Looking for a healthy and crunchy snack for an afternoon pick me up – that isn’t loaded with salt, oil, or sugar? You gotta try these Quick Cinnamon Apple Chips!
How to make Quick Cinnamon Apple Chips
You don’t need a dehydrator, oven, or hours of your life to make real apple chips. All it takes is just one apple, a microwave, and a little curiosity.
These apple chips crisp up in minutes and deliver that satisfying crunch you’re after, with nothing but fruit and maybe a dash of cinnamon.
Perfect for afternoon snacking, lunchbox surprises, or those moments when you want something sweet and crunchy but not store-bought or complicated. As an added bonus, you get to eat the whole batch yourself, guilt-free.
Other whole food plant-based recipes you might like:
- Crispy Air-Fried Plantain Chips (Vegan & Oil-Free)
- Creamy Vegan Avocado Fudgesicles
- Vegan Pumpkin Spice Spiderweb Smoothie Bowl
- 5-Minute Vegan Banana Bread Mug Cake
- Dr. Fuhrman’s Chocolate Cherry Cookie Recipe
Quick Cinnamon Apple Chips
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet apple cored and thinly sliced
- ground cinnamon optional
Instructions
- Line a large microwave-safe plate with parchment paper
- After coring the apple, use a very sharp knife or mandoline to cut slices as thinly and consistently as possible. They need to be no thicker than 1/8-inch or they won’t get properly crispy. Place the slices between two sheets of paper towel and gently pat them dry, removing as much moisture as possible.
- Arrange the slices on your prepared place in one even layer, without any overlapping. You may need to cook them in batches. Lightly sprinkle with cinnamon, if desired.
- Microwave on full power for 4 ½ minutes, until the edges start to curl. Continue microwaving at 30 – 60 second intervals, until they barely begin to brown. Depending on how powerful your microwave is, the whole process could take 5 – 8 minutes. Keep a very close eye on them towards the end, as they’ll burn very quickly after browning.
- Let stand for 2 – 3 minutes to cool and finish crisping. Repeat with any remaining slices and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
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The apple crisps sound yummy and healthy, but I don’t have a microwave oven. Will this recipe work in a regular oven, and if so, what temperature and timing do you recommend?
Yes, you can make them in the oven. It will just take longer.
Oven Method
1. Preheat your oven to 225°F (110°C).
This low temperature allows the apples to dry out slowly without burning.
2. Prepare the apples just like in the original recipe:
Core and slice the apple very thinly (⅛ inch or thinner).
Pat the slices dry with paper towels to remove moisture.
Arrange them in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet (no overlapping).
Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon, if desired.
3. Bake low and slow.
Place the tray in the oven and bake for 1 to 1½ hours, flipping the slices halfway through.
Keep an eye on them near the end — once the edges curl and they start to feel dry, they’re done.
If you want extra crispness, turn off the oven and let them sit inside for another 30 minutes with the door slightly open.
4. Cool completely.
They’ll crisp up more as they cool.
Tip: For extra even drying, use the convection setting if your oven has one, and bake both trays at once if doubling the batch.
Hey Rebecca I was wondering the same thing! We have a microwave I just don’t choose to use it. Thanks for asking the question I was thinking!
I try to avoid microwaving my food. Can this recipe be done in the regular oven? If so, what temperature and for how long? Thank you.
Yes, they can. Please see my reply to Rebecca.
Please see my reply to Rebecca
CONCERNED ABOUT PARCHMENT PAPER SMOKING OF CATCHING FIRE IN A MICROWAVE OVEN. SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME TO MICROWAVE.
Parchment paper is safe to use in the microwave, even for several minutes at a time, as long as a few precautions are followed.
Here’s what to know:
Parchment paper is heat-resistant, not heat-proof. It can safely handle typical microwave cooking times (like the 5–8 minutes in your apple chip recipe).
It doesn’t contain metal or chemicals that spark, so it won’t catch fire under normal microwave use.
Do not let it touch the sides or top of the microwave where it could overheat.
Make sure there’s no direct contact with very oily or sugary foods that can heat beyond 400°F — that’s when parchment could scorch.
Always stay nearby during longer microwaving sessions. If it starts to brown or smoke, stop immediately.
For this apple chip recipe (around 5–8 minutes total), parchment paper is completely fine — especially since the apples have low fat and water content once patted dry.
If you’d prefer an alternative, a microwave-safe silicone baking mat or glass plate also works great for this kind of recipe.
What about an air fryer?
It can be made in the air fryer
Air Fryer Method
1. Prep the apples as usual:
Core and slice the apple very thin (⅛ inch or thinner — a mandoline works best).
Pat the slices dry between paper towels to remove as much moisture as possible.
Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon if you want.
2. Preheat the air fryer to 300°F (150°C) — if your model requires preheating.
3. Arrange the slices in a single layer.
Place apple slices directly in the basket or on an air fryer tray.
Don’t overlap them — they need airflow to crisp up evenly.
You may need to cook in batches depending on your air fryer size.
4. Air fry for 10–15 minutes.
Check after 8–10 minutes and flip or shake the basket halfway through.
Cooking times vary by air fryer and slice thickness, so keep an eye on them near the end.
They’re done when the edges curl and they look dry and golden.
5. Cool completely.
They’ll crisp up even more as they cool.
Tips:
If your slices are browning too fast but still soft, lower the temperature to 275°F (135°C) and cook a bit longer.
You can lightly mist the basket with water (not oil) to prevent sticking, though usually apples don’t stick much.
I don’t own a microwave
Please see my reply to Rebecca. You can make it in the oven.
I don’t own a microwave, what is an alternative?
Please see my reply to Rebecca.
Of course they can be made in an oven. I dehydrate tomatoes, etc. all the time in the oven set at 160-180 degrees Fahrenheit. But, it may take hours.