Description
These crispy apple chips are made with just one ingredient - apples! Everything else is optional. No dehydrator required - just slice them thin, bake them low and slow, and you'll have an easy, kid-approved snack that's naturally vegan, gluten-free, nut-free and refined sugar-free!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 small apples, skin on (not cored)
- Optional: cinnamon or apple pie spice, a very light dusting
- Optional: very small pinch of salt
- Optional: maple sugar or coconut sugar, for a sweeter version
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°F.
- Using a mandoline (I used the third setting on this mandoline), slice the apples crosswise into rounds about 4 mm thick (slightly thicker than ⅛ inch). Leave the skin on and do not core. Remove any visible seeds. If the apples are too large to fit safely on the mandoline, cut them in half vertically first and slice into half-moons.
- Arrange the apple slices in a single layer on baking sheets without overlapping.
- Leave plain, or add a very light dusting of cinnamon or apple pie spice (dust it through a small fine-mesh strainer for the most even coating) and, if desired, a tiny sprinkle of salt or sugar.
- Bake for about 4 hours, or until crisp. To test, remove one chip and allow it to cool for several minutes. If it crisps as it cools and releases easily from the pan, they are done.
- If they are still soft, return them to the oven and continue baking in 30-minute increments, checking as you go.
- Let cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- Storage: Let the chips cool completely, then store in an airtight container at room temperature. They are most crisp on day one.
- Bake time: This recipe is forgiving. I have accidentally left them in the oven for 5-6 hours, and they were still fine, but I would not intentionally bake beyond about 6 hours.
- Safety: Because of the long bake time, make these on a day when you will be home. Never leave the house with the oven running.
- Apple varieties: Cosmic Crisp, Honeycrisp, and Granny Smith all work well. A combination gives a pretty mix of sweet and tart chips.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American