Cinnamon sugar Air Fryer Apple Chips make a delicious, healthy snack for the entire family, and are even more fantastic when paired with yogurt-based dips or caramel sauce! This recipe took longer to test than you might think - see our story on developing the perfect apple chips below!
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Making Apple Chips in the Air Fryer
Okay. We'll be the first to admit we thought making an air fryer apple chips recipe would be easy. Surely, we could achieve crispy air fryer apple chips in just a day, right? Nope! Instead, we spent four to five days of testing and air frying tons of apples to find the perfect results!
Why did it take so much testing? Well, you have to find the perfect temperature, timing, and conditions to avoid burning the sugar while still crisping up the apple chips to perfection. Plus, drying fruit is all about removing the natural moisture, so getting the time and temperature right is key.
How we developed the perfect air fryer apple chips
- We first tried air frying at 200°F, like you might in a traditional oven, using both our Gourmia 7-quart air fryer and our Breville. But, the Gourmia took 2 hours to air fry apple chips, and the Breville took even longer at 2½ hours. They turned out tasty, but it wasn't practical!
- Since the low temperature took too long, we knew we had to try a higher temp. We tested the next batch at 300°F. It still took too long for the chips to get crispy!
- So, we bumped it up even higher to 400°F. We covered the rack in foil to keep the chips from browning too much and air fried for 15 minutes, flipping the chips over halfway through the cooking time. This did work, but they were unevenly cooked, so we knew this wouldn't be the best method.
- Finally, we decided to put Marion's baking knowledge to use for finding that sweet spot. We know sugar can start to burn at high temperatures, so we lowered the temp to 350°F like our air fryer s'mores recipe.
350°F is the perfect temperature for air frying cinnamon apple chips without burning the sugar. At 350°F, air frying for 10-12 minutes will give you apple chips that are crispy and delicious, without burning the sugar.
Ultimately, we're very happy with how these apple chips turned out, and can honestly say our recipe will give you the best air fryer apple chips around! Give them a try - they make a delicious snack!
Ingredients in Apple Chips
- Apples: We used Honeycrisp apples to make our air fryer apple chips. They're sweet apples that are a little bit tart, and they make great apple chips. However, you can also use other varieties, like pink lady apples, fuji apples, gala apples, golden delicious apples, granny smith apples, or any other sweet-crisp apple you prefer. Use your favorite apple and find the best apples for your taste preferences!
- White Sugar and Cinnamon: To make the cinnamon sugar mixture, you will need white sugar and cinnamon. We have not tested this recipe with other varieties of sugar, and recommend sticking to white sugar, as other sugars may burn at a lower temperature than white sugar. Adjust the amount of cinnamon sugar to your liking. You may want to use more if you use tart apples.
Note: You will also need air fryer parchment paper and a metal rack for your air fryer basket. The parchment paper is key to making perfectly crispy apple chips, while the rack is necessary for keeping the paper from flying up into the air fryer burner.
For full ingredient measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of the page just above the comments. And, of course, leave us a comment if you have any questions!
No air fryer rack?
This recipe calls for an air fryer rack, as the apple chips are not heavy enough to hold down the parchment paper while air frying, and you want parchment paper for this recipe to ensure crispy chips.
If your air fryer didn’t come with a rack, you can purchase one separately. Just be sure it will fit in your model of air fryer! Check the manufacturer's website first to see if they sell a rack made for your air fryer model.
Racks are very useful in the air fryer, so we highly recommend picking one up if you don't already have one. We use them for air frying a variety of foods, from french bread pizza to steak and tortilla chips.
How to Air Fry Apple Chips
Step 1
Wash your apples and dry them well. Working with one apple at a time, use a sharp knife to slice a piece off of the stem end and the blossom end so both the top and bottom of the apple are flat.
Step 2
Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper.
Step 3
Using a mandoline slicer, slice the apple into thin slices. Remove any seeds left in the slices. We leave the skin on, as it is very nutritious, and we leave the core to show the star in the middle of the chips. Always use a guard to protect yourself when using a mandoline slicer.
Step 4
Place the apple slices on a paper towel-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Pat dry. Work with one apple at a time and make sure all slices are dry.
Step 5
Mix white sugar with cinnamon in a small bowl.
Step 6
Sprinkle half of the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over all the apple slices on one side. Use your fingers to spread the cinnamon sugar around each apple slice so the seasoning is distributed evenly. Try to be as even as possible, as the sugar helps the chips crisp up properly. Reserve the other half for the second apple.
Step 7
Place the prepared apple slices in the parchment-lined air fryer basket in a single layer, cinnamon sugar-side up. Be sure to place them in a single layer without any overlapping pieces. You will need to air fry apple chips in batches. One apple will make enough slices for two batches.
Step 8
Place your metal air fryer rack, rack-side down, flat on top of the apple slices to hold them down while air frying. This is very important, as the thin apple slices will not be heavy enough to hold the parchment paper down. The rack prevents the paper from flying up into the air fryer burner, which is a safety risk.
Step 9
Air fry at 350°F for 4 minutes, then turn each apple chip over and rearrange into a single layer again. Air fry another 4 minutes and turn each apple chip over and rearrange into a single layer again.
Step 10
Air fry another 2-4 minutes until apple chips are crisp to your liking. The edges will curl up during air frying.
Remove from air fryer and cool completely on a wire rack. Apple chips will crisp when cooled. Repeat all steps with the second apple.
Try serving your crispy air fryer apple chips with our yogurt fruit dip! We made it to pair with this recipe!
Recipe Tips
- Parchment paper is key to making the perfect crispy apple chips. If you aren't using parchment paper, the chips could be a little darker and a little more curled at the edges.
- Always use the guard when using a mandoline slicer to protect yourself.
- Remember, air fryer brands vary, so you may have to adjust the cook time to your specific air fryer. Check on the apple chips early until you have a feel for your specific air fryer. The apple chips will go from perfect to perfectly burnt quickly.
- Apple chips get crunchier as they cool.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Leaving room around each apple chip allows them to get more crispy.
- When cooking in multiple batches, be sure to check on the remaining batches early, as they may cook more quickly.
- With the basket type air fryer like the Gourmia, we prefer to start with a cold air fryer so we can lay the parchment paper and apple slices in a single layer without worrying about burning our fingers.
- With the toaster oven style air fryer we can remove the tray while we preheat the air fryer and lay the apples on the tray while the oven is preheating.
- Apple chips make a delicious treat to send in the lunch box or take for a healthy snack option on a car trip, shopping trip, or even on a hike. They keep well and can easily be tucked inside a baggie to be enjoyed on-the-go.
- Cook for the same time and temperature when using an air fryer model with a tray.
Apple Chip Spices
- Pumpkin Pie Spice: Why not take advantage of both apple season and the pumpkin flavors we love for Fall? Try pumpkin pie spice for your apple chips!
- Apple Pie Spice: For a real treat, apple pie spice is a great pairing with apple chips.
- Spicy Apple Chips: Love spice and want to try something a little different? Pair our chili seasoning with a little bit of lime.
Storage Instructions
- Store leftover apple chips in a zip-top bag with the air pressed out in a cool, dry location for up to one week.
FAQ
Yes! Apple chips have all the nutrition you get from an apple, and minimal added sugar. You can cut down on the sugar even further if you prefer, but this will of course alter the taste.
Let your chips cool on a rack once you remove them from the air fryer before serving. This will help them crisp up. Additionally, be sure to use parchment paper and the air fryer rack. The parchment paper will help the chips crisp up, and the rack will prevent the parchment paper from flying up into the burner.
This answer can be summed up in one word - humidity! As apple chips sit out, they may lose their crispness as a result of absorbing moisture in the air. Therefore, when cooled, store apple chips in a zip-top bag, being sure to press out as much air as you can. This will keep the apple chips crispy.
If your chips sit out too long and lose their crispiness, you can crisp them up by tossing them in the air fryer again. Air fry at 300°F for about 2 minutes to crisp them up again. Be sure to use your rack to keep the apple chips from flying up into the burner. After air frying, allow the apple chips to cool before storing again.
Air Fryer Snack Recipes
- Pita Chips
- Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Chips
- Fruit Salsa
- White Bean Hummus
- Try all of our air fryer snack recipes!
Leave a comment and review for us below if you enjoyed this recipe, or if you have questions about any of our air fryer recipes!
Air Fryer Apple Chips
Equipment
- Air Fryer Parchment Paper
- Metal air fryer rack usually included with the air fryer
Ingredients
- 2 apples we used honeycrisp apples
- 2 teaspoons white sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Wash 2 apples and dry them well.
- Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper.
- Working with one apple at a time, slice a little piece off the stem end and the blossom end so both ends of the apple are flat.
- Use a mandoline slicer to slice the apple into thin slices, and remove any seeds left on the slices. We leave the skin as it is very nutritious. We also leave the core to show the star in the middle of the slices. Always use the guard when using a mandoline slicer to protect yourself.
- Place apple slices on a paper towel lined baking sheet in a single layer and pat dry. Work with one apple at a time.
- Mix 2 teaspoons white sugar with ½ teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl.
- Using half the cinnamon sugar mixture, sprinkle it equally on apple slices lightly on one side. Use your finger to spread the cinnamon sugar around each apple slice to distribute it evenly. Try to be as even as possible as the sugar helps to crisp the apple chips. Reserve the other half of the cinnamon sugar mixture for the 2nd apple.
- Place prepared apple slices into the parchment lined air fryer basket in a single layer with the cinnamon sugar side up. Be sure to place the apples in a single layer, and reserve the remaining apple slices to air fry in subsequent batches. One apple will be at least 2 batches.
- IMPORTANT: Place your metal air fryer rack, rack side down, flat on top of the apple slices to hold the apple slices down while air frying. The apple slices will not be heavy enough to hold down the parchment paper. The rack is a must to keep the parchment paper from flying up into the air fryer burner for proper air fryer safety.
- Air fry at 350°F for 4 minutes, then turn each apple chip over and rearrange into a single layer again.
- Air fry another 4 minutes and turn each apple chip over and rearrange into a single layer again.
- Air fry another 2-4 minutes until apple chips are crisp to your liking. The edges will curl up during air frying.
- Remove from air fryer and cool completely on a wire rack. Apple chips will crisp when cooled.
- Repeat the steps above with the 2nd apple.
Notes
- Parchment paper is key to making perfect apple chips. If you aren’t using parchment paper, the chips could be a little darker and a little more curled at the edges.
- We leave the skin on the apples as it is very nutritious.
- We leave the core when slicing the apples to show the star in the middle of the slices.
- Always use the guard when using a mandoline slicer to protect yourself.
- Check on the apple chips early until you have a feel for your specific air fryer. The apple chips will go from perfect to perfectly burnt quickly.
- The apple chips will get crunchier as they cool.
- Don’t crowd the air fryer basket. Leaving room around each apple chip allows them to get more crispy.
- Cook time may vary depending on your specific air fryer. As always, use the cook time and temperature as a guide until you are more comfortable with your specific brand of air fryer.
- When cooking in multiple batches, be sure to check on the remaining batches early, as they may cook more quickly.
Nutrition
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