Dehydrated apples are a crispy and delicious snack packed with an intense apple flavor that can be enjoyed all year long! They are so incredibly easy to prepare that you are going to be wondering why you haven't made them sooner! In fact, these tasty chips are perfect for on-the-go, kid's snacks, packed lunches, camping, or just enjoying at home!
Easy Dried Apples Recipe
Since I got my bigger dehydrator, I have been on a huge dehydrated fruit kick! Take a look at my dehydrated banana chips, pineapple, and watermelon! The sweetness of the fruit is intensified, and the shelf life is so long (up to a year)!
Of course, I had to try out some tasty dehydrated apples! They make a fantastic snack for practically any occasion, as they are easy to bring along wherever I may be going!
Jump to:
If you don't have a dehydrator machine, you can always enjoy these baked apple chips!
🥘 Dehydrated Apples Ingredients
You only need two ingredients for some tasty dried apple chips! The natural flavor of the apples gets to shine!
- Apples - 6 pounds of apples are the star of the show! You can dehydrate any type of apple you like, so choose your favorite! 6 pounds may sound like a lot, but that amount will drastically shrink down to about 1 pound of dried apples.
- Lemon Juice - 1-2 cups of lemon juice (bottled is fine) combined with an equal amount of cold water. This will act as the pretreatment solution to keep the apples from browning.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make Dehydrated Apples
Dehydrating any fruit is just about as easy as it gets! You'll need your dehydrator machine, a mandoline (or knife and cutting board), and a large bowl.
This recipe will make 1 pound of apple chips, about 12 servings.
- Cut the apples. Cut your washed apples crossways into ⅛-inch slices (using a mandoline makes this very easy). Then, remove any seeds and, if desired, remove the apple core using an apple corer or a round piping tip. Alternatively, you can just trim them with a paring knife.
- Make the solution. In a large bowl, combine equal parts of 1-2 cups of lemon juice and cold water to act as a pre-treatment solution (this will prevent the apples from browning).
- Soak. Place the apples slices into the bowl of lemon water and swish them around so that both sides are fully coated. Let them soak for 10 minutes.
- Transfer. Remove the apples from the bowl and place them into the trays of your dehydrator, making sure to leave about ½-inch of space between them.
- Dehydrate. Turn on the dehydrator at 135°F (57°C) and allow the apples to dry for 6-12 hours. *The time will vary based on the moisture levels in the apples as well as the brand of your machine.
- Check. Once you think the apples are almost done, remove them from the tray and let them sit for 1 hour. If they can snap in half like a chip, they are done. If they bend, go ahead and return them to the dehydrator until done.
These crispy dried apple chips are perfect for taking on the go! Check out my candied fruit recipes for more fun ways to prepare fruit! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- 6 pounds of apples are equivalent to about 1 pound of dried apple chips.
- You can cut your apples into either ⅛-inch or ¼-inch slices, depending on how crispy you want them! I highly recommend using a mandoline for even slicing.
- Pretreat your apples with a combination of lemon juice and water in order to keep them from browning.
- Some dehydrator machines don't have temperature control. In this case, just make sure to check on your apples more frequently as these machines could range from 125-165°F (52-74°C).
🥡 Storing
Once cool, keep your dehydrated apples in a Ziploc bag or airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Condition Dehydrated Apples
You can condition your apples by placing them into glass jars or see-through airtight containers (in separate, smaller portions). Watch them for 1 week, checking every day for any sign of residual moisture. If you do see any moisture, go ahead and return the apples to the dehydrator and dry them for a little longer.
Start the process over again until you have gone 1 week without any signs of moisture. Then, the conditioned apple chips can be stored in an airtight container or vacuum-sealed for up to 1 year. *If you see mold at any time during the conditioning process, you must throw out the contents of that container.
>>>>See all of my recipes here<<<<
❓ Recipe FAQs
Technically, it is completely optional. Before dehydrating, the apple slices are soaked in a pretreatment solution consisting of water and lemon juice. This will prevent the apples from browning. However, they are still super tasty even when browned!
Yep! Apples can be dehydrated with or without the peel, so go ahead and choose whichever you like best!
Your apple slices will crisp up more as they cool off. When you think they could be done, take them out of the dehydrator and let them cool for an hour before checking to see if they are crispy enough. If they aren't, they simply need more time in the dehydrator!
🍎 More Tasty Apple Recipes
I have so many yummy apple recipes to try out, here are a few of my favorites!
- Cracker Barrel Fried Apples - Tender apples are coated in a sweet cinnamon syrup!
- Dutch Apple Cake - A moist vanilla cake topped with thinly sliced cinnamon apples!
- Apple Cider Donuts - Homemade donuts that use concentrated apple cider in the dough!
- Baked Apples - Apples are loaded with brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon before being baked in the oven!
- Apple Banana Muffins - Apples, bananas, and cinnamon make up these moist and delicious muffins!
- Apple Curd - An apple-based sweet spread that can be used in so many different ways!
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Subscribe to the newsletter today (no spam, I promise)! Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!
📖 Recipe Card
Dehydrated Apples
Ingredients
- 6 lbs apples
- 1-2 cups lemon juice (with an equal amount of cold water)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Cut your washed apples crossways into ⅛-inch slices (using a mandoline makes this very easy). Then, remove any seeds and, if desired, remove the apple core using an apple corer or a round piping tip. Alternatively, you can just trim them with a paring knife.
- In a large bowl, combine equal parts of lemon juice and cold water to act as a pre-treatment solution (this will prevent the apples from browning).
- Place the apples slices into the bowl of lemon water and swish them around so that both sides are fully coated. Let them soak for 10 minutes.
- Remove the apples from the bowl and place them into the trays of your dehydrator, making sure to leave about ½-inch of space between them.
- Turn on the dehydrator at 135°F (57°C) and allow the apples to dry for 6-12 hours. *The time will vary based on the moisture levels in the apples as well as the brand of your machine.
- Once you think the apples are almost done, remove them from the tray and let them sit for 1 hour. If they can snap in half like a chip, they are done. If they bend, go ahead and return them to the dehydrator until done.
Notes
- 6 pounds of apples are equivalent to about 1 pound of dried apple chips.
- You can cut your apples into either ⅛-inch or ¼-inch slices, depending on how crispy you want them! I highly recommend using a mandoline for even slicing.
- Pretreat your apples with a combination of lemon juice and water in order to keep them from browning.
- Some dehydrator machines don't have temperature control. In this case, just make sure to check on your apples more frequently as these machines could range from 125-165°F (52-74°C).
- Short-term storage: Once cool, keep your dehydrated apples in a Ziploc bag or airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
- Long-term storage: You can condition your apples by placing them into glass jars or see-through airtight containers (in separate, smaller portions). Watch them for 1 week, checking every day for any sign of residual moisture. If you do see any moisture, go ahead and return the apples to the dehydrator and dry them for a little longer. Start the process over again until you have gone 1 week without any signs of moisture. Then, the conditioned apple chips can be stored in an airtight container or vacuum-sealed for up to 1 year. *If you see mold at any time during the conditioning process, you must throw out the contents of that container.
Mary says
Hi Angela. My friend made amazing very crispy apple chips and I loved them. So I bought a Cosori round dehydrator and have tried to make CRISPY apple chips with no luck. Sliced paper thin or thicker, time up to 24 hours, temperature 140 to 160 (highest my dehydrator will go) ... still not crispy. I used Gala apples and do not soak in lemon water and the color is fine. Would a larger more expensive dehydrator make the difference? Any other suggestions you may have? Thanks you so much!!! Mary
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
I use both a very inexpensive round dehydrator and a large Excalibur, both work exceptionally well. If you're having problems getting the apple chips crisp, try cutting them thinner or just let them dehydrate longer. Patience is usually all it takes, as each batch will vary slightly.
The last thing I would consider is that your Gala apples are particularly juicy. You can always salt them (set the slices out on the racks and salt, then cover with paper towels to wick away as much moisture as possible) before dehydrating your slices. Hope that helps!
Anonymous says
Es muy inporatante x q así aprendemos cosas q uno no sabe elaborarlo y se le agradece x su buen deceo de conpartir sus experiencias en el a vito de su cosinarle. Le felicito x su amabilidad.
"It is very important because this is how we learn things that one does not know how to prepare and we thank you for your good desire to share your experiences in the vito of your kitchen. I congratulate you for your kindness."