When it comes to making your own apple crisps the key is to go low and slow: bake them slowly at low temperatures for a couple of hours to make sure they’re fully dehydrated and crisp. They make a perfect healthy snack providing you don’t toss them in sugar. If you choose a crisp sweet apple no added sugar is needed. You can of course sprinkle a little cinnamon over them before baking but I think they’re lovely as they are: a one ingredient wonder snack! These are great for kids and make a perfect snack for enjoying on the go, as a porridge topper, when you fancy something sweet for nibbling or as a healthier alternative to potato crisps on TV nights. They also make a stunning cake decoration and can be broken up and added to homemade granola.
If you’ve got a dehydrator you’ll know how much fun you can have dehydrating different fruits and veggies but if you don’t have one you can make these apple crisps easily in a conventional oven or an air fryer (I’ll give instructions here for a conventional oven) Once you’ve baked them and cooled them they’ll keep fairly well in an airtight container for up to a week but the fresher the better (and crispier!)
All you need are 2-3 large crisp sweet apples (I prefer red apples such as Braeburn or Pink Lady as the little red tint on each crisp is really pretty), a mandoline slicer or a very sharp knife and some baking sheets lined with greaseproof paper.
To make:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 110 c and have the prepared baking sheets ready
2. Very finely slice the apples from bottom to top rather than side to side, leaving the skin on and popping any seeds out along the way. The more finely they’re sliced the better
3. Arrange the apple slices on the prepared baking sheet(s) and bake for approx 2 hrs, turning half way through, until they’re completely crisp then leave to cool before removing from the greaseproof paper (if you think they’re browning too much at the half way mark turn the heat down to 90 at that point)
And that’s it! A really easy and nutritious one ingredient, naturally gluten free and vegan snack.
