Baked Cinnamon Apple Chips
In short: Thin apple slices dusted with cinnamon and dried in a low oven until crisp. A crunchy, fat-free snack that keeps well in a jar. It takes about 2 h 10 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 1 h 50 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 2 h 10 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 80 kcal
Apple chips are the crisp, sweet snack that tastes like a treat but is just fruit. The trick is slicing the apples very thin and drying them slowly at a low temperature, so the moisture leaves without browning the slices. A light dusting of cinnamon is enough flavor. They shrink a lot in the oven, so three apples make a modest batch, and a jar disappears fast in a lunchbox.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 100°C (210°F). Line two baking trays with baking paper.
- Core the apples, then slice them crosswise as thinly as you can, ideally 2 to 3 mm (1/10 inch), using a mandoline or a sharp knife.
- Drop the slices into the lemon water for 1 minute, then drain and pat them very dry with a clean towel. Wet slices steam instead of drying.
- Lay the slices in a single layer on the trays without overlapping. Dust them lightly with the cinnamon.
- Bake for 1 hour, then flip the slices and swap the trays top to bottom. Bake for another 45 to 60 minutes, until the edges curl and the slices feel dry.
- Turn off the oven and leave the chips inside for 30 minutes with the door closed. They crisp up as they cool. Store in an airtight container.
Tips
- Slice thickness matters most. Slices thicker than 4 mm stay chewy in the middle, so if your chips turn leathery, return them to the oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Use a firm apple with a sweet-tart flavor. Very soft varieties go brittle at the edges and stay leathery in the center. Add a pinch of ground ginger or cardamom for variety.
Questions and answers
Why are my apple chips chewy instead of crisp?
The slices were probably too thick or still damp. Slice thinner, pat the slices dry and let the chips cool fully, because they crisp as they cool.
How long do homemade apple chips stay crisp?
In an airtight container at room temperature they stay crisp for about 1 week. If they soften, re-crisp them at 100°C (210°F) for 10 minutes.
Do I need a mandoline to make apple chips?
No, but it gives even slices. With a knife, steady the apple on a flat cut side and slice as thin as you can. Remove the thinner chips from the oven first, since they dry faster.
How long does it take to make Baked Cinnamon Apple Chips?
About 2 h 10 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 1 h 50 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Baked Cinnamon Apple Chips?
About 80 kcal per serving, with 1 g of protein, 21 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 80 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 21 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 15 g |
| Sodium | 2 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
