~ This Naturally Sweetened Pot o’ Gold Applesauce is such a fun St. Patrick’s Day snack! It’s quick and easy – and so healthy, too! With natural sweetness from a surprising (golden!) mix-in, your kids will love the luck-o-the-Irish twist, and you’ll love all the great nutrition! ~
This Recipe Is: • Ready in 30 Minutes or Less • Vegan (and Vegetarian) • Gluten Free • Paleo •
Ok, story time!
Once upon a time, there were two cute little kids who were staying at a hotel.
It just so happened that it was St. Patrick’s Day, so when the cute little kids and their parents came back from having breakfast, they found multicolored Twizzlers shaped like rainbows … and Rolos, like tiny pots of gold … left for them by leprechauns (a.k.a. the hotel cleaning staff)!
And the two delighted little kids ate the candy and had a happy, magical St. Patrick’s Day (while their mom despaired that their healthy breakfast had just ended with candy). The end.
Just kidding … we’re not at the end (yet)!
Actually, when that little girl (a.k.a. … ahem … ME) grew up a bit and started food blogging, she wondered if there was any way to have a healthfully magical St. Patrick’s Day treat.
She saw all sorts of cute, rainbow-y recipes. But could any of them actually be good for her? (I mean, let’s face it, there’s probably a reason why leprechauns aren’t often portrayed as svelte, shapely little men.)
The little girl (ME!!!) decided to create her own St. Patrick’s Day treat (a.k.a. this Pot o’ Gold Applesauce).
It was both delicious and healthy, and she lived happily ever after.
The end. (Again.)
Oh … but wait … don’t you want some tips on how to make this? Of course you do! Read on …
Watch Out for Unhealthy Applesauce!
Be really careful when you’re buying applesauce at the grocery store. A surprisingly large amount of the brands and varieties out there contain high-fructose corn syrup. We recommend you simply purchase natural, unsweetened applesauce and add flavorings like cinnamon on your own at home.
Making your own homemade applesauce is a great bet, too, so you know exactly what’s in it (psssst … check out our recipe for Easy Homemade Applesauce).
A Surprising Sweetener
In this recipe, we don’t add any sweetener at all, except for golden raisins. Not only do they look like cute little nuggets of leprechaun gold, but they’re also delicious stirred into the applesauce!
Sort of like an apple cobbler made with apples and raisins – the flavors are perfect together, and even we were really surprised by how much yummy natural sweetness the raisins added to the unsweetened applesauce! No need for any other added sugars at all!
Making Your Tiny Decorative Shamrocks
To make those cute little shamrocks that we used for decoration, cut thin (about 1/4″ – 1/2″) vertical slices of green Granny Smith apples. Then, use a sharp (preferably metal), shamrock-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the shamrocks. Our cookie cutter was about 1 3/4″ which was a perfect size!
You can place your little shamrock apples on top of each pot o’ gold or spread them around alongside. Either way, they’re great for nibbling, and you’ll be surprised how fast a lot of nutritious fruit gets gobbled up!
Magical and healthy, too!
Ok, ok … now this is really the end! THE END! (And Happy St. Patrick’s Day!)
More of Our Fun and Healthy St. Patrick’s Day Recipes …
- Healthier Shamrock Shakes
- Shamrock Veggie Skewers
- Healthier Reuben Dip
- Fruit Rainbow with a Pot of Gold (Fun Kids’ Breakfast)
- Rainbow Ribbon Jell-O
![One bowl of applesauce with second in background, with napkin, spoon and green apples surrounding.](https://twohealthykitchens.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pot-o-Gold-Applesauce-square-watermarked-720x720.jpg)
Naturally Sweetened Pot o' Gold Applesauce
Such a fun St. Patrick's Day snack! You'll love that it's quick, easy and healthy. And your kids will love that it's so cute and really yummy!
• Ready in 30 Minutes or Less • Vegan (and Vegetarian) • Gluten Free • Paleo •
Ingredients
- Granny Smith apples, for making shamrock cutouts
- all-natural, unsweetened applesauce
- golden raisins (about 1-2 tablespoons per serving, as desired)
- cinnamon, if desired, for sprinkling
Instructions
- To make decorative shamrocks, cut thin vertical slices of apple (about 1/4" - 1/2" thick). Lay slices flat on cutting board and use a small, sharp, shamrock-shaped cookie cutter (ours was about 1 3/4") to cut out shamrocks.
- Spoon applesauce into serving bowl.
- Sprinkle golden raisins (and cinnamon, if desired) on top. Decorate with apple shamrocks.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 serving (adjust as desired) Serving Size: 1/2 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 96Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 4mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 2gSugar: 20gProtein: 1g
Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only, and may vary depending on your choice of ingredients or preparation. No guarantees are made regarding allergies or dietary needs. Always consult a physician or dietician for specific advice and questions.
What a fun and cute recipe! I make this for my kids and not just on St. Patrick’s Day!
It really is delicious anytime, isn’t it? You don’t have to get all crazy with the shamrock vibe (although that sure is fun around St. Patrick’s Day! 😉 ) – just a great snack any day. I’m so happy to hear you and your kids enjoy it, Jennifer! ~Shelley
Great recipe. I’m surprised how easy it is to make!
Right?!? So yummy and fun, but totally easy! Thank you for the wonderful feedback, Laura – I’m thrilled you enjoyed this recipe! ~Shelley
This was delicious! So easy to make and great for a snack!
Wonderful – so happy to hear it, Noelle! Delicious and easy are two of my main goals for every recipe I publish, so this is high praise, for sure – thank you! ~Shelley
This is such a great recipe, and the kids just love applesauce – what a bonus to have both a fun recipe and so delicious!
I hope it will make your family’s St. Patrick’s Day a little more fun this year, Claudia! It’s definitely not the typical, boring applesauce, that’s for sure! 😉 ~Shelley
What a cute idea for St. Patty’s Day coming up! The bit of golden raisins is a delicious idea too!
Those golden raisins are such a delicious surprise – an extra-sweet pop of flavor! Apples and raisins are always perfect together! 😀 ~Shelley