In the Oven or Dehydrator
Tis the season.....for apples! Autumn apples are plentiful right now. You can pick them in orchards or buy them at the farmers markets. The price is usually right, since they are so plentiful. So what can you do with all these beautiful apples? Bake pies, bake cakes, make apple pancakes. Then what? When the bloom is off the rose of baking with apples, it's time to make dried apple snacks. If you like apples, it is almost guaranteed that you will like dried apple snacks. They even make a good snack for dogs, most dogs love them!
They are easy to make, you don't need a dehydrator, you can easily make them right in your oven. Here's how:
They are easy to make, you don't need a dehydrator, you can easily make them right in your oven. Here's how:
| What you need: Ripe apples of any kind 1 teaspoon of lemon juice for every 6 apples |
Instructions:
I don't peel my apples, but this is just personal preference, you can if you wish.
I use an mandoline like the one above to slice my apples but a knife works too.
Cut the apples in half, remove the core and slice into 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick pieces
If you are making more than 6 apples, try to keep the pieces of six apples in separate piles.
Take a gallon freezer bag and put one teaspoon of lemon juice.
Take the slices from 6 apples and put them in the bag and shake to cover the pieces with lemon juice
Keep doing so until all apple pieces are covered with lemon juice.
I don't peel my apples, but this is just personal preference, you can if you wish.
I use an mandoline like the one above to slice my apples but a knife works too.
Cut the apples in half, remove the core and slice into 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick pieces
If you are making more than 6 apples, try to keep the pieces of six apples in separate piles.
Take a gallon freezer bag and put one teaspoon of lemon juice.
Take the slices from 6 apples and put them in the bag and shake to cover the pieces with lemon juice
Keep doing so until all apple pieces are covered with lemon juice.
If you are using an oven to dry:
Preheat the over to 200 degrees
Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spread the apple slices evenly with the edges not touching.
Bake the apples for one hour and then turn them over.
Wait another hour and flip them over again.
Keep turning them every hour till they are the desired crispness.
When they are done, remove them from the cooking sheet and let them cool completely.
Store them in a glass jar with the lid tightly screwed down.
Remember the crisper they are, the longer they will keep.
Preheat the over to 200 degrees
Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spread the apple slices evenly with the edges not touching.
Bake the apples for one hour and then turn them over.
Wait another hour and flip them over again.
Keep turning them every hour till they are the desired crispness.
When they are done, remove them from the cooking sheet and let them cool completely.
Store them in a glass jar with the lid tightly screwed down.
Remember the crisper they are, the longer they will keep.
| If you are using a dehydrator: Set the temperature to 135ºF. Spray trays with non stick cooking spray After 4 hours, turn them over After 4 more hours, start checking them hourly to see when they are as crisp as you desire. When they are done, let them cool completely and then store them in a glass jar with the lid tightly screwed down. |
The longer apple snacks are stored, the less crispy they are likely to be. You can re-crisp them by putting them back in the over for an hour at 200 degrees.
Flavoring your Apple Snacks
If you want to want to try flavoring your apple snacks there are several different seasonings you can use. After the apples are removed from the bag with the lemon juice, they are placed in a bag with your seasonings in them and shaken. Then carefully remove them and put them on your cookie sheets or trays to dry.
Cinnamon and Sugar - use one teaspoon of cinnamon and two teaspoons of sugar for every 6 apples.
Nutmeg or Allspice and Sugar - use one half teaspoon of nutmeg or allspice and two teaspoons of sugar for every 6 apples.
Butter and Brown Sugar - add one tablespoon of melted butter to your lemon juice and then toss the apple slices in a bag of brown sugar.
Flavoring by Soaking
You can also flavor your apple snack by soaking them. These have a kind of carmel flavor that is delicious:
Ingredients:
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
2 cups of water and
Directions:
Combine the ingredients in alarge bowl.
Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
Soak your apple slices in this water overnight (or at least 8 hours) and then dry them as
instructed above.
Cinnamon and Sugar - use one teaspoon of cinnamon and two teaspoons of sugar for every 6 apples.
Nutmeg or Allspice and Sugar - use one half teaspoon of nutmeg or allspice and two teaspoons of sugar for every 6 apples.
Butter and Brown Sugar - add one tablespoon of melted butter to your lemon juice and then toss the apple slices in a bag of brown sugar.
Flavoring by Soaking
You can also flavor your apple snack by soaking them. These have a kind of carmel flavor that is delicious:
Ingredients:
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
2 cups of water and
Directions:
Combine the ingredients in alarge bowl.
Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
Soak your apple slices in this water overnight (or at least 8 hours) and then dry them as
instructed above.
These snack are really healthy and delicious. They are great in lunches or as a mid-afternoon snack at the office. A handful will chase away the hungries and help kids wait till dinner to eat. Kept in an airtight container, they will last without refrigeration for months, so keep some in your desk, locker or backpack.
Have a great weekend!
Jade :)
Have a great weekend!
Jade :)
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