Apple Chips

I can't think of a more quintessentially "fall" snack than apple chips.  I love fresh, in-season apples eaten out of hand (or sliced with peanut butter -- best snack EVER) just as much as the next person, but sometimes, you want a crispy-crunchy snack, instead of a crispy-juicy snack, right?  And sometimes you pick WAY too many apples at the orchard, and need ideas for how to preserve your bounty, right?  Also sometimes, you forget about an apple or two in your crisper drawer, and they grow a little mealy and soft, right?  Apple chips for the win!

I have seen bags of apple chips available at the store for what appears to be a ridiculous amount of money.  How much does an apple or two cost, in comparison?  Another one of those situations where it just seems smarter to make this snack yourself -- vastly less expensive, and you get to control the ingredients!  This would definitely fall into the "Sunday afternoon projects" category -- these beauties take a couple hours in the oven, but it's absolutely worth the time, in my opinion.  (Plus, almost all of that time is inactive time -- just slice, spice, and pop 'em in the oven!)  P.S. Your house will smell incredible while these are baking.

I made my first batch of apple chips a few weekends ago, and they kept beautifully in a zip-top plastic bag for quite a while ... not that they lasted that long, though!

Pick up a couple extra apples at the store or farmer's market this week, and make your own apple chips!

Apple Chips

2 to 4 servings

Ingredients:

2 large apples

ground spices -- cinnamon would be classic, or you could choose a pumpkin pie spice, apple pie spice, Penzey's Baking Spice or Cake Spice, or chai spice blend (recipe to follow)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.  Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Wash and slice the apples 1/8-inch thick.  (Use a mandoline if you have one!)  Pick out any seeds, and arrange the apples on the baking sheets.  Lightly sprinkle the apples with your spice/blend of choice.

3. Bake the apples for one hour and 15 minutes.  Flip the apples, rotate the pans, and continue baking until the apples are dry and crisp, about another hour and 15 minutes.

4. Store your apple chips in a zip-top plastic bag or airtight container.

Chai Spice Blend

Ingredients:

2 1/2 tsp ground ginger

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground cardamom

1 tsp ground allspice

1 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/8 tsp ground black pepper

Directions:

Combine all of the spices in a small bowl.  Transfer to a clean spice jar with a shaker-top.  Sprinkle on apple chips, oatmeal, yogurt, hot cocoa, a latte ... or add to fall muffin or quick bread recipes in place of or in addition to cinnamon or other warm spices (this would pair beautifully with pumpkin breads, zucchini breads, banana breads, apple muffins or cakes, etc!)