Baked apple chips are super easy, crisp, and healthy! A spiralizer makes slicing the apples a breeze and ensures they're of a consistent thinness. A simple shake of cinnamon and sugar are all you need to flavor this snack favorite.
Do you know those bags of packaged apple chips that hang around end caps in the produce department? The ones that are light as air and have approximately two servings per bag? I love those, and most of the time I blow past the suggested serving size altogether. Lalalalalasingleservingbaglalalala, that kind of thing.
Problem is, the fact that each bag costs a couple of bucks does not mesh well with the voracity of my apple chip cravings, ESPECIALLY this time of year when your social media channels are jammed with apple picking pictures and cinnamon is sprinkled on damn near everything. It's peak apple chip craving season.
After plowing through a few bags, I couldn't help but think that my beloved apple chips wouldn't be too tough to make at home. Turns out they're not!
I'm tempted to call this a "recipe but not really" because it only uses THREE ingredients: apples, cinnamon, and sugar, but there are a few tips along the way that are key in turning out CRISP apple chips - without frying or oil of any kind.
What kind of apples for apple chips
This is an easy recipe, but buying the ingredients to make baked apple chips at home is probably the easiest part. Likely you already have sugar and cinnamon, so you'll just need to get the apples.
I like to use Gala apples here, though you can definitely branch out. Crisp and sweet, I love Gala apples as a stand-alone snack or as part of Instant Pot applesauce (I'll sub them in for one of the sweeter apple varieties, depending on what's on sale).
Other apple varieties that will work here are Fuji, Pink Lady, and Honeycrisp. It seems like every time I go to the store there are new-to-me apple varieties, there are likely plenty of others that would work well, too. Look for apples that are sweet and crisp for this baked apple chips recipe.
Recipe instructions
The first important part of this recipe is slicing the apples. You want the apples to be thin so they'll dehydrate and crisp in the oven, but you also want them to be uniform in thickness so some don't burn while others are left chewy.
My knife cut skills leave a lot to be desired and I don't own a mandoline, but my spiralizer Kitchenaid attachment (affiliate link) came to the rescue. By using the slicing blade with a large core, each apple was cored and sliced into very thin, perfectly even layers in under ten seconds flat.
Once spiralized, I then used a paring knife to slice down through one side of the ring to separate the spiralized apple into separate slices for "chips". A few half-slices or smaller pieces broke off as I tossed the slices with the cinnamon/sugar mixture, but just pop those onto the baking sheet and proceed as usual.
One of my concerns when making oven-baked crispy anything is that, well, whatever it is won't really be crisp.
The first time I tried these spiralized baked apple chips I baked them for quite awhile. However I took them out of the oven right when they were done and while they crisped up a little bit, they didn't have that crisp crunchiness you come to expect of chips. They were more like dried apple slices, which are delicious in their own right, but not what I was hoping for here.
(As an aside, how many times can I say 'crisp' in this post!?)
So when I came across this SELF article with a suggestion to leave apple chips on their baking sheets in the oven even after the oven was turned off to cool completely, I knew that's what I was going to do with round two. It works, and is important point #2 in this recipe. Let them sit!
While this method does add on extra time to the recipe before you can dig in and enjoy, I found it to be the most reliable for getting crunchy chips. I even popped the not-quite-there first round back in the oven for some time and let them cool in there too, and they crisped up perfectly in the end.
How to store apple chips
I'm happy to report that these spiralized apple chips stay crunchy for days if stored in an airtight container. I summoned up extra willpower and let some apple chips last for three days, and they were still as crisp and perfectly enjoyable all that time later. As for longer than that, I couldn't tell you, but I doubt they'll stick around for that long.
Recipe notes
- See post above for suggestions for alternative apple varieties to use for these baked apple chips.
- Low and slow is the name of the game here. Letting the baked apple chips cool in the (turned off) oven is an important part of helping these chips end up crisp and not chewy.
- Other fresh apple recipes you may enjoy are slow cooker apple pie and easy puff pastry apple turnovers. Though fair warning, they're definitely on the dessert side of things!
Spiralized Baked Apple Chips
Ingredients
- 2 apples (see note on varieties)
- 2 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250°F and line a baking sheet or two with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Spiralize apples using the large core slicing blade. Alternatively, you can use a mandoline. The key is that you want the apple slices to be the same thickness.
- If using a spiralizer, cut down into one half of the spiralized apple using a paring knife to separate the apple slices into singular rings. Place slices into a bowl.
- Mix sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Sprinkle cinnamon/sugar mixture over the spiralized apple slices, tossing them gently in the bowl to ensure they're coated evenly.
- Place slices in a single layer with a little bit of space between them on the lined baking sheet.
- Bake for one hour, and then flip each apple slice over. You'll notice the apple slices will begin to look curled around the edges. Once flipped, bake for another hour, and then shut the oven off. Let apple chips sit in the (now, off) oven until mostly cooled. This crisps them up!
- Store in an airtight container for up to several days.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as an estimate. As it can vary due to many factors (brands used, quantities, etc.), we cannot guarantee its accuracy.
Food Safety and Nutrition Disclaimer
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Keri says
Can you use convection so I could more than one batch at a time?
Alyssa says
Hi Keri, I've never had an oven with a convection setting so I couldn't say for sure. Please let me know if you give that way a try, though!
Jenn says
*runs into kitchen to break out the spiralizer* these are SO COOL! I can't wait to make them today!
Nellie Tracy says
These look like the perfect after school snack for my kiddos! Definitely going to make them!
Aylim says
Has anyone try it without sugar?
Alyssa says
Hi Aylim, I haven't tried without sugar, but I think they would turn out fine. I'd just try and have a light hand with the cinnamon so it isn't too strong.
Jess says
I followed your instructions exactly and left them to cool but mine didn't crisp 🙁 I think my oven temperature might be off...
Alyssa says
So sorry they didn't work for you, Jess! 🙁
Nikki says
I absolutely loved these apple chips! I used my kitchenaide spiralizer, increased the portions on both apples and the coating. I ran into a big issue trying to clean my baking sheets afterwards. The sugar had carmelised causing a few pieces of apples and all of the parchment paper to be stuck to the sheet. It took me hours to get the paper and sugar off. I also got scratched a few times during the process trying to get a fork under the apples that were stuck to the pan. Do you have any suggestions on how to avoid this?
Alyssa says
So glad you loved them, Nikki! I haven't experienced the stuck-on situation that you did with this recipe - was the sugar in the coating increased with the same ratio as is listed in the recipe card? But whenever I have stuck on food, I run hot water over the spots and then let the pan or dish soak in hot water with a little bit of dish detergent. Sometimes overnight if need be! Then I have a much easier time removing the stuck on bits the next day. I hope that is helpful!
Bee says
I have an OXO and it cuts too thin.
Jessica says
I used a Pampered Chef spiralizer which might make the apples a little thinner, perhaps. When I went to flip them they already looked done so I popped one in my mouth & found it was already crisp. I used golden delicious apples & some Penzys Cinnamon and Sugar blend. They weren't overly sweet (in a good way.) Next time I think I break them up and sprinkle them over vanilla ice cream. 🙂
Alyssa says
Hi Jessica, glad they worked for you (even if they took a little less time). I've never used a Pampered Chef spiralizer but that very well may be the case. Your suggestion to sprinkle them over ice cream sounds so good - I'll have to try that next time!! 🙂
Michelle says
I tried making these but when I happened to check them at 45 minutes they were burnt looking so I took them out. What did I do wrong?
Alyssa says
Hi Michelle, I'm sorry you had trouble with these. I'm wondering if your oven might run hot? When I make these apple chips, they handle the two full hours of cook time at 250F just fine. Also I place the baking sheet on an oven rack situated near the center of the oven, not too low or high. The other variable may have been if the apple slices were considerably thinner to begin with. I use the large core slicer spiralizer blade and definitely notice that the apple chips shrink in thickness as they dehydrate in the oven. Too thin to begin with may cause them to crisp up too early and become burnt. I hope that helps!
Dori Johns says
You're an angel, Alyssa! I just got my KitchenAid Spiralizer Plus yesterday and I'm so happy I found your blog. I can hardly wait to make these apple chips. Thanks ever so much for sharing your wonderful photos and recipes.
Alyssa says
Thank you so much, Dori! 🙂 I'm a huge fan of my KitchenAid spiralizer - it always gets the job done. I hope you enjoy!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
We LOVE apple chips in my house, so I'm all over these beauties! I would totally be eating all of these straight off the baking pan!
Alyssa says
Ummm I'm guilty of that! haha Thanks Sarah. 🙂
Annie says
I have a feeling that I would quickly become addicted to these! Simply delicious!
Alyssa says
Thanks Annie!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
These are so fun!! I wouldn't be able to stop snacking!
Alyssa says
I have a hard time not devouring the whole batch! Thanks Rebecca!
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
I am a huge apple chip addict!! Love that you used your spiralizer to get that perfect uniform thickness. These look amazing!!
Alyssa says
They are so good! Any chance I get to use my spiralizer - I'm going to take it! 🙂
Alynne says
Alyssa your apple chips look fantastic! Thank you for the cooking tips. I am making these for sure!
Alyssa says
You will love them!!