2-Ingredient Air Fryer Apple Chips
Crispy apple slices that taste like chips but are made from nothing but fresh fruit and a sprinkle of cinnamon. They satisfy a snack craving without any added sugar or oil, and an air fryer turns them golden in about 15 minutes.
If you keep a bowl of these around the kitchen, they disappear fast. Luckily all you need is an apple and a warm spice, and you can make another batch before the next episode ends.
What Makes These Chips So Good
The edges crinkle up into brittle, almost candied rings while the centers stay thin and snappy. Because apples carry plenty of natural sweetness on their own, you skip the sugar and still get a taste that feels like a treat.
I love that the ingredient list is so short you barely have to write it down. Two apples, a dusting of cinnamon, maybe a tiny pinch of salt, and a little patience while they cool. That is the whole thing, and the result tastes like a much fussier snack.
Ingredients
- 2 medium apples (Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady): firm, sweet varieties work best; they hold their shape and taste almost candied when dried.
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon: adds the warmth that makes the chips smell and taste like fall; swap in pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice if you prefer.
- Pinch of fine sea salt: optional, but it wakes up the apple flavor without making the chips taste salty.
Variations / Substitutions
- Try different spices: a tiny grate of nutmeg or a pinch of cardamom gives them a bakery-shop aroma. Keep the total spice to 1/2 tsp so the apple still shines.
- Go completely plain: skip the cinnamon and salt for pure apple chips that taste like dried fruit. They are still sweet and crisp.
- Swap the fruit: firm pears work the same way, and they become even more jammy at the edges.
If you want a crunchier snack with a little more substance, try a batch of homemade Air Fryer Kale Chips when greens are in the fridge.
How to Make Air Fryer Apple Chips
Step 1: Slice the Apples
No need to peel or core. Using a sharp knife or a mandoline, cut each apple crosswise into very thin rounds, about 1/8 inch thick. The thickness matters because a thicker slice stays leathery instead of getting crisp, so if you do not have a mandoline just go slow and aim for the thinnest you can cut evenly.
You will see the little star pattern the seeds make right in the center of each round. Leave them be, they will dry up in the air fryer and you can tell everyone at the table that they are the prettiest chips in the bowl.
Step 2: Season and Arrange the Slices
Lay the apple slices in a single layer inside the air fryer basket. Lightly sprinkle the 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon and the tiny pinch of salt, if using, over the rounds. No need to toss them in a bowl; the spice will stick to the natural moisture on the fruit.
Give the slices a little breathing room. Overlapping makes them steam instead of dry out, so you want each piece touching nothing but the basket. If your air fryer is small, work in two batches so every round has its own space.
Step 3: Air Fry Until Crisp
If your air fryer needs preheating, set it to 300°F (150°C) now. Slide the basket in and cook for about 15 minutes, stopping to gently flip each slice halfway through. The chips are done when they feel dry to the touch and have shrunk noticeably, with edges that look golden and a little ruffled.
At first they may still seem slightly flexible. That is fine because they crisp up a lot as they cool. Pull them when they look mostly dry and just a shade darker than raw apple; carryover heat finishes the job.
Step 4: Cool and Serve
Tip the hot chips onto a plate or a wire rack and let them sit for 5 minutes. As they hit room temperature, they turn from pliable rounds into brittle, crackly bites that snap when you break them.
Pile them into a bowl the moment they are cool enough to handle. They stay crisp for about an hour at room temperature, and they never last longer than that anyway.
Tips for the Best Apple Chips
- A mandoline makes all the difference because hand-sliced fruit can vary just enough to have some chips burn while others stay soft. If you cook often, a cheap one earns its spot in the drawer.
- Do not salt the slices until right before they go into the basket. Salt pulls out moisture early, which can leave soggy spots.
- If your air fryer tends to blow light pieces around, lay a small air fryer parchment round on the basket first. Cut a couple of holes so air still circulates.
Getting the thickness down to an art takes one batch. Here is how the cooking time shifts with different cuts:
| Slice Thickness | Approximate Cook Time at 300°F |
|---|---|
| 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) | 10 to 12 minutes |
| 1/8 inch (3 mm) | 14 to 16 minutes |
| slightly thicker | 18 to 20 minutes (edges crisp, centers slightly chewy) |
Keeping Chips Crisp
- Store at room temperature: pile them into an airtight container as soon as they are completely cool. They stay snappy for about 2 days before slowly turning stale.
- Re‑crisping: if they lose their crunch, spread them in the air fryer at 275°F (130°C) for 2 to 3 minutes and let them cool again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different fruit?
Yes, firm pears become chip-like too, with a softer center and a jammy edge. Stone fruit like plums is too wet and will never fully dry in an air fryer.
Do I need to peel the apples?
No. The peel contains most of the fiber and it holds the chip together. It also makes the rings look prettier.
Why did my chips burn?
The most common reason is slices cut thinner than 1/16 inch, or an air fryer that runs hotter than the set temperature. Check a minute early on your first batch, and if your model tends to run hot, drop the temperature to 275°F (130°C).
Is there a way to make them without cinnamon?
Yes, you can leave the spice out completely and make plain dried apple chips. A tiny pinch of ginger or a drop of vanilla extract before cooking also gives a light flavor without the cinnamon warmth.
Air Fryer Apple Chips Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Slice the unpeeled apples crosswise into 1/8-inch rounds using a sharp knife or mandoline.
- Arrange the slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket and sprinkle evenly with the cinnamon and salt.
- Air fry at 300°F for about 15 minutes, flipping the slices halfway, until dry and golden at the edges.
- Transfer the chips to a rack or plate and cool for 5 minutes before serving.
