Apple Slice “Doughnuts” – No Bake Preschool Snack
When apples are in season this is an easy recipe to make with your little ones: slice, core, spread and decorate. I do the apple slicing; my little kids handle the spreading and decorating and we all enjoy. You can use peanut butter or chocolate hazlenut spread (like Nutella), or keep it school-safe with seed butter or cream cheese for a lighter “doughnut”. So here you go my kids favourite easy no bake apple slice “donuts”.
Apple “Donuts” for Preschoolers
If you are going to make these you want to pick a crisp variety or apple e.g. Gala, Braeburn or Pink Lady, so the rings keep their shape. If you don’t have an apple corer, the wide end of a metal piping tip works brilliantly to make the hole. Peanut butter gives a classic “iced” look, cream cheese or thick yoghurt gives a pale glaze, and seed butter keeps it school-safe. Toppings can be as simple as oats and a dusting of cinnamon if you want to keep the sugar low. But a few sprinkles, chocolate chips are great for an occasional treat.
Apple “Doughnuts” Ingredients
- 2 medium apples (see note above for my recommended types)
- Smooth peanut butter or chocolate spread
- Optional swaps: sunflower seed butter / pumpkin seed butter / cream cheese / thick Greek-style yoghurt
- Toppings: rainbow sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, granola (or oats), dried fruit (raisins/sultanas)
Equipment: chopping board, sharp knife (adult), small round cutter or wide piping tip (to core), blunt/child-safe knives, small bowls for toppings.
Similar Ingredient Recipe: Monkey Apple Slices
How to Make your Apple Slice “Donuts”
1. Slice a thin piece off the top of each apple, then cut each apple into 4–5 thin rounds.
2. Use a small round cutter (or wide piping tip) to remove the centre so each slice looks like a ring.
3. Spread peanut butter or hazelnut spread over each ring.
4. Decorate with sprinkles, mini chips or granola. Serve straight away.
Kids can help
Your little ones can help out by spreading the topping with a blunt knife, sprinkle/decorate, count rings, make patterns. Don’t expect perfection and do expect them to get messy!
Adult jobs: slicing and coring.
Supervision & safety: knives with adults only; check nut policies if serving outside home. Rings are thin and easy to bite, but always supervise while eating.
Substitutions & variations
Nut-free: sunflower seed or pumpkin seed butter; or cream cheese/yoghurt for a pale “iced” look.
Dairy-free: use seed or nut butters; dairy-free sprinkles/chips.
Lower-sugar: use toasted oats or crushed plain cornflakes instead of sprinkles; add a dusting of cinnamon.
Allergy note: hazelnut spread contains tree nuts; sprinkles can contain colourings – choose what suits your family.
Make-ahead & storage
Best eaten immediately. To prep: soak apple rings in lemon water (1 tbsp lemon to 250 ml water) for 1–2 minutes, pat dry, refrigerate up to 4 hours, then spread and decorate just before serving.
More Apple Recipes to Make with Kids
Apple Activities for Kids
Apple Slice “Doughnuts” (No-Bake)
Ingredients
- 2 medium apples
- Smooth peanut butter or hazelnut cocoa spread as needed
- Toppings: rainbow sprinkles mini chocolate chips, granola as needed
Instructions
- Slice the top from each apple, then cut each apple into 4–5 thin slices.
- Use a small round cutter or the wide end of a piping tip to cut out the centre of each slice.
- Spread peanut butter or hazelnut spread over each slice, then decorate with sprinkles, mini chocolate chips or granola.