Crispy Air Fryer Apple Chips (Crunchy Every Time, Never Soggy)

These crispy air fryer apple chips need just four ingredients: apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a little melted coconut oil. Slice the apples thin, toss them with the spices, and air fry at 300°F for 12 to 15 minutes per batch until the edges curl and turn golden. They come out a little bendy, then crisp up on a cooling rack into light, crunchy chips that taste like apple pie.

With three boys asking for snacks from the minute they get home, I keep a jar of these on the counter for lunchboxes and after-school snacking. Most apple chip recipes stop at a dusting of cinnamon. I add nutmeg for that warm apple pie flavor, and I toss the slices in a touch of coconut oil so the spices actually stick instead of blowing around the basket. My favorite way to serve them? Dunked in dibs w tahini, a classic Lebanese snack of tahini swirled with molasses. More on that below! If you’re stocking up on snacks, my Date Protein Balls, Crispy Chickpeas, Easy Date Granola Bars and these Homemade Banan Oatmeal Cookies are always on hand for snacking! 

Please see the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and instructions.

• Apples: I use Gala apples because they’re sweet, crisp, and slice cleanly. Honeycrisp, Fuji, Pink Lady, and Golden Delicious all work too. Granny Smith makes a tart chip if you like a little pucker.
• Spices: Ground cinnamon and nutmeg give these that warm apple pie flavor. See the variations below for more spice ideas.
• Coconut oil: A small amount, melted, helps the spices cling to the apples. Olive oil works as a swap.

Recipe Variations

• Spices: Try ground ginger, a pinch of cardamom, cloves, or anise. Apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice blends work great too. For a sweet and spicy chip, add a tiny pinch of cayenne.
• Swap the fruit: Thinly sliced pears work well with the same method. Bananas and plums work too, but keep a close eye on them since cook time will vary.
• Extra crispy: Slice the apples thinner, about 1/16 inch, and add 2 to 3 minutes to each batch. Watch closely at the end since thin chips go from golden to burnt quickly.
• Sweeter chips: Drizzle the slices with a little honey or maple syrup before air frying.

How to Tell When Apple Chips Are Done

Apple chips are done when the edges curl up, the centers look dry and slightly translucent, and they’re lightly golden. They’ll still feel bendy while hot, which is normal. After 5 to 10 minutes on a cooling rack, they should snap cleanly. If the center still bends after cooling, give that chip a couple more minutes in the air fryer.

Recipe Tips

• Cook in Single Layer: When you place the apple slices into the air fryer you can have them overlapping a little, but just make sure they are not placed directly on top of each other.
• Ensure even slices: If using a knife rather than a mandolin, try and get the apple slices as even as possible, this will ensure they will all cook evenly at the same rate.
• Yield: Cut thinly, you will get around 20 – 30 slices from each of the apples. Just keep in mind, it really depends on the size of the apple.
• Adjust Cook Time: Cook the apples for 8 minutes instead of 6 if you want them darker and crispier.

Ways to Use Air Fryer Apple Chips

• Lunchbox snack: Pop a handful into a small container or bag. They travel well and don’t get crushed as easily as you’d think.
• With peanut butter: My kids love dipping these in peanut butter for a more filling after-school snack.
• Dibs w tahini: This is the Lebanese way to do it. Stir together 2 tablespoons tahini with 1 tablespoon carob or grape molasses (date syrup works too) until glossy, and dip away. It tastes like a nutty caramel and is so good with cinnamon apples.
• On salads: Crumble a few over my Apple Kale Quinoa Salad for extra crunch.
• On oatmeal or yogurt: They add a crispy topping that tastes like apple pie.
• On a snack board: Pair them with my Air Fryer Pita Chips, cheese, and nuts.