Pioneer woman apple peanut butter delights are a quick snack made with English muffins, peanut butter and cinnamon-sugar apples, ready in 23 minutes. That makes them a go-to for after-school snacking, game day bites or potluck plates, since the ingredients are all pantry staples.
The step that makes or breaks these is the broiler finish, which caramelizes the cinnamon sugar into a bubbly, crisp crust on top. Skip it and you get warm but soft muffins without that crackling sugar layer that sets them apart.
Ree uses whole wheat English muffins instead of bread, so each piece holds up under the warm peanut butter without going soggy. The thin apple slices soften while the sugar caramelizes around them, giving you something that tastes like apple pie in a fraction of the time.
Pioneer Woman Apple Peanut Butter Delights
Course: AppetizerCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy12
servings5
minutes13
minutes241
kcalToasted English muffin halves spread with creamy peanut butter and topped with thin apple slices, then coated in cinnamon sugar. After baking and a quick broil, everything bubbles into warm, crispy bites.
Ingredients
6 whole wheat English muffins, split
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 apples, cut into thin slices
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Directions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350 degrees so it’s hot and ready while you prep the muffins.
- Spread the peanut butter: Take about 1 tablespoon of creamy peanut butter per muffin half, then smear it over the surface in an even layer.
- Add the apples: Lay thin apple slices on top of each muffin half, overlapping and stacking a few so every bite gets some fruit.
- Make the cinnamon sugar: Stir together the sugar and ground cinnamon in a small bowl, then sprinkle a teaspoon or two over each assembled muffin half.
- Bake: Place the muffins on a cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes, which lets the peanut butter warm through while the muffins lightly toast.
- Broil until bubbly: Switch to broil and move the pan to a lower rack for 2 to 3 minutes. Watch closely, since the cinnamon sugar can go from bubbly to burnt fast.
- Rest and serve: Let them sit for 5 minutes before eating, since the peanut butter and sugar topping will be very hot right out of the oven.
FAQs
Can I use a different nut butter instead of peanut butter?
Almond butter and cashew butter both work here, though almond butter browns a bit faster under the broiler because of its higher fat content. Sunflower seed butter is a good nut-free option if you need one, and it caramelizes the same way.
How long do apple peanut butter delights keep?
They taste best fresh from the oven, since the English muffins start to lose their crunch after about an hour. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days, then reheat under the broiler for a minute to bring back the crunch.
Can I prep these ahead of time and bake later?
You can assemble the muffins with peanut butter, apple slices and cinnamon sugar up to a few hours ahead, then cover and refrigerate. Just add an extra minute or two to the bake time, since they will be starting from cold.
What if I do not have a broiler in my oven?
You can skip the broiler and bake at 400 degrees for the last 3 to 4 minutes instead. The sugar will not caramelize quite as dramatically, but you will still get a bubbly topping that crisps as it cools.
Why did my cinnamon sugar topping not caramelize?
The most common reason is cutting the apple slices too thick, which traps moisture and keeps the sugar from crisping. Slice them thin so the heat gets through to the sugar, and make sure the pan sits close to your broiler’s heating element.
