40+ Apple Activities and Snack Ideas For Children 

Apples 🍎 are not just delicious, but they also have several health benefits for children. Apple is a wonderful source of vital vitamins and minerals, along with insoluble fibers, which aid the digestion process. It helps prevent diarrhea in children and makes their bones strong. 

Apple 🍎 is one of the children’s favorite fruits. It is a great ready-to-go snack that can be easily stored and enjoyed. They are also a great canvas for learning and creativity, as evident in the list of activities listed below. 

The aforementioned activities and snacks are inspired by apples and are catered towards strengthening your toddler and preschoolers’ creativity, motor skills, letter recognition, and number recognition skills. 

Amazing Apple Activities for Kids

This fall, you can use the apples you collected at the orchards in a variety of snacks, desserts, creative art projects, and learning exercises with your children.

The aforementioned apple 🍎 activities are catered towards little children and toddlers who are learning the very basics of life. 

Hopefully, you and your child have a lot of participating in these activities and find the snacks mentioned below delicious. 

Apple Tree Q-Tip Counting Activity 

This apple 🍎 tree Q-tip counting activity is meant for preschoolers. This exercise is meant to strengthen your child’s fine motor skills, problem-solving skills, and hand-eye coordination. 

What you need- 

An old shoe box, markers, red paint, scissors, Q-tips, and a shallow plastic container. 

Steps- 

• On a shoebox, draw six to seven apple 🍎 trees with the markers. 
• Write a number between 1 and 7 in the trunks of each tree 🌳. You can write higher numbers for preschoolers who can count more than 10. 
• Poke holes in the foliage of the tree 🌳. 
• Halve the Q-tips and dip them in the red paint. 
• Ask your child to count the number of holes and recognize the number written on the trump, and then ask your child to insert the Q-tips in the holes. 

Chocolate Covered Apples 

Are your kids tired of biting into a plain apple 🍎? Then, they will absolutely love this semi-healthy snack.

What you need- 

Almond or peanut 🥜butter 🧈, milk 🥛 or dark chocolate🍫, rolled oats, salted mini pretzels, and apples. 

Steps- 

• Melt the milk 🥛 or dark chocolate 🍫 in the microwave. 
• While the chocolate is melting, on a serving platter, place a small bowl 🥣 of rolled oats (preferably roasted), almond or peanut 🥜butter 🧈, and salted mini-pretzels. 
• Add the melted chocolate 🍫 to the serving platter. 
• Before serving, slice some apples and serve. 

Apples 🍎 are a great source of protein and natural sugars, both milk 🥛 and dark chocolate contain several micronutrients and antioxidant compounds, and almond and peanut butter 🧈 are a great source of fiber and protein. This snack is perfect for a movie night or an after-school snack. 

Apple Pie Playdough 

With an abundance of apples 🍎 during fall, I am constantly making apple pies and crumbles, which gave me the idea to make apple pie-scented playdough.

My kids love playing with playdough, and they loved playing with it even more when it smelt like their favorite dessert. 

What you need- 

Apple pie spice, boiling water 🚰, flour, salt 🧂, cream of tartar, oil, and red food coloring. 

Steps- 

• In a large mixing bowl 🥣, mix apple pie spice, cream of tartar, salt, and flour. 
• Measure 1 cup of boiling water and add red food coloring and oil to it. 
• Add the liquid to the dry ingredients and mix vigorously. If the mixture seems dry, start adding water slowly. 
• Once the mixture has reached the required consistency, knead by hand and form into a dough ball. Let the dough cool down, after which it is ready to play with. 

Pro tip- 

If you accidentally pour too much water 🚰 into the dough and the dough becomes very sticky, just add flour and mix until the required consistency is achieved. 

ABC Apple Matching Exercises for Preschoolers 

With this simple exercise, your child can improve their letter recognition and fine motor skills. 

What you need- 

Construction paper, 26 small red circular stickers, and a marker. 

Steps- 

• On a large piece of construction paper, draw an apple🍎. 
• With the marker, write the entire alphabet (lowercase) at random. 
• On the red stickers, write the alphabet (uppercase) and give it to your child. 
• Ask your child to match the uppercase letters with the lowercase letters. 

Pro Tip- 

Ask your child to read the letters out loud as they match the letters. 

Visit an Apple Orchard 

Visiting the apple orchard during fall with my kids is one of my favorite things to do. My kids decided to compete with one another to see who could pick the most apples🍎 and by the end of the day, they saw the apples they had picked being used to make apple cider. 

My kids were really fascinated and excited to see the process of making apple cider. 

Candy Apple 

After visiting the apple 🍎 orchard, my kitchen was full of apples. So, I decided to make some candy apples for my children. 

What you need- 

Wooden skewers, fresh apples 🍎, light corn syrup, granulated sugar, water 🚰, red food coloring, and cupcake liners. 

Steps- 

• Line a baking sheet with the cupcake liners. 
• Insert a wooden stick in the center of the apples after washing them. 
• To make the candy, combine three-quarters of a cup of water with a cup of sugar in a medium saucepan. 
• Stir until the sugar has dissolved, and then add half a cup of corn syrup, red food coloring, and a teaspoon of cinnamon. 
• Check the temperature of the candy using a candy thermometer and remove the saucepan from heat once it reaches 300℃. 
• Immediately start coating the apples 🍎in the candy solution and place them in the cupcake liners. 
• The candied apple is ready to be served once the candy has cooled down and is hard. 

Apple Seed Counting Exercise for Preschoolers 

On construction paper, draw several apple🍎 halves and make several black dots in the halves. Ask your child to count the seeds and write the number on the side. 

Apple Oxidation Experiment 

When my oldest son started learning about oxidation at school, the first thought that came to my mind was this experiment that my father made me do with apples🍎. 

What you need- 

Transparent plastic cups, apple slices, water 🚰, baking soda, lemon 🍋 juice, vinegar, and milk of magnesia. 

Steps- 

• Take five plastic cups and place an apple 🍎 slice in each of them. 
• In each cup, add vinegar, lemon 🍋 juice, water, milk of magnesia, and baking soda, respectively. 
• Keep the cups aside for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, ask your child how they believe the apple 🍎 slices will react to the lemon juice, vinegar, milk of magnesia, baking soda, and water 🚰. 
• After 30 minutes, compare their predictions with the results. 

Pro Tip- 

During this experiment, talk to your child about how acidic things slow down the process of oxidation. 

Apple Stamping Activity 

Your toddler will love making a unique artwork with this stamping technique. 

What you need- 

An apple 🍎, construction paper, paint colors, and a paintbrush. 

Steps- 

• Cut an apple in half and ask your child to paint the cut side with their favorite color. 
• Stamp the apple while the paint is still wet and repeat the process with other colors. 

Pro Tip- 

If your kid wishes to create a unique pattern on their apple 🍎, then use a tube of glue to make the pattern and let it dry. Once the glue has dried, it is ready to be used for stamping. 

Apple Tree Cupcakes 

These apple 🍏 tree 🌳cupcakes are perfect to serve at a fall-themed birthday party or Halloween celebration. 

What you need- 

Oreo cookies, green candy melts, chocolate 🍫 cupcakes, vanilla frosting, green food coloring, lollipop sticks, and red M&Ms. 

Steps- 

• Melt the green candy melts in the microwave. 
• Stick a lollipop stick in each Oreo cookie. 
• Dip the cookies into the melted green candy chocolate 🍫 and let it set on a baking sheet with waxed paper. 
• While the candy is still wet, press the red M&Ms on the cookie. 
• To make the green frosting, add a few drops of green food coloring to the vanilla frosting and mix properly. Fill a piping bag with the frosting and pipe the cookies with it. 
• Insert the lollipop sticks with Oreo cookies in each cupcake. 
• Decorate the frosting with the remaining M&Ms. 

Apple Tree Counting Exercises 

Your toddlers will love to learn how to count with this easy exercise. 

What you need- 

Construction paper sheet, red playdough, and markers. 

Steps- 

• Either print or draw apple 🍏 trees on different construction paper sheets. 
• Write a different number on each tree 🌳 trunk. 
• Give your child these sheets along with red playdough and ask them to make the number of apples 🍏written on the sheet. 

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal 

This is an incredibly nutritious breakfast for children. 

What you need- 

Rolled oats, apples 🍏, raisins, milk 🥛, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. 

Steps- 

• Using a box grater, grate an entire apple. 
• Boil some water 🚰 in a pot and lower the heat before adding the rolled oats, grated apples, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. 
• Stir on low heat until the oats have softened. 
• Add milk before serving. 

Pro Tip- To encourage your child to eat their oatmeal, you can ask them to add two toppings of their liking. For instance, my son wanted to eat his oatmeal with M&Ms, while my daughter demanded another fruit. 

Apple Size Assortment Exercise for Preschoolers 

To improve your child’s observation skills and their hand-to-eye coordination, draw different-sized apples 🍏 and cut them. Jumble the flashcards and hand them to your child to assort them in descending and ascending order. 

Apple Toast 

This recipe is perfect for a quick late-afternoon snack. 

What you need- 

Unsalted butter 🧈, bread, cinnamon, honey, and thinly sliced apples. 

• Butter 🧈 both sides of the bread and place on a baking sheet. 
• Place the apple🍏 slices on top and sprinkle some cinnamon. 
• Put the baking sheet in the oven and set on broil for 2 to 3 minutes until the bread is toasted and the apples seem slightly caramelized. 
• Serve with honey or peanut 🥜 butter 🧈. 

Apple Nachos 

Encourage your children to eat healthy with this after-school snack. 

What you need- 

Thinly sliced apples, dark chocolate 🍫 chips, shredded coconut, shaved almonds, and peanut butter 🧈. 

Steps- 

On a serving plate, arrange the apple 🍏 sliced and top it off with the peanut 🥜 butter 🧈, shredded coconut, dark chocolate chips, and shaved almonds. 

Pro Tip- 

If the peanut 🥜 butter is thick, then microwave it with some water 🚰 until its consistency is runny. 

Apple Bagel Snacks 

If your kids like apples 🍏, then they might enjoy this healthy spin on their favorite fruit. 

What you need- 

Apples, almond butter 🧈, and a mixture of seeds and nuts. 

Steps- 

• Using an apple core, remove the core of the apples and slice them into thin circles. 
• Spread almond butter on one side and sprinkle with chopped seeds and nuts. 
• The apple 🍏 bagel slices are ready to be served. 

Pro Tip- 

You can customize this recipe with other toppings and butter 🧈. For instance, I decided to add dark chocolate 🍫 chips to my bagel. 

Apple Rice Pudding 

When my children were infants, I made them this homemade apple 🍏 pudding, which they absolutely loved. 

What you need- 

Applesauce, cinnamon, vanilla yogurt, and leftover cooked rice. 

In a mixing bowl 🥣, mix the rice, yogurt, and applesauce together. Put it in the fridge and take it out 10 minutes before serving. 

Apple Volcano Experiment 

This is a fun science experiment to conduct with your children. 

What you need- 

Apples 🍏, baking soda, an eye dropper, a knife, vinegar, and a large plastic tray. 

Steps- 

• Using a knife and a smooth hollow, the apple. 
• Fill the hole with baking soda and place the apple 🍏 on the baking sheet. 
• Fill an eyedropper with vinegar and drop on the apple. Watch the baking soda react with the vinegar. 

Pro tip- 

While the experiment takes place, try to explain the scientific reaction. 

Apple Number Puzzles 

Improve your child’s number recognition and counting skills with this puzzle. 

What you need- 

Construction paper, markers, and a ruler. 

Steps- 

• Draw several apples 🍏 and cut them in half. 
• Write a bunch of different numbers on half of them. 
• On the other hand, draw apple seeds. 
• Ask your child to count the number of seeds on the paper and match them with the number written on the other apple 🍏 halves. 

Pro tip- 

You can use the same exercise to improve your child’s letter recognition skills. 

Books About Apples for Toddlers and Preschoolers 

Whenever I am reading my children a book or asking them to read a book, I like them to read the book aloud with me.

This is because I have observed that reading a book aloud has helped with their pronunciation, improved their spelling, and their ability to pronounce new words.

I recommend the following apple 🍏-themed children’s books for your children- 

• Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington
• Pat, the Bunny: At the Apple Orchard by Golden Books
• The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall, and, 
• Apples for Everyone by Jill Esbaum.  

Apple Salad 

If you want to make your kids eat something healthy, then try making them this delicious apple 🍏 salad. 

What you need- 

Sliced apples, raisins, cinnamon, baby spinach leaves, chopped nuts and seeds, lemon 🍋 juice, and white grape juice. 

In a large salad bowl 🥣, mix all of these ingredients and refrigerate before serving. 

Apple Sensory Bin 

I have observed that sensory bins are a great way to introduce your children to new sensations, sounds, touches, and colors. 

What you need- 

A shallow plastic container, plastic toy apples 🍏, a bowl 🥣, and water 🚰. 

Steps- 

• Fill the shallow plastic container with water 🚰 and add the toy apples. 
• Ask your child to choose any utensil from the kitchen and to use only that utensil to transfer the apples from the container to the other bowl 🥣. 

If more than two children are participating, challenge them to a race. 

Pro tip- 

If you can find toy apples🍏, then you can paint ping-pong balls red and green and add them to the container. 

Apple Tree Finger Painting Counting Exercise 

With this messy yet fun finger-painting exercise, your child can learn to count and work on number recognition. 

Steps- 

• Draw several apple trees on a piece of paper and write a number underneath each tree 🌳. 
• Ask your child to dip their fingers in red paint and use it to draw as many apples as written under the apple tree 🌳. 

Baked Apple Crumble 

Apple 🍏 crumbles are a simple yet decadent celebration of apples. My children favor the crumble over pies. 

What you need- 

Thinly sliced apples, lemon 🍋 juice, rolled oats, all-purpose flour, sugar, cinnamon, unsalted butter 🧈, and vanilla extract. 

Steps- 

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. 
• Use softened butter to grease a baking pan. 
• Cover the baking pan with apple 🍏 slices and add lemon🍋 juice and two teaspoons of sugar. Mix it together. 
• In a mixing bowl 🥣, mix one and a quarter cups of rolled oats, half a cup of all-purpose flour, one-third of a cup of sugar, a teaspoon of cinnamon, half a teaspoon of vanilla extract, and six tablespoons of room temperature unsalted butter 🧈. Mix until combined. 
• Spread an even layer of the oats mixture on the apple 🍏and put the baking sheet in the oven. 
• Let it cook for at least 35 to 40 minutes or until the oats mixture has a deep golden brown appearance. 
• Serve at room temperature with vanilla ice cream 🍦 or whipped heavy cream.

Paper Plate Apple Caterpillar Craft 

Your kids will have a lot of fun making this cute craft. 

What you need- 

Paper plate, googly eyes, marker, scissors, glue, yarn, a bottle cap, box cutter, paint, paintbrush, and construction paper. 

Steps- 

• Draw an apple 🍏 on a paper plate. Cut it with scissors and paint it red. 
• Use the bottle caps to make 3 to 4 holes in the apple and cut it with a box cutter. 
• Run the yard through the holes. 
• Draw a caterpillar on construction paper and cut it with scissors. Glue them on top of the yarn. Also, glue the googly eyes on the caterpillar. 

Apple Butter 

Combine the goodness of butter 🧈 with the deliciousness of apple 🍏. This apple butter 🧈 pairs wonderfully with sweetbreads and tea cakes. 

What you need- 

Apple cider vinegar, chopped apples, water 🚰, brown sugar, ground cloves, and cinnamon. 

In a blender, blend peeled, chopped apples, a quarter cup of water 🚰, and apple cider vinegar. Add the blended apples to a saucepan and cook on low heat with cinnamon and cloves until the apples 🍏 have thickened. Let it cool and refrigerate. 

Breakfast Apple Squares 

These apple 🍎 squares are a fulfilling and nutritious addition to your child’s breakfast. 

What you need- 

Unsalted butter 🧈, egg 🥚, vanilla extract, chopped apple 🍎, chopped walnuts, white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt 🧂, baking powder, and all-purpose flour. 

Steps- 

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 
• Grease the baking pan with butter. 
• In a large mixing bowl 🥣, sift 1 cup of all-purpose flour and a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon and salt. 
• In another small mixing bowl, mix two tablespoons of white sugar with two teaspoons of cinnamon. 
• Combine an egg🥚, half a cup of sugar, room-temperature butter🧈, and brown sugar in the stand mixer. 
• Slowly start adding the flour mixture. Once the flour is completely mixed, add the chopped apples 🍎 and walnuts. 
• Spread this mixture in the baking pan and garnish with the cinnamon sugar. 
• Bake for at least 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown.
• Let it cool, and then cut it into equal squares. 

Apple Tasting Party 

Did you know that there are about 7000 varieties of apples 🍎 grown around the world? My children were shocked to hear this fact and wanted to try different kinds of apples 🍎.

So, I decided to organize a taste test for them, and we compared the flavors, textures, and colors of the following apples- Red delicious, Golden Delicious, McIntosh Red, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, and Rome Beauty. 

Pro Tip- 

You can serve the bananas with peanut 🥜 butter 🧈, chocolate sauce, and caramel for dipping. 

Apple Bubble Foam Sensory Bin 

Kids love to play with bubbles, so they’ll really enjoy themselves with this activity. 

What you need- 

Plastic apples, shallow plastic container, kitchen sponge, water 🚰, and bubble bath. 

Steps- 

• Fill a plastic container with water and bubble bath mixture. 
• Add the plastic apples 🍎 to the top. 
• Ask your child to play with the apples in the tub and the kitchen sponge. 

3D Apple Structures 

With this simple exercise, you can strengthen your child’s fine motor skills and even teach them a thing or two about engineering and design. 

What you need- 

Plastic table cover, chopped apples🍎 , and a toothpick. 

Ask your child to build an apple structure with chopped apples 🍎 and toothpicks. 

Hot Buttered Apple Cider 

This is the perfect drink for a cozy fall night. 

What you need- 

Brown sugar, apple 🍎 cider, grated nutmeg, and butter 🧈. 

Steps-

• In a saucepan, melt a tablespoon of butter with two tablespoons of brown sugar. 
• Once the butter 🧈 has melted, add a cup of cider and let the mixture come to a boil. 
• Remove from heat and serve hot with some fresh grated nutmeg on top. 

Pro Tip- 

Adjust the recipe according to the number of people you are making it.  

Apple Fruit Leather 

Apple 🍎 fruit leather is a delicious addition to your child’s lunchbox. 

What you need- 

Apples, lemon 🍋 juice, water 🚰, cinnamon, brown sugar, salt 🧂, potato masher, slow cooker, baking tray, silicone liner, parchment paper, and kitchen scissors. 

Steps- 

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. 
• Peel and dice the apples 🍎. Place them in the slow cooker. 
• Add one tablespoon of lemon juice, one cup of water 🚰, one-third a cup of brown sugar, a quarter teaspoon of salt, and one teaspoon of cinnamon. 
• Cook until the apples are cooked through, and mash the apples with the potato mashers. 
• Place the silicone liner on the baking tray and spread a thin layer of the apple 🍎 sauce on the silicone liner 
• Place in the oven until the applesauce has dehydrated. 
• Remove the baking tray from the oven and let it cool down. Use the kitchen shears to cut the leather into one-inch strips. 

Pro tip- 

If your children are not into fruit leather, then they might enjoy the applesauce as it is. 

Investigate an Apple with Your Child 

Cut into an apple 🍎and ask your child to observe the parts of the apple like the stem, sore, and seeds.

While investigating the apple, you can talk to your child about the lifecycle of an apple, where it grows, and the growth stages of the apple 🍎 and the apple trees 🌳. 

Apple Smoothie 

If you want to ensure that your kids are eating healthy stuff, then there is nothing better than a delicious smoothie. 

What you need- 

Greek yogurt, fresh apple 🍎, maple syrup, apple sauce, chia seeds, and almond butter 🧈. 

Steps- 

• In a blender, add yogurt, applesauce, sliced apple, almond butter 🧈, chia seeds, and maple syrup. 
• Blend until the smoothie has reached your required consistency. 
• Serve in a reusable pouch or a straw cup for your toddler. 

Teach your child fractions with printable fractions 

On a large construction paper, draw an apple 🍎 and cut it with scissors. Cut them into equal sections and help your child learn fractions. 

Apple Cider Floats 

My kids loved this apple 🍎 version of the ice cream 🍦 float. 

What you need- 

Vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, apple cider, apple sliced, and cinnamon. 

• In a tall serving glass, add one or two scoops of ice cream 🍦, a couple of apple slices, and some cinnamon. 
• Before serving, pour the apple cider and garnish with apple 🍎 slices and caramel sauce. 

Apple Roll-Ups 

If you are making egg 🥚 rolls for dinner but have several leftover wrappers, then make this quick and delicious dessert for your kids. 

What you need- 

Chopped fresh apple, cinnamon, white sugar, egg 🥚 roll wrappers, butter 🧈, water 🚰, milk 🥛, and white sugar. 

Steps- 

• In a mixing bowl 🥣, mix the chopped apples 🍎, a teaspoon of cinnamon, and a quarter cup of white sugar. 
• Grease a baking sheet with butter 🧈 and lay the egg 🥚roll wrappers on it. 
• With a brush, lightly butter the sides of the wrapper and put some of the apple 🍎 mixture in it. Fold the wrapper on the filling. 
• Brush the egg 🥚roll with milk 🥛 and sprinkle some sugar on top. 
• Bake in a preheated oven at 375 Fahrenheit for 15 to 20 minutes or until the egg 🥚rolls are golden and crispy. Let it cool down and serve. 

Organize an Apple Hunt 

Hide plastic apple 🍎 toys and paper apples around your home and backyard, and ask your child to find them all. This activity offers a lot of physical exercise to your children. 

Apple Slushy Cooler 

This is the perfect apple 🍎 drink on a hot summer’s day. 

What you need- 

Frozen apple cider cubes, lemon 🍋 juice, and a quarter cup of water 🚰. 

In a blender, add the apple cider cubes and water 🚰 and mix until the desired consistency is achieved. Squeeze lemon juice and fresh mint leaves before serving. 

Apple Slime 

Teach your child how to make apple-inspired slime with this easy exercise. 

What you need- 

Clear school glue, saline solution, water 🚰, red food coloring, red glitter, and baking soda. 

Steps- 

• In a mixing bowl 🥣, mix half a cup of glue and half a cup of water 🚰 with a wooden spoon. 
• Add a few drops of red food coloring and red glitter to the bowl. 
• Add the baking soda and saline solution to the bowl 🥣 and knead until the slime is formed. 

Apple and Cheese Quesadilla 

This quesadilla is the perfect after-school snack. 

What you need- 

Sliced apples 🍎, grated cheddar cheese 🧀, and a tortilla. 

Steps-

• Heat up a griddle. 
• Take a tortilla, put sliced apples and grated cheese on one half of the tortilla, and fold the tortilla over the filling. 
• Put the tortilla on the griddle and cook until the cheese 🧀 has melted. 

Bobbing Apples 

This spin on a classic fair game is meant for toddlers to strengthen their hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and fine motor skills.

Fill a bathtub or large plastic container with water 🚰 and add plastic apples 🍎 to it. Ask your child to pick a kitchen utensil and to just use that to pick the apples. 

Pro tip- 

If more than one kid is playing, give each kid a separate container and challenge them to pick the most apples with their chosen utensil in under a minute. 

Oven Dried Apples 

My kids loved prepping for this snack and really enjoyed eating the chips as well. 

What you need- 

Apples🍎, lemon 🍋 juice, and cinnamon. 

Steps- 

• Place a silicone mat on a baking sheet and preheat the oven to the lowest temperature. 
• Meanwhile, help your children remove the core of the apples 🍎 and peel them. 
• Cut the apples in your desired shape; the thinner, the better. 
• Place the apple slices in a single layer on the baking sheet and sprinkle some lemon 🍋 juice and cinnamon on top. 
• Put the baking sheet in the oven and let it cook until the slices have dried. 

The chips can be eaten with Greek yogurt and other dips. 

Conclusion 

With fall around the corner, a wide variety of apples can be found in convenience stores and major supermarkets.

These apples 🍎 have inspired me to create a number of activities and learning lessons that will not only be engaging and entertaining for your children but will also help them practice recognizing letters and numbers. 

Hopefully, your kids will have a lot of fun with these activities. Sound off in the comments down below which activity and snack was your child’s favorite.