Blue Ribbon Group Caramel Apple Nachos with Nutty Dipping Sauce
Minnesota State Fair Winner
Do you want the story behind these Caramel Apple Nachos with Nutty Dipping Sauce? Read on. I had the pleasure of assisting in judging the Stadium and State Fair Foods competition at the Minnesota State Fair in 2014. It was a blast! All of the entries were delicious, but this recipe really wowed me. The winner Lisa Silmser really hit it out of the ballpark! The apples were so crispy and I could not stop thinking about the nutty dipping sauce. I was excited to make this recipe for my family ASAP, and you will be too after seeing how easy these are to make!
The key to these crispy treats is to cut the apples very thinly. If you have a mandolin slicer, use it!
Preparing the apples is as simple as mixing together cinnamon and sugar, then coating the apple slices with it. Place them on a parchment lined baking sheet and they are ready to pop into the oven.
While the apples bake, mix together the nutty dipping sauce. It’s quick to make, so I let mine sit in the fridge while the apples finished up. I’ll admit that I repeatedly ate spoonfuls of it. I couldn’t resist! It’s that good! And make sure to save any extra dipping sauce. It’s also delicious with freshly sliced apples or even pretzels for the sweet/salty combination.
This Caramel Apple Nachos recipe is so delicious and so simple. You just have to try it! I have no doubt that it will wow you too!
And by the way, if you’re looking for more Minnesota State Fair winning recipes, search for them on our site.
-Crystal
Caramel Apple Nachos with Nutty Dipping Sauce
For Caramel Apple Chips:
1 large Granny Smith apple; washed and dried
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For Nutty Dipping Sauce:
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 225 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice apples as thinly as possible. They should be as thin as a potato chip. (A mandolin slicer makes this job much easier!) No need to core or peel them – just be sure to take out any seeds. Mix sugar and cinnamon together in a medium bowl. Dip apple slices, one at a time in the cinnamon sugar. Flip apple over to cover the other side as well. Place apples in a single layer on the parchment paper. Bake for 1 hour. Remove from oven and turn each apple over using tongs. They will be hot! Bake for 30 more minutes. Do not overcook; apples will crisp up as they cool. Allow to cool completely before removing from the parchment and storing in an airtight container. For Nutty Dipping Sauce: stir together all items until sauce is completely combined. Serve with Caramel Apple Chips.
