Fresh apples turn into a naturally sweet, healthy snack with this easy, oven-dried recipe. It’s perfectly chewy, delicious, and ideal to enjoy year-round.
No matter the season, I’ve always thought of apples as the perfect snack. This traces back to my childhood when I’d find a package of sliced apples inside my school lunch bag. As I got older, those childhood snacks turned a little bit more upscale as I’d spread a layer of creamy peanut butter on each apple slice. Once I started working, I had less time to eat at home and started searching for convenience.
During my grocery store trips, I purchased apple chips and found myself devouring them on the drive home. I realized pretty quickly that it wasn’t very practical, since the price for this convenience was steep. That’s when I decided it was time to start making my own apple chips, in the form of dehydrated apples. Not only is it easy, but it’s a smart way to stock up on this snack.
If you’ve never tried oven-dried apples, you may be wondering what to expect. Will they be too bland? While the experience is quite different than biting into a juicy, crisp apple, they’re actually chewy and even a little bit sweeter. Since there isn’t any moisture (it all gets dried out), the flavor is more concentrated. If you like fruit leather, I think you’ll love dehydrated apples. My kids actually think they’re getting candy when they see a batch come out of the oven. And best of all for my fellow moms, no mess!
How can I customize this recipe?
One of my favorite things about this recipe is how easy it is to play around with different flavors. I recommend starting with this version first, just so you get comfortable with the basic cinnamon flavor and technique. After that, it’s time to get creative. First, you may be wondering if the type of apple matters. Luckily, nearly all apples will work, but I prefer the sweeter ones like Honeycrisp, Gala, and Fuji.
Next, it’s time to play around with flavors. For a dehydrated spiced apple, add a mix of nutmeg, clove, and ginger to the cinnamon. I think you’ll love the extra kick! If you’re craving a sweeter version, lightly brush each apple slice with pure maple syrup before dehydrating. But don’t stop at apples. You’ll quickly realize that you can dehydrate so many fruits. I like mixing up the batch with sliced pears. Since pears often have more moisture, they may take a bit longer in the oven to fully dehydrate.
How do I store leftovers?
If you’re looking for a snack that you can enjoy for a few weeks, you’ve found it! Once they’re out of the oven and cooled off, you’ll want to keep leftovers in an airtight container. They’ll keep at room temperature and are best stored in a cool, dry place (like a pantry). Once you’re ready to enjoy them, there’s no reheating required. Just grab those slices and dig in!
If you think you’ll need more time, dehydrated apples can also be frozen. You’ll want to be extra sure that they’re completely dry before you put them in a freezer bag. If you can, I recommend vacuum sealing so that all of the air is out. While the apples won’t freeze solid, they may lose some of their crunchiness. Once you are ready to thaw them out, let them come to room temperature inside the freezer bag. That will help prevent condensation. If they get too soft, you can re-crisp them in the oven for about 10 minutes on low heat.
Serving suggestions
These delectable dehydrated apples are a dream come true for your kid’s lunch box, or even as an on-the-go snack for the grown-ups. You can pair them with a wedge of cheese or a handful of Toasted Almonds for a satisfying, nutritious snack. For another snack option, chop up the dehydrated apples and toss them into this Granola Recipe. Once you have a batch of the granola, you can add a scoop to your Smoothie Bowl or Açaí Bowl. I love that extra texture and sweetness.
Oven-dried apples have also become a staple at breakfast in my house. I love to crumble dehydrated apples so that I can add them to my bowl of yogurt or oatmeal in the morning. On the weekends, I’m adding them to a stack of Blueberry Greek Yogurt Pancakes or Banana Buttermilk Pancakes With Nutella.
Dehydrated Apples
Ingredients
- 3 large apples
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 225°F.
- Use a mandoline to slice the apples on the thinnest setting. When using the mandoline, start at the bottom and slice through the core. If the seeds don't fall out, use a toothpick to pop them out.
- Line 2 or 3 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Spread the apple slices out on the paper, avoiding any overlap. Sprinkle the cinnamon over the apples.
- Bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, flipping the apples once halfway through, removing them from the oven once they have dried out. If you notice that the apple slices are not dehydrating evenly, you can flip them more than once.
- Let the apples cool on the sheets. The longer they cool, the crispier they will become.
- Store the apples in an airtight jar.
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