Apple Chips
For many, September is filled with preparing school and work lunches, and afterschool snacks. The weather is still beautiful so we don’t want to be spending too many of our dwindling daylight hours in the kitchen. Finding tasty, time efficient foods is an important part of making the most of this time. That’s why I love having apple chips at hand, they have minimal ingredients and much of the preparation time is waiting for them to dehydrate. Make a big batch next weekend - you will love them!
Fresh apples from nearby farms are almost ready and this means apple pie, apple sauce, and apple chips. For years, I taught elementary school kids how to grow food and make healthy snacks with EarthBites, a non-profit organization. Apple chips were always both a favourite activity and a favourite snack. Students from Kindergarten to Grade 7 gained hands-on experience with cleaning, cutting, dehydrating, and eating them. At our fall market, these handmade chips were the first to go!
Apple chips are so simple and you don’t need any ingredients except apples. Making them in the fall is my favourite time as interesting varieties are available from farmers markets and apple fairs.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
Apple chips are so simple to make. All you need is 1 ingredient, a slicer, and a way to dry them. So easy, especially if you have a dehydrator! No dehydrator? No problem - I’ve included instructions so you can use your oven.
Delicious snacks for school and work. These are one of the best school/work snacks. No added sugar, delicious, and nutritious. It’s simple to make a big batch and store in a sealed container for a few weeks (if they last that long!).
Ingredient Highlights:
Apples. Apples are high in fibre and antioxidants, and the phytochemicals they contain can help lower inflammation. An apple a day truly does make a difference! According to the study Apple phytochemicals and their health benefits by the Department of Food Science at Cornell University, “The potential health benefits of apples are numerous. Regular consumption of fruits and vegetables, including apples, as part of a healthy diet may aid in the prevention of chronic disease and maintenance of good health.” This study showed that “apples have been found to have very strong antioxidant activity, inhibit cancer cell proliferation, decrease lipid oxidation, and lower cholesterol.”
Apple Peels. Apple peels can help to increase your mineral intake. According to the University of Illinois, apple peels contain important minerals, such as: calcium, potassium, phosphorus, folate, iron. Wash the apples well and cut them with peels. They will look prettier and make for a more nutrient dense snack.
Lemon (optional). Lemons are a good source of vitamin C, an important nutrient that’s been linked to increased immune health. Citrus Flavonoids found in lemons may help to protect against cardiovascular disease. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidant agents (Antioxidants help your body fight off potentially harmful substances in your body).
Spices (optional). Cinnamon is my favourite. I love the warm smell of this spice in my kitchen on a cool fall day. A University of Hong Kong study showed that, of the 26 plants they studied, cinnamon has one of the highest levels of antioxidant capacity. Antioxidants in cinnamon help to relieve inflammation and improve heart health. Using cinnamon in your recipes can help you cut down on sugar use as it has a naturally sweet taste.
Apple Chips
Prep time : 30 minutes
Cook time : 3-5 hours
Total time : 3-6 hours
Servings : 1-4 people, depending on whether or not you want to share!
INGREDIENTS
3-4 ripe, preferably organic apples. Washed and dried, peels left on.
2 tbsp lemon juice (optional)
1 tbsp ground cinnamon (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Slice off the end of the apple then slice the apple into ⅛” rounds. Use a mandolin slicer, a food processor or a sharp knife. The chips turn out best when the rounds are similar thickness.
Cut out the core if desired, or leave it in so your chips have a star formation in the middle. If leaving in the core, pop out the seeds after cutting.
If using, sprinkle and toss the apples in lemon juice.
When you are ready to dry them, pour out the liquid from the bowl. Sprinkle and toss with cinnamon.
Dehydrator: Arrange the apple slices in a single layer in your dehydrator. Turn the dehydrator to 135ºF and leave for 3-5 hours, or until they are dried and as crisp as you desire. Check them every 1-2 hours - your climate, thickness of slices, temperature, and type of dehydrator will dictate how fast they dry.
Oven: Preheat the oven to 200ºF. Arrange the apple slices in a single layer on a parchment paper lined metal baking pan. Bake the apple slices for approximately 1 hour, then flip them and bake for another 1 to 2 hours until the chips are no longer moist.
Apple chips will get crispier as they cool off so don’t wait until they are super crispy before removing them.
Store your apple chips in an airtight container to maintain crispness.
Notes:
Apple Variety. Choose an apple that holds up well in the oven or dehydrator. This usually means a tarter, firmer apple; I like the taste and texture of Gala or Fuji best. Granny Smith will also work. A juicier apple will take longer to dry, and a softer apple may crumble rather than crisp up into a chip.
Washing your Fruit. Washing fruits and vegetables before preparation is a key way to remove any visible dirt or harmful pathogens that may be residing on the fresh produce. Remember to wash your hands before washing your food. In a clean sink. Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on the apple, then rinse them thoroughly with plain running water. Pat the apples dry with a clean towel before cutting.
Peeling Apples. Apple peels contain key vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, as well as both soluble and insoluble fibre. An unpeeled dehydrated apple is much prettier and tastier than peeled.
Slicing Apples. A thinner slice works best as it won’t take as long to get a crisp chip. Use a mandolin or food processor to get even rounds.
Timing and Temperature. Dehydrating apples removes the natural moisture so the two most important factors for a perfect apple chip are refining the time and the temperature for your climate and equipment. Your climate, juiciness of the apple, thickness of the slices, temperature of the oven or dehydrator, and type of dehydrator will dictate how fast they dry. Once you’ve got these worked out - your apple chips will be a tasty staple for you and your family.
Make apple chips this year and let us know how it goes.
I might try my next batch in my new air fryer.
Share what you did. We would love to hear from you!
Krista
xo