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These homemade apple chips are the perfect healthy snack for the whole family. Simple and easy to make, you can dehydrate your apple chips in your oven or in the air fryer. Seasoned with cinnamon, they are naturally sweet with no added sugar.
If you’re into snacks that are both tasty and good for you, these homemade apple chips are worth a try. You only need apples and a sprinkle of cinnamon, so they’re super simple. You can make them in the oven or, if you’re in a hurry, the air fryer works too. Either way, they come out crisp and just the right amount of sweet. Perfect for snacking on a movie night or adding to your kids’ lunch bags.
Why you’ll love these oven baked apple chips
- A healthier alternative: Ditch the store-bought chips packed with preservatives. These apple chips give you that satisfying and addictive crunch, minus the chemicals.
- No dehydrator needed: Unlike many dried fruit snacks, you don’t need any fancy equipment for these. Your good old oven or your air fryer is all you need to get that perfect crisp.
- Budget-friendly treat: Apples are often easy on the wallet, especially in season. This means you can whip up a batch of these chips without breaking the bank.
- Versatile serving options: They’re not just for snacking. Top off your morning oatmeal, toss apple chips into a salad, or pair with some cheese for a fancy snack plate. The possibilities are endless!
Ingredients & tools To Make Apple chips
- Apples: What are the best apples for apple chips? Opt for apples that are naturally sweet so there’s no need to add sugar. Honeycrisp, pink lady, fuji and gala work very well in this recipe.
- Cinnamon: This is such a great complement to apples. You can also add a pinch of nutmeg if you’d like!
- Apple corer: An apple corer is the easiest way to remove the tougher core of the apple. You can make these without removing the core if you prefer, and just slice them.
- Mandolin or Sharp Knife: A mandolin is a quick and easy way to cut the apple into thin slices. You can also use a knife, but try to make them as thin as possible so that they crisp up.
How to make Apple Chips
prepare the apples
- Core the apples if preferred and slice thinly.
- Toss the apple slices in the cinnamon to coat.
cook in the oven
- Place the apple slices on a lined baking sheet.
- Bake until crispy and let cool on a baking rack to crisp even more.
cook in the air fryer
- Place the apple slices into the air fryer basket.
- Cook until crispy, flipping a few times and allow to cool.
Tips for making the best apple chips
- Make sure to thinly slice the apples. Using a very sharp knife or a mandolin will help with this and the thinness of the apple slices is what helps them get crisp.
- Don’t crowd the air fryer or the baking dish. Some overlap is ok, especially in the air fryer, but keep them apart allows for more crisping.
- Skip the oil. There’s no need to add oil whether you’re baking in the oven or air frying the apple chips. The oil adds moisture and because of the long cooking time and low heat, it can slow down the crisping process.
- Don’t skip the cooling process. When the apples are done cooking, whether in the oven or the air fryer, make sure to place them on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes. When the cool air circulates around the thin apple chips, it helps them firm up and become more crisp.
Popular substitutions & additions
- Try different spices. You can always use nutmeg, pumpkin spice, or even a pinch of cardamom for a different flavor profile. You could even go savory with a sprinkle of rosemary or thyme.
- Honey or maple drizzle. If you want a touch of added sweetness, drizzle a bit of honey or maple syrup over the apple slices before you bake or air fry them. It caramelizes slightly, giving a richer flavor.
- Toss in some nuts. After your baked apple chips are done, mix them with some almonds or walnuts for added crunch and protein. Makes for a more filling snack!
- Add a dash of sea salt. To balance the sweetness, you can sprinkle a tiny bit of sea salt over the slices before they go into the oven or air fryer.
How to store Apple Chips
Once your apple chips have completely cooled to room temperature, transfer them to an airtight container or zip-top bag. Keep the container in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. They will keep well for around a week.
If your oven apple chips lose some of their crispness over time, you can bring them back to life. Simply place them on a baking sheet and pop them into your oven preheated to 300°F for about 5 minutes. They’ll come out as crispy as day one!
Frequently asked questions
Both oven baking and air frying result in crispy sweet apple chips. Oven baking takes longer, around 3 hours, and air frying will only take around 15 minutes, but you can cook larger quantities in the oven. Whichever way you make them, they’ll turn out delicious!
Look for sweet apples so that the apple chips taste sweetened without adding any sugar. Varieties like Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji or Golden Delicious work well. You can also opt for a tart choice like Granny Smith if you don’t prefer sweet apple chips.
A little cinnamon works wonders with these apple snacks, and other spices like nutmeg or cloves would work great too. You can of course enjoy them plain of you prefer.
No, you don’t have to. The peel actually adds some extra fiber and color. But if you’re not a fan of the texture, feel free to peel them.
If your homemade apple chips are chewy, they might have been sliced a bit too thick or not baked long enough. Next time, aim for consistent thin slices and ensure they are fully dehydrated in the oven or air fryer. Remember, they’ll also crisp up a bit more as they cool.
Pears, bananas, and even kiwi can be turned into deliciously crispy chips. However, you will need to adjust your bake or air-fry time depending on the moisture content of the fruit.
These homemade apple chips are a snack you’ll want to keep on hand! Not only are they simple to make, but they also offer a healthier alternative to many store-bought options. They highlight the genuine flavor of apples without added preservatives. Whether you make them on the oven or the air fryer, you’ll always end up with a crisp, satisfying treat!
More air fryer recipes:
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Breaded Air Fryer Chicken
- Air Fryer Salmon
- Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
- Air Fryer Potatoes
- Air Fryer Tofu
- Air Fryer Popcorn
- Air Fryer Chickpeas
- Air Fryer Baked Potato
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Apple Chips
Ingredients
- 2 apples like honeycrisp or pink lady
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Use an apple corer to core the apples if you prefer. Then using a very sharp knife or a mandolin, slice the apples widthwise into ⅛ inch thickness.
- Transfer the apple slices to a large bowl and sprinkle with cinnamon. Toss well to combine.
For Oven
- Preheat oven to 200°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Arrange the apples in a single layer on the prepared baking sheets. Bake in the preheated oven until the apples are crisp to the touch, about 3 hours, flipping halfway through.
- Transfer the apples to a wire rack and allow to come to room temperature, which will help them get more crisp.
For Air Fryer
- Preheat oven to 300°F.
- Arrange the apples in a single layer in the air fryer, being careful not to overlap them. Air fry until they are crisp to the touch, about 15 minutes, flipping a few times.
- Transfer the apples to a wire rack and allow to come to room temperature, which will help them get more crisp.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Tried it last night and my kid asked me to have it in his lunch box every day. So yummy
Wow, thanks for sharing that with me, so happy he loved them!
I made a batch plain and one with cinnamon and powdered ginger (amounts can vary with your preference.) Both were delicious–much better than expensive store-bought.
Tip: Time the baking carefully. If you overdo they will have to be soaked to remove from cookie sheet or basket! Next time I will pay more attention and line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
Homemade really makes a difference! Great tip.
These were good! I cut some slices thick and they were dried apples instead of chips which were delicious!
Thank you! Two in one!
I only have a one-ring gas burner anything I can make healthy and late at night when I am hungry?
thanks
If you go to my recipes, you can filter by method to find recipes you can make with what equipment you have on hand!