One of the special treats the girls get to have when we visit Nana's house, is dehydrated cinnamon apple chips. There is a lot of time that goes into those, and we have to ration them, or the girls would eat through a day's worth of work in just a few minutes. They are seriously tasty snacks though. The most time consuming part of making apple chips is laying them out on the dehydrator sheets. Other than that, it is mostly drying time. So after our last trip to Nana's house I decided to get a bunch of extra apples and make some for the girls at home. I took a chance and did them slightly differently than Nana. At first, the reaction was, "Um, these aren't quite like Nana's apple chips." By the end of the day though, they were just as awesome in their own way. Now the girls say, "We love Nana's and we love yours too." ☺ It's a matter of personal taste how thin or crispy you like your apple chips. I like mine thin and crispy/chewy. R prefers her a bit thicker and chewier. Hubby gave two thumbs up on these as well, bonus! Now I just need to add a few more trays to my dehydrator so I can do more at a time. I set my mandoline at 1/8" and got slices a tiny bit thinner than that. At that setting, three apples pretty much filled the five trays on my circular dehydrator. I might go to 3/16" next time for half the slices. I do recommend using the mesh sheets for that particular machine because the food removal is much easier. Otherwise, remove while still slightly warm or heat back up for five minutes to avoid breaking the chips. I really love this version of dehydrated apple chips because the simple syrup helps them keep their shape and color and also helps them get crispy if you want. It adds just a tiny bit of sweet tart flavor while really adding hardly any sugar.
(But these are as good as adding candy to a lunchbox as far as my kids are concerned.)
Apple and Cinnamon Apple Chips in the Dehydrator
3-4 apples, washed well (I used organic Galas)
1¾ cups evaporated cane sugar
2 cups water
3 tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp powdered sugar (optional)
In a 2Qt or larger saucepan over medium heat, stir the sugar, water and lemon juice together just until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and set this simple syrup aside while you slice the apples. Using a mandoline or a very sharp knife, cut the apples into thin slices between 1/8" and ¼" thick.
As you finish each apple, place the slices in the syrup and submerge. Let the slices soak for an hour or so.
Drain the slices in a colander and set it over the pot to drip dry while you arrange the slices on the dehydrator trays. (You may save the syrup in the refrigerator for more batches later that day or the next day.) Once the slices are laid out, you may sift plain cinnamon, or a mixture of cinnamon and powdered sugar over them for cinnamon apple chips.
Set the dehydrator for 135-145º and run for 3-4 hours or as long as overnight for thicker slices. Test occasionally to see how crispy the chips are becoming. Remember that the finished product will be crispier once it cools than when it is still warm in the dehydrator. The chips I made ranged from chewy to just slightly crispy for the 1/8" setting on my mandoline.
They will keep for months in an airtight container but will never last that long. I suggest hiding them in the freezer for longer storage or just to protect your efforts from being demolished in 5 minutes.
For other great lunchbox or just plain good ideas, check out Allergy Friendly Lunchbox Love.
(But these are as good as adding candy to a lunchbox as far as my kids are concerned.)
Apple and Cinnamon Apple Chips in the Dehydrator
3-4 apples, washed well (I used organic Galas)
1¾ cups evaporated cane sugar
2 cups water
3 tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp powdered sugar (optional)
In a 2Qt or larger saucepan over medium heat, stir the sugar, water and lemon juice together just until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and set this simple syrup aside while you slice the apples. Using a mandoline or a very sharp knife, cut the apples into thin slices between 1/8" and ¼" thick.
As you finish each apple, place the slices in the syrup and submerge. Let the slices soak for an hour or so.
Drain the slices in a colander and set it over the pot to drip dry while you arrange the slices on the dehydrator trays. (You may save the syrup in the refrigerator for more batches later that day or the next day.) Once the slices are laid out, you may sift plain cinnamon, or a mixture of cinnamon and powdered sugar over them for cinnamon apple chips.
Or leave them plain as desired.
Set the dehydrator for 135-145º and run for 3-4 hours or as long as overnight for thicker slices. Test occasionally to see how crispy the chips are becoming. Remember that the finished product will be crispier once it cools than when it is still warm in the dehydrator. The chips I made ranged from chewy to just slightly crispy for the 1/8" setting on my mandoline.
They will keep for months in an airtight container but will never last that long. I suggest hiding them in the freezer for longer storage or just to protect your efforts from being demolished in 5 minutes.
For other great lunchbox or just plain good ideas, check out Allergy Friendly Lunchbox Love.