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We love apples here in the teeny tiny foodie home. Though we typically just eat them raw, sometimes I get the urge to play around and change them up a bit. I often make them into applesauce or this recipe of baked apple yumminess but recently, I got the idea to create something different. You are welcome to skip the recipe “back story” and just head to the recipe itself. But, I feel the need to share the chain of events that led me to create this recipe…

So, here’s the story of this recipe:

Recently, on the same day, two seemingly unrelated events occurred that led to the creation of Crispy Apple Chips. First, while rummaging through the fridge to see what we needed from the grocery store I noticed a few apples that were moving into the mushy stage, so I knew I needed to do something with them. Second, while Eliana and I were in the middle of the grocery store she began to turn into “that kid” you see or hear having a meltdown. She had refused to eat lunch before we left for the store (because she’s 2 years old and basically crazy) so I knew I could be in for it. Knowing this might create a hunger meltdown, I tossed the clementine I had so lovingly peeled and removed all bits of white from (because Eliana is 2 years old and needs all bits of white removed from her citrus) into a snack cup to have on hand to squash the impending meltdown. Well, when I so desperately needed it, I frantically rummaged through my bag only to discover that the stupid snack cup of clementine pieces never made it off the counter and into my bag. F! So, in desperation, I quickly looked around the aisle we were in and saw some packaged dried apples. After I scanned the ingredients and confirmed that they were just apples with no added sugar or chemicals, I wrenched the bag open and shoved it into her hands. (Why companies like to add sugar to fruit is beyond me. Hello?  Fruit has its own natural sugar called fructose–which already makes fruit sweet. DUH!) So anyway, she loved those dried apples (thankfully) and I was able to finish getting our groceries tantrum-free. But when I got home, I decided I’d try to make my own dried apples and the recipe below is the tasty result.

A few tips and ideas about this recipe:
1. You can use any type of apple to create these chips.

2. You can spice them up a bit by adding cinnamon, chili pepper or salt to the raw apples before baking them.

3. While most kids like apples, if you’re having a hard time getting your little foodie to eat them (or any food), sometimes changing the texture and presentation of a food does the trick. The crispy potato-chip-like texture of these apples appeals to most people.

4. The cooled apple chips will stay good in an airtight container on the counter for 2-3 days. If you have some apple chips that aren’t totally crispy (that happens to apple slices that aren’t very thin), store those in the refrigerator.

Crispy Apple Chips

Ingredients:

• -1 apple, cored and sliced into thin rings or slices
• -Optional toppings: fresh lemon juice, cinnamon, salt, chili pepper

Preparation:

Heat the oven to 200° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Slice apple into thin rings or slices around ⅛ inch thick. I used my OXO Chef’s Mandoline Slicer for most of the apple and a sharp knife for the rest.

I don’t have an apple corer, so I cut out the core after slicing the apple.

Lay the apple pieces in a single layer on the baking sheet. If you want to add any topping or spice(s), add them now. Bake the apple pieces for 3 hours.

Here if have some plain apple rings, some with salt and some with cinnamon and chili pepper.

Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let sit for around 20 minutes until apples are cooled and crispy.

Enjoy!

Did Eliana like them? Um, yeah. Waaaay, better than those packaged ones, thank you very much. Unfortunately, we were both too busy stuffing them into our mouths for me to remember to snap a photo. Oops. 😉

Happy Cooking!

Tags: apples, gluten free, Meatless Monday, Valentine's Day, vegan

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