Dried apple slices are fun and easy to make right in your own kitchen. They are sweet and chewy, or crunchy, depending on how you make them and full of all-around goodness.
Wholesome and delectable, apple rings are a perfect natural snack and they are simple to make. It is so fulfilling to grab a handful of homemade dried fruit to snack on.
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Dried apples are as delicious as they are healthy. Easy to grab “on-the-go” or tuck into lunchboxes you cannot go wrong with this tasty treat.
They are also a perfect snack for kids because they are so nutritious but also taste great.
There is nothing quite like naturally preserving the bounty of the harvest from your own fruit trees, if you are lucky enough to have an abundance of your own apples.
You can easily use apples from your local farmers market or supermarket as well. Stock up seasonally or when there is a sale. Either way you will be enjoying dried apples in no time.
Health Benefits of Apples
As a healthy, natural snack apples are high in fiber, vitamin c and potassium. Apples are good for your heart, your digestive system was well as your bones.
As with many fruits and veggies, apples may help protect against cancer, diabetes as well as cognitive health. They were not kidding when they said an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Best apples for dehydrating
Look for fresh apples that are firm. You can use either sweet or tart apples for your slices.
Avoid mealy or soft apples such as red delicious. These do not slice as well.
The best varieties of apples for dehydrating are
- Fuji
- Honey Crisp
- Granny Smith
- Golden Delicious
- Gala
- Jonagold
- Pink Lady
Ingredients
- Apples - 8 to 10 apples will probably fill up four rack round style dehydrator, although if your apples are small you may need a few more.
- Water
- Lemon Juice
Sprinkling cinnamon or other spices such as ginger, cloves, or nutmeg on your apple slices right before your dehydrate them is another great way to enhance the flavor of these homemade treats.
How to make Crispy vs. Chewy Dried Apples
If you want your apple slices to be soft and chewy then dehydrate them for a little less time. 3 - 4 hours in the dehydrator or oven will probably be enough time.
Toward the end of the drying time check on them often to make sure that they don’t get over dried.
Remember that they will crisp up more when they cool down. They should still be soft and pliable when you take them out of the oven.
To make crispy apple slices dehydrate them for a little bit more time. Aim for about 4 to 5 hours in the oven or dehydrator, or maybe even a little more.
They should be leathery when you take them out of the oven. They will also crisp up more as they cool down.
If they are not as crispy as you would like you can always place them back in the oven or dehydrator until they are more crunchy.
Also, remember that very thin slices will dry faster than thicker slices.
Directions
To make dried apples start by washing your apples. You could peel your apples if you prefer or you can save time and leave the peel on.
Remove the core. Cut into ⅛ inch slices.
Add 1 Tablespoon lemon juice to 2 cups water. Drop your apple slices into the lemon water and let them soak for about a minute. This will help keep them from turning brown.
Remove the apple slices and shake to remove the excess water. Then place in the oven or dehydrator to dry.
Directions with Dehydrator
Place the slices on your food dehydrator trays.
Adjust temperature to the highest setting. Allow the apples to dry for 4 to 5 hours.
Allow to cool completely before you store. They will crisp up more as they cool down.
Oven Directions (Without Dehydrator)
If you don’t have a dehydrator you can easily use your oven.
You will probably only need 6-8 apples. This will depend on the size of your baking sheet as well as the size of the apples.
Place your apple slices on sheet pans lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking liner.
Heat oven to 180° and place sheet pans on the racks. Allow your apples to dry for about 4 to 5 hours.
Flip the apple slices over half way through the drying time.
In addition, swap the positions of the sheet pans (top to bottom/bottom to top). Do this half way through drying to ensure that they dry evenly.
Allow to cool completely before you store. They will crisp up more as they cool down.
Storing
Store your apple rings in an airtight container on the counter for up to a week (if they last that long!)
You can also place them in the refrigerator for up to six months.
For longer storage, ensure that all the moisture is dried out of the slices. Make sure that there are no soggy spots.
Freezing
Dried apples can also be stored in the freezer. Place them in an airtight container or zip top freezer bag.
For best quality, use dried apples in the freezer within twelve months.
What to do with dried apples
Dried apple slices make a delicious snack all on their own. They make a healthy, easy to grab bite or a nice treat to tuck into lunchboxes.
However, there are many other ways to enjoy dried apples. From baked goods and pastries to breakfasts and desserts dried fruits are a quick and easy add in.
Use your kitchen shears to quickly cut up your dehydrated apples to add to all your favorites. Try dried apples in:
- Oatmeal
- Muffins
- Cookies
- Trail Mix
- Granola
- Granola Bars
- Pancakes
Add a few dried apple slices to baked pork tenderloin or chicken breast for a yummy meal.
You can also reconstitute them, that is let them soak in water or juice, for eight hours and then use like fresh apples. I have used dried apples in many recipes like apple crisp, apple pie and apple cake.
Apple Pie with Dried Apples
To make an apple pie with dried apples combine 3 cups dried apples with 2 ½ cups of water and let sit for 1 hour. Cook over medium heat until the apples are tender.
Add ¾ cups sugar, 2 Tablespoons flour, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Mix well and pour into a prepared pie crust.
Top with a second crust and then crimp down the edges. Cover the edges of the pie with tin foil or a pie crust shield.
Bake in a preheated oven at 400° for 50 minutes or until golden brown.
Recipe
Dried Apple Slices
Ingredients
- 8-10 Apples
- 1 Tbs. Lemon Juice
- 2 Cups Water
Instructions
- Wash apples and then remove the core.
- Slice into ⅛ inch slices.
- Add the lemon juice to water. Drop the apple slices into the lemon water and let them soak for about a minute. This will help keep them from turning brown.
- Remove the apple slices and shake to remove the excess water. Place them on food dehydrator trays. Adjust temperature to the highest setting. Allow the apples to dry for 4 to 5 hours.
- Allow to cool then place in an air tight container. You can also store these in the freezer or refrigerator to help them last even longer.
Oven DIrections
- If you don’t have a dehydrator you can use your oven. Reduce the amount of apples here, you will probably only need 6-8 apples, depending on the size.
- Slice into ⅛ inch slices.
- Add the lemon juice to water. Drop the apple slices into the lemon water and let them soak for about a minute. This will help keep them from turning brown.
- Remove the apple slices and shake to remove the excess water. Place them on lined sheet pans. Place sheet pans in an oven preheated to 180° or the lowest temperature. Allow the apples to dry for a total of 4 to 5 hours.
- About half way through the drying time move the sheet pan from the top rack to the middle position and move the pan on the middle rack to the top rack.
- Allow to cool then place in an air tight container. You can also store these in the freezer or refrigerator to help them last even longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
About 4 to 5 hours or until dry.
Fuji, Honey Crisp, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Gala Jonagold and Pink Lady are the best apple varieties for making into dried apple rings.
Store dried apples in an airtight container for up to a week. They can also be refrigerated or frozen to help them last even longer.
Dried apples are great for eating on their own or adding to other foods such as oatmeal, muffins, cookies, trail mix, granola, granola bars and pancakes. You can bake them in savory dishes such as pork tenderloin or chicken breast. Reconstitute them and use in pies, cobblers and crisps.
Dried apples will last up to 6 months in the refrigerator and a year in the freezer.
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Please leave your questions, comments and ratings below!
Emma
Thank you for this idea. I always loved dried apples as a kid but never made them myself until now. What a great healthy snack.