Learn how to make crispy baked apple chips in the oven for a tasty, sweet snack. This easy recipe uses just 2 ingredients: apples and cinnamon!
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Baked apple chips are a crispy, cinnamony, and comforting snack that is great for any time of the year, especially during the Fall season.
I have always been a bit hesitant to make apple chips at home, but after testing this recipe, I can confirm how easy they are to dehydrate in the oven!
The hardest part of this recipe is being patient while they slowly bake at a low temperature in the oven.
And let me tell you, it is a challenge because the smell wafting from your oven over the course of 2 hours is incredible!
Once these chips are finally done, though, you can play around to your heart's desire. Enjoy these chips as a sweet and crispy snack, or make a delicious and filling meal out of it with vegan fall harvest salad.
Looking to make more apple dishes this fall? Check out dairy-free apple crisp, baked apple cider donuts, and maple Dijon roasted carrots and apples!
Ingredients
All you need to make baked apple chips are apples! Use whatever variety of apples you have on hand. Ambrosia apples are my go-to. They are crisp and sweet, which works great when making chips.
Some other common varieties for making apple chips are gala, fuji, or pink lady. If you're feeling like using a tart apple to make chips, Granny Smith is a great option.
Sprinkling cinnamon over the top of the slices brings out the apple flavor but is completely optional! You could also play around with other fall spices like nutmeg, allspice, and ginger.
The recipe card below includes the full list of ingredients + instructions.
Equipment
As promised, there is no need for a fancy dehydrator, just your regular convection oven.
However, to make slicing the apples quick and easy, I recommend using a mandoline!
I've always been a little intimidated by mandolines, but when making these apple chips, I realized they are actually quite easy to use.
Using a mandoline is a lot less scary if you use a food holder or food guard. So, say farewell to your fear of slicing off your fingertips!
If you're confident with your knife skills, you can chop your apples by hand. The mandoline ensures nice, even slices, though.
Directions with Pictures
Here's a step-by-step guide to baking apple chips in the oven:
- To make apple rings, use an apple corer to remove the core from your apples. Otherwise, skip this step for regular apple chips.
- Use a mandoline to make ⅛” slices perpendicular to the direction of the core. A hole should be at the center of each slice, thus making apple rings!
- Lay the apple slices in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Sprinkle cinnamon on top of the slices, if desired. Bake the apple slices in the oven at 225°F for 90 minutes.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven and flip the slices over. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let them rest on the hot baking sheet for 5 to 10 minutes. The chips will be slightly soft at first but will continue to crisp up.
Top Tips
Apple Slice Thickness
I set my mandoline to the second from the thinnest setting to get the apple slices to be ⅛” thick.
The thinnest setting was almost paper thin, and the apple would not have held up well in the oven.
Thicker than ⅛”, the apple chips would be chewy, which is totally fine if that is what you want to make! But, if you want a crunchy chip that can snap in half, stick to ⅛”.
For an Even Bake
To ensure each chip is crispy and has a chance to dehydrate perfectly in the oven lay the apple rings in an even layer. Don't let the slices overlap!
However, it is okay if the slices are close together and their edges slightly touch because they will shrink while in the oven.
Wait for the Crisp
The timing for dehydrating apple chips in the oven will vary slightly based on the type of apple you use and its moisture content.
If the chips are still not fully hardened after resting for 5 to 10 minutes on the baking sheet, return them to the oven for additional 15-minute increments.
You don’t want to overbake them, though! Be patient and wait for them to crisp up outside the oven!
Ways to Use Apple Chips
These crispy baked apple chips are a great stand-alone snack but can also add sweetness and crunch to other dishes. Here are some ideas:
- Apple Crostini - Get creative with your homemade crostini! Spread tofu ricotta, add caramelized onions, and top it off with crushed apple chips.
- Crunchy Salad Topping - Make a vegan fall harvest salad with spinach, tofu, pepitas, maple Dijon vinaigrette, and apple chips on top.
- Apple Cinnamon Pancakes - Get creative with vegan Bisquick pancakes! Drizzle maple syrup and sprinkle some cinnamon and crushed apple chips for a fall breakfast.
- Homemade Trail Mix - Start with maple vanilla granola, then add crushed apple chips, your favorite nuts, chocolate chips, and pumpkin seeds for the perfect on-the-go snack.
- Dessert Topping - Add them to dairy-free apple crisp or cranberry apple crisp, layered in a parfait, or as a crunchy topping for apple muffins. Or dip these chips in pumpkin pie hummus and chickpea cookie dough!
- Charcuterie Board - Make a vegan cheese board with a mix of sweet and savory elements with apple chips, chickpea chips, tofu ricotta, grapes, and strawberries.
- Apple Nachos - Make a base layer of dried apple chips, then layer with a drizzle of nut butter, melted chocolate, pomegranate arils, coconut flakes, and chocolate chips for a delicious treat or snack.
Storage
Allow your baked apple chips to cool completely before storing them. Then, lay them in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag at room temperature. Homemade apple chips will last several days but are best when eaten immediately.
Recipe FAQ
I used ambrosia apples in this recipe because they are my favorite apple, which I had on hand.
Pink lady, gala, or fuji apples are all excellent choices for making dried apple rings. A tart apple variety like Granny Smith also works.
You can dehydrate apples in the oven! The most important thing is to keep the bake slow and low. That gives the apples plenty of time to dry out.
The moisture content will vary depending on the type of apple you are using. That’s why it is essential to keep an eye on the apples as they are cooking, in case they dehydrate faster or slower than average.
Keep in mind that the chips will not be crunchy right when you take them out of the oven. Let them sit for 10 to 15 minutes; magically, they will have crisped up!
They may need 10 more minutes in the oven if they haven't. Be careful not to overbake them because they will crisp outside the oven.
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How to Make Crispy Baked Apple Chips in the Oven
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Ingredients
- 4 small apples or 2 large apples
- cinnamon for sprinkling on top
Instructions
- To make apple rings, use an apple corer to remove the core from your apples. Otherwise, skip this step for regular apple chips.
- Use a mandoline to make ⅛” slices perpendicular to the direction of the core. A hole should be at the center of each slice, thus making apple rings!
- Lay the slices in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Sprinkle cinnamon on top of the slices, if desired.
- Bake the apple slices in the oven at 225°F for 90 minutes.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven and flip the slices over. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let them rest on the hot baking sheet for 5 to 10 minutes. The chips will be slightly soft at first but will continue to crisp up.
Notes
* The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving. Accuracy will vary on specific ingredients and brands used.
Eileen says
Some came out soft and others crispy
Can you figure that out 🤔
Sarah Pilley says
Hi Eileen! The chips can vary for a couple reasons, but I would say one of the main reasons would be difference in thickness or the slices not being spaced out eough on the pan. I find it really helps to use a mondoline! But, if you already used that, it could be a spot in your oven isn't quite as hot so they aren't baking evenly.