I love apples because they’re one of the quintessential fruits of fall that gently transitions us from the fresh tastes of summer to the hearty flavors of winter.
Eating seasonally is so wonderful because it’s one way to naturally help our bodies realign. Have you ever noticed yourself feeling a bit “off” when the seasons change? I’ve felt it ever since growing up in Michigan where the changes were pretty abrupt. Sometimes the colder months would just come roaring in. I’ve found that eating real, local, seasonal food helps because it’s so nourishing for the mind and body.
Bring on the delicious apple season!
Apple recipes always remind me of the fall traditions that we had growing up. We would go to our favorite cider mill in October and enjoy scratch-made doughnuts and watch the apple cider being made. We would always go home with a gallon of cider and bushels of apples. There were lots of amazing orchards nearby so sometimes we would pick our own apples, and of course stop at a corn maze along the way!
This oven-dried apple chips recipe that I’m going to share with you is perfect for that bushel of apples that you bring home from the orchard or farmer’s market. Even if you don’t have a bushel on hand, it only takes a few apples to make a lovely batch of chips. They seriously make the house smell heavenly while they’re in the oven. I’m definitely not reinventing the wheel here, as apple chips recipes are all over the internet. But, I’m excited to show you the five different ways I like to season them, from sweet to savory.
I also like to make dried diced apples which are great in yogurt or oatmeal or in your favorite cookie recipe.
- 4 organic apples (your favorite variety)
- 2 tablespoons fresh organic lemon juice
- 2 cups water
- Cinnamon
- Cinnamon & ground ginger
- Cinnamon & cayenne
- Unrefined sea salt (This unrefined sea salt is super affordable)
- Unrefined sea salt & rosemary
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.
- Prepare a large glass bowl with 2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.
- Wash the apples and slice them to around ⅛" thick. (I don't remove the peels for chips.) I use my food processor with the slicing blade and it quickly and evenly slices the apples.
- Immediately place the slices in the lemon water and soak for a few minutes. Remove and pat dry with a clean towel.
- Arrange slices in a single layer on baking sheets lined with parchment paper and sprinkle with your favorite spices.
- Place the baking sheets in the oven and prop the door open a couple of inches to help release moisture.
- Bake the slices for 1 hour on one side, then flip and sprinkle with spices. Bake for another hour or until the slices turn into crispy chips.
- Follow the same instructions as above but peel the apples and dice them into small pieces.
- I don't bake them quite as long as chips because I like them to be a little bit chewy.