Dried Apples (in the Oven)
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Naturally sweet with just the right amount of crunch, apple chips are a simple snack to make at home!
Crispy, crunchy apple chips are one of our favorite snacks. And, they are SO easy to make (which is great because we fly through them!). Keep reading for all our tips on making the most delicious dried apples in the oven—no special equipment required!
If you do own a food dehydrator, pop over to this post for instructions for dehydrating apples.
What types of apples are best for apple chips?
You can dry any type of apple! It’s important to know that the flavor of the apple will concentrate when it has been dried—so super tart or super sweet apples will be intensified. Some apples (like Fuji) are more prone to browning, but that is just an aesthetic thing.
Choose firm and crisp apples with no soft or mealy spots. Some of our favorite varieties for apple chips are:
- Honeycrisp
- Pink Lady
- Cosmic Crisp
- Koru
- SweeTango
- Jazz
- Jonagold
- Braeburn
Prepping apples for drying
- Clean the apples: Thoroughly wash the apples and dry them with a towel.
- Optional: Remove the seeds and core. An apple corer is helpful for this, but a paring knife will also work. The skins can be left on.
- Slice the apples: Using a mandoline or a sharp knife, thinly slice the apples—about 1/8” thick. You can cut the apple into rings or slices.
- Pretreating the apples will help prevent them from turning brown. To do this, mix 4 cups (1qt) water with 2 tablespoons of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) powder, or equal parts water and lemon juice, and soak the sliced apples for 3-5 minutes.
- Optional: Sprinkle cinnamon (and maybe a touch of sugar for tart apples) over the apple slices to make cinnamon apple chips.
How to dehydrate apples in the oven
- Preheat your oven to 170℉, or the lowest temperature it will go. The low temperature is what helps ensure the apples turn out crispy—so fight the urge to crank up the heat and rush things.
- Arrange the apple slices on lined baking sheets. Make sure they don’t overlap, so they will dry evenly. Use a silpat or parchment paper to line your sheets.
- Bake them for 3+ hours or until they are crisp and dry. Occasionally open the oven door to let the moisture escape.
How to tell when apple chips are done
Once the apples are done drying, they should snap when bent. Take a few pieces out of the oven, let them cool completely, and then test.
Storage tips
Removing the moisture from the apples during the dehydrating process means they will be shelf-stable for several weeks if properly stored. They might lose a bit of their crispiness over time, though. In any event, we find that these hardly last longer than a week in our house before they get gobbled up!
Let the apples cool completely before storing them in air-tight containers in a cool, dark place like your pantry. If you live in a particularly humid place, you can add a moisture-absorbing desiccant packet for longer storage.
Ingredients
- Apples
- Optional: Cinnamon or sugar for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 170℉ (or the lowest temperature it will go).
- Thoroughly wash and dry the apples.Optional: Remove the seeds and core.
- Thinly slice the apples (about 1/8″ thick).
- Optional: Pretreat the apple slices by soaking them in a mixture of water and ascorbic acid powder or lemon juice for 3-5 minutes to help prevent browning.
- Arrange the apple slices on lined baking sheets, making sure they don't overlap.Optional: Sprinkle with ground cinnamon and a touch of sugar.
- Bake the apple slices in the oven for 3+ hours, or until they are crisp and dry. Occasionally open the oven door to let the moisture escape.
- Once the apple chips are dry, let them cool completely before storing them in airtight containers in a cool, dark place.