Dark chocolate apple pops

One of the best parts about being an Aunt is spoiling my 4 nephews and 1 niece.  If you are a reader of my blog, then you know that I make homemade gifts for them frequently.

One week during each summer my nephews and niece who live in the Chicago area, spend a week with my mother and father in law, who live in Iowa.  My in laws plan a " Camping with Grandma and Grandpa" week.

Sleeping in tents.
Fishing.
throwing rocks in the well.
playing with the barn cats

Are all activities the kids enjoy while at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  My son is only 8 months old.  I can't wait until he is old enough to attend " Camp"

Isn't this home just beautiful?  I feel like this house is a classic American " Grandma's house". My mother and father in law truly cherish time with their grand kids, and make some special memories with them here.  This is a fantastic place for the kids to run around care free, like how life used to be.

( Also, if you read my blog, then I must mention to you that HERE is where all the organic vegetables are grown!)

Ok anyways.  back to spoiling my nephews and niece.

My brother and sister in law are very serious about serving their children healthy food.  I wanted to make the kids a special treat, but still respect their parents.

I chose to make Dark chocolate apple pops because they are healthy, delicious and anything that is served on a stick is just fun.

How to make Dark chocolate apple pops.  

1)  Toast almonds. 

2) Cut each apple like the one I cut below.  You will get two apple pops out of each apple.  Cut one slice on each side of the core.  Try not to include the core on your slice.

3) stick a craft stick into each apple slice.  I keep a package of long and thin craft sticks in my kitchen.  I find they are the best to use for items " on a stick"

4) Melt chocolate over a double boiler.  I usually add some butter or shortening to my chocolate. Like in my Tips on dipping cake pops tutorial.   Not this time, as I wanted to respect my brother and sister in law's healthy eating habits.  I melted some dark chocolate over a double boiler and hoped for the best.

5) After dipping each apple in chocolate dip again in the toasted almonds.  


I wanted this treat to be healthy, so I just dipped the top of the apple in chocolate.  I truly believe that less can be more, and in this recipe that is certainly true.

6) brush lemon juice on each apple.  Since I was wrapping these in plastic wrap and bringing them in the cooler all the way to My In law's house, I brushed each apple pop with lemon juice in hopes that the apples would not turn brown.

Wa La!  that is how you make an Apple pop.  What a great little treat for any child or adult that you don't need to fee too guilty about:)