a quick list of ingredients, but you'll find exact amounts in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Apples
- Lollipop sticks or wooden craft sticks
- Melting chocolate discs or chocolate chips
- Chopped Peanuts and/or M&M’S
You can use any variety of apple you like. I chose a Granny Smith apple, since I love green treats at Halloween and crisp apples.
Best apples for this recipe is totally up to you. Other great chosices are gala, honeycrisp, or fuji.
Honeycrisps may be my personal favorite. I love how they add a little red and green coloring.
This recipe uses whole apples dipped in chocolate and toppings, not apple slices.
You can use milk chocolate, dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate. The choice is yours.

Directions for Chocolate and Candy Apple Treats
Here you'll find step-by-step photographic instructions. There's a recipe card at the bottom of the post which you can print.
Prepare the apples
First the apples need to be secured on a stick for easy eating. Wooden craft sticks or lollipop sticks work great.
Remove the wooden twig out of the stem end of each apple. Push the lolly stick well down through the core of the apples from the stem end.
Make sure the apples won't wobble and fall off the popsicle stick while being held upright.

Prepare the toppings
Chop the peanuts to the consistency and size desired, and place them in a bowl.
Place the M and M's or whichever topping you have chosen, into another bowl.

Melt the chocolate and dip
Melt the chocolate in a heat-safe bowl over a saucepan half filled with hot water and simmering over a medium high burner.
Carefully transfer the melted chocolate to a shallow bowl, being careful not to burn your finger tips. Children need assistance or supervision with this step to keep them safe.

Take the apples, one at a time, and dip them into the bowl of chocolate.
Turn each apple in the chocolate to completely coat the bottom half of the apple surface in melted chocolate.

Try to create a sharp un-smudged line of chocolate in the middle of the apple.
The contrast between the brown of the chocolate and the rich green apple skin is best appreciated when the chocolate coating is even.
Let the excess chocolate drip back into the bowl.
Next, the real fun begins.

Toppings for chocolate apples
It's time to decorate the apples with the toppings. Place your choices into wide flat bowls for your toppings bar.
While the chocolate is still warm and slightly melted, dip the apples in to the topping bowls.
Gently move them around in the bowls to get an even decorative coating.
Place the dipped apples on a sheet of waxed paper or a cool surface to set. You can line a baking sheet with parchment paper for this job.
A few of our favorite edible decorations are chocolate candies and crushed peanuts.
If you wish you could drizzle some more chocolate across the top half of the apples. However, I find thin streaks of chocolate tend to break off.

Cool and set the chocolate before serving
Allow the apples to set at room temperature before serving. You can stand them on a baking tray or pan lined with parchment paper as they set.
And remember, stick to chocolate candy if anyone for whom you're making these treats has an allergy to nuts.

Recipe Card for Chocolate Dipped Apples for Halloween
Here's a short video about these chocolate apples...
Here's the printable recipe, if you'd like to add this activity to your kitchen files.
Chocolate Dipped Apples
Ingredients
- 4 apples green
- 12 ounces chocolate candy melts
- 1 cup peanuts crushed
- 1 cup chocolate button candies M and M's
Instructions
- Insert lollipop sticks into the cores of four apples at the stem. (Wooden craft sticks also work)
- Place the chopped peanuts and candies in separate bowls. Set aside.
- Place the chocolate into a heat proof glass bowl, and melt over a saucepan of simmering water. Alternatively heat in the microwave at 30 second increments, stirring frequently until melted.
- Dip apples into the melted chocolate, turning to coat the bottom half of each apple.
- Dip and roll each apple in candy or nuts, then place on a sheet of waxed paper to set.
- Allow the apples to set at room temperature until the chocolate is firm. Serve cold.
Nutrition Information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients used.
To store these apples, place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They'll stay good for 3-4 days.
These cute apples make perfect gifts. Simply wrap them in gift cellophane and add a cute message.
I hope you have fun with this recipe. This is a light dessert and easy snack for October when we all celebrate Halloween.
May this year's Halloween festivities be safe, be full of fun, and spark your imagination and creativity.
Happy apple dipping!

Slán agus beannacht,
(Goodbye and blessings)
Mairéad -Irish American Mom
Pronunciation - slawn ah-gus ban-ock-th
Mairéad - rhymes with parade
Here are some more recipes and ramblings you might enjoy...
The Irish History of the Jack O' Lantern
Colcannon - An Irish Halloween Tradition
Halloween - The Irish Connection
- Rutabaga And Carrot Soup
- Colcannon - A Traditional Irish Halloween Dish
- Barmbrack - A Traditional Fruity Bread From Ireland
- Irish Tea Brack
- Easy Bat Donut Holes Recipe For Kids
- Homemade Chocolate Pretzel Spider Webs For Halloween
- Cheesy Irish Potato Cakes for Halloween
- Broomstick Witch Snacks For Halloween
- Skeleton Face Cookies For Halloween
- Spider Deviled Eggs For Halloween
- Halloween Chocolate Rice Krispie Spiders
- Scary Halloween Food and Dishes
Lisa
This is a wonderful and easy recipe activity for little ones. Thanks for sharing.
Irish American Mom
Hi Lisa - Thanks for stopping by to check out this recipe. Keeping it simple is the way to go in my book, but there's plenty opportunities for a little fun and decision making about toppings.
All the best,
Mairéad
kushigalu
My kids would love these. What a fun way to enjoy. Thanks .
Irish American Mom
Hi there - These apples are perfect to make with kids - a great edible craft.
All the best,
Mairéad
Mahy
Oh wow, these are so cute! And I bet they are so fun to make, too.
Irish American Mom
Hi Mahy - These apples really are super cute and easy to make. Thanks for stopping by.
All the best,
Mairéad
Dionne
Well, let me just say that this is the perfect recipe for a kid's party. They will absolutely love it!
Irish American Mom
Hi Dionne - Thanks for stopping by to check out my recipe. Really appreciate your rating.
All the best,
Mairéad
Shashi
This isn't just for the kids - I LOVE these too! So good!
Irish American Mom
Hi Shashi - You can't go wrong with apples and chocolate.
All the best,
Mairéad
Gina Abernathy
Such an easy and tasty recipe. Granny Smith Apples are my favorite apples and then add some chocolate... Fabulous!
Irish American Mom
Hi Gina - Granny Smiths are so cruncy and tart, they're a perfect pairing for sweet chocolate.
All the best,
Mairéad