Is eating healthier one of your New Year's resolutions? Then these Apple Chips will be perfect for you to survive snack time.
Unlike my previous home-made apple chips recipe, this one has no refined sugar at all.
I made two different versions. The baking/drying method is the same for both. For one, I left the apples plain, as they were for entirely-natural apple chips. For the second kind, I was inspired by my friend Erin from Texanerin Baking, and I made them cinnamon-maple flavored. Can I just say - Oh YUM!
I love to make alterations to recipes and to try out new things. These apple chips are no exception. That is, making a batch of all-natural chips, and making a batch with cinnamon and maple. One of the great things about baking is the ability to be creative. Everything is your creation as a baker, and this flexibility and sense of ownership is certainly one of the pros of being a student of the kitchen.
Using the Apples I Have to Make Delicious Apple Chips
My parents gave us a big box full of these small, red, soft apples when we visited them over Christmas. They are lucky enough to live surrounded by orchards in the Okanagan Valley and scored these for us during apple harvest. Don't ask me what exact kind they are though. Maybe someone with more apple knowledge can enlighten me?
All I know is that these apples worked perfectly to make apple chips. I also tried a tray of crisper, tart Granny Smith apple chips, but they took quite a bit longer to crisp up and I wasn't a huge fan of the tart flavor in the dried chips. What kind of apples you use is totally up to you in the end. Enjoy this simple, yet fabulous recipe!
Recipe adapted from Texanerin
Healthy Baked Apple Chips
Ingredients
- Apples
- 3 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250 F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat.
- If you are making flavored apple chips, combine maple syrup and cinnamon.
- Thinly slice apples using a good sharp knife or a mandolin. Pop out the seeds, if necessary.
- Place slices of 3-5 apples in a large bowl and carefully combine with cinnamon-maple mixture, if desired.
- Lay out the apple slices on prepared pan - just slight overlapping is ok.
- Bake apple chips for 1.5 to 2 hours. The cinnamon-maple chips took closer to 2 hours for me, while the plain chips where done sooner.
- Flip the slices once in a while (about every ½ hour). I opened the oven door to let out moisture, whenever I noticed a lot of steam escaping the oven vent.
- The apple chips will only crisp up completely once they cool. Take one out to cool on the counter. If it doesn't crisp up enough, return to oven.
- Store in an airtight container or plastic bag for a few days. After that chips will soften again.
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Random Questions
Yes, apple chips are a healthy snack option. They are made from apples, which are naturally low in calories and high in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. However, the healthiness can depend on how they are prepared. Baking apple chips without adding sugar or excessive fats makes them a healthier choice.
Dried apple chips are generally considered healthy. The drying process removes the water content, concentrating the nutrients. However, it's essential to ensure that they are dried without added sugars or unhealthy ingredients.
Apple chips are healthy because they retain many of the nutritional benefits of fresh apples, such as fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. They are a convenient way to enjoy the natural sweetness and crispness of apples without added unhealthy elements.
Apple chips might not turn out crunchy if they are not sliced thinly enough or if they contain too much moisture. To achieve crispness, ensure your apple slices are thin and evenly spaced on the baking sheet. You may need to bake them longer at a low temperature to remove moisture and achieve the desired crunch.
Both air frying and dehydrating can be used to make apple chips. The choice depends on your preference. Air frying typically produces crispier chips quickly, while dehydrating results in a chewier texture but retains more nutrients. Either method can be healthy if you avoid adding excess sugar or fats.
To cut apples for chips, wash and core the apples first. Then, thinly slice them into rounds or rings. The thickness should be consistent for even baking or dehydrating. A mandoline slicer can help achieve uniform slices.
To dry apples quickly, you can use an oven or an air fryer. Set your appliance to a low temperature, around 200°F (93°C), and place the apple slices on a baking sheet or in the air fryer basket. Keep an eye on them, as drying time can vary. For a faster process, use a dehydrator specifically designed for drying fruits.
Revathi Palani
What a lovely healthy snack. I don't like eating apples. I now know what to do to make myself eat my share of apples 🙂
Regina
Yes, chips are a great intro to apples 🙂
cj
Nice - Would love to share with all my foodie friends - If you're interested then head over to FoodFotoGallery dot com and submit one of your food photos
Erin @ Texanerin Baking
Oh boy. What a surprise! Thanks for the link. 🙂
I'm so happy that you liked them! And yeah... I didn't realize your parents weren't in Germany when I made that comment on IG. Whoops. 😉
And these pictures are gorgeous! Amazing job.
Regina
Yeah, I moved to Canada with my parents over 6 years ago, but my mom definitely made sure to bring all her quality kitchen items with her 😉
Thanks so much for your kind comment on the photos. After 2 months hiatus I feel like I forgot everything about food photography, but the lighting was really in my favor and I feel I just got 'lucky' 🙂