Dried Apple Chips

I've spent the past year or more (unsuccessfully) trying to think about healthy snack ideas for my kids. I feel like we get in snack ruts. They get bored with what is easily and cheaply available. We also eat a lot of fruits and vegetables in conjunction with our meals, so I don't necessarily jump to them for snacks. But I did recently try making my own apple chips that we could eat for a healthy snack from time to time. I also made these for using in a recipe you'll be getting in the next week or two (get excited!). There is no real recipe to this, just a method. I live in a humid place so mine don't exactly get crunchy--just dried out a bit. They will keep for a week or so in an airtight container.

Dried Apple Chips


Take an apple or two and core out the middle. You can choose whether or not you want to peel them. I usually don't. Cut the cored apple in half. With the flat side down on your cutting board, slice the apple as thinly as you can--a couple millimeters at most. I did not use my apple peeler/corer/slicer for this because it makes them thicker than I wanted for this (it would take them forever to dry out). Lay apple pieces out on a baking sheet that is lined with a Silpat or parchment paper. If you want, sprinkle on cinnamon or another yummy spice! Bake at 275-300F (140-150C) until apples are dried and browning. Because you probably won't have a uniform thickness of apples cutting them free hand, you may have to take some of the thinner ones out earlier and leave some to bake longer. Depending on thickness and crispness you want, these will probably bake anywhere from 20-40 minutes. Cool and store in an airtight container.

Tips:
* Try to get your apples cut as uniformly as possible!
* If you live in a humid place they won't get really crisp.
* If burning too easily, lower your temperature a bit, which will increase cook time probably.
* If burning too easily, maybe try cutting your pieces slightly thicker.
* If you are REALLY wanting them crispy, trying significantly lowering the temperature--going as low and slow as you can. I just don't have that kind of patience!