How to Dehydrate Apples in an Air Fryer (Crispy Cinnamon Apple Chips)

Forget the $6 bag of apple chips at the store — you can make a better version in your air fryer with just two apples and a pinch of cinnamon. In 20 minutes, you’ll have crispy, naturally sweet, no-sugar-added apple chips that’ll disappear before they even hit the cooling rack.

If you’ve been searching for a healthier alternative to potato chips that the whole family will actually devour, you’ll love learning how to dehydrate apples in an air fryer. With just two ingredients — apples and a sprinkle of cinnamon — you can have crispy, sweet, cinnamon-spiced apple chips ready in about 20 minutes. No added sugar, no oil, no preservatives. Just real fruit, turned into a snack you’ll want to keep on hand all year long.

I’ve tested this recipe with everything from a small 4-quart basket air fryer to a 10-quart oven-style model, and I’ll walk you through exactly how to get crispy results in any machine — including what to do when your air fryer won’t go as low as 150°F.

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Apple Chips Recipe

• ⏱️ Fast — ready in 20 minutes (vs. 6–12 hours in a traditional dehydrator)
• 🍎 Just 2 ingredients — apples and cinnamon (plus an optional lemon juice trick)
• 🍪 No added sugar, oil, or preservatives — a truly healthy snack
• 👶 Kid-friendly — sweet enough to satisfy a candy craving, wholesome enough for lunchboxes
• 🥗 Diet-friendly — naturally vegan, gluten-free, paleo, Whole30, and low-calorie
• 📦 Great for meal prep — make a big batch and store for later

What You’ll Need

2 large apples — about 1 lb total (see “Best Apples” section below for variety recommendations)

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon — or substitute apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice Optional: 1 tablespoon lemon juice mixed with 1 cup water (to prevent browning)

Equipment

• Air fryer (basket-style or oven-style both work)
• Mandoline slicer — strongly recommended for even, thin slices
• Sharp paring knife or apple corer
• Large mixing bowl
• Tongs or a small spatula for flipping
• Wire cooling rack
• Airtight container for storage

Best Apples for Dehydrating

Not all apples crisp up the same way. After testing several varieties, here are my recommendations based on what kind of dried apple chip you want:

Apple Variety	Flavor Profile	Best For
Honeycrisp	Sweet-tart, very firm	All-purpose, best texture
Granny Smith	Tart, very firm	Tangy chips, holds shape best
Fuji	Very sweet, firm	Sweet chips with no added sugar
Gala	Mildly sweet, medium-firm	Kid-friendly chips
Pink Lady	Sweet-tart, crisp	Balanced flavor
Braeburn	Tart-sweet, firm	Excellent all-around
Red Delicious	Sweet, softer	Use only if very fresh
McIntosh	Sweet-tart, soft	Not ideal — gets too floppy

Pro tip: Use a blend of two varieties — one sweet (Honeycrisp or Fuji) and one tart (Granny Smith) — for chips with the most complex flavor.

How to Dehydrate Apples in an Air Fryer (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Prep the Apples

Wash your apples thoroughly and pat them dry. You can peel them if you prefer a smoother texture, but I leave the peel on — it adds fiber, color, and that classic apple-chip look.

Core the apples, then slice them into even, thin rounds about ⅛ inch thick (3 mm). A mandoline slicer is the easiest way to get uniform slices, and uniform slices are the single biggest factor in whether your chips crisp up evenly.

Slice thickness matters: ⅛” gives you crispy-but-chewy chips. ¹⁄₁₆” gives you ultra-crispy, crackery chips (and dehydrates faster). Anything thicker than ¼” will stay leathery.

Step 2: Prevent Browning (Optional)

If you’re slicing several apples at once, drop the slices into a bowl of cold water mixed with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. The mild acid prevents oxidation and keeps your chips looking bright. Drain and pat dry before seasoning.

Step 3: Season

Add the apple slices to a large bowl and sprinkle with the ground cinnamon. Toss gently with your hands or a spoon until every slice is lightly coated. Try not to break the slices.

Step 4: Arrange in the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 150°F (66°C) if your model goes that low. Most modern air fryers do not — if yours starts at 200°F or higher, see the troubleshooting section below for adjusted times.

Lay the apple slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overlap them. Overlapping is the #1 reason apple chips come out soggy. You will almost certainly need to work in batches — that’s normal.

Step 5: Dehydrate

Air Fryer Temperature	Cook Time	Texture
150°F (66°C) — true dehydrate setting	45–60 min, flipping every 15 min	Crisp, true dehydrated
200°F (93°C) — lowest most air fryers reach	18–22 min, flipping every 5 min	Crisp-chewy
300°F (149°C) — common low setting	10–14 min, flipping every 3 min	Crisp but more “baked”

Flip the apples regularly throughout cooking so both sides dry evenly. Check often near the end — apples go from “almost done” to “burned at the edges” very quickly at higher temperatures.

Step 6: Cool to Crisp Up

This is the step most people skip — and it’s the most important. Transfer the apples to a wire cooling rack (not a plate, which traps steam) and let them cool completely, about 10–15 minutes. They’ll continue to crisp up as they cool. If they still feel a little chewy after cooling, pop them back in the air fryer for another 2–3 minutes.

Air Fryer Apple Chips: Tips for Crispy Success

• Slice evenly. Thick slices won’t dry; uneven slices will burn on some and bend on others. A mandoline is worth the small investment.
• Don’t crowd the basket. Single layer, no overlapping. Hot air needs to circulate around every slice.
• Flip frequently. Every 3–5 minutes at high temps, every 10–15 minutes at low temps.
• Cool completely. Apple chips crisp dramatically as they cool. Judge doneness after cooling, not before.
• Work in batches. Yes, it takes longer, but you’ll get crispier results than trying to cram everything in at once.
• Watch the edges. Thinner edge slices brown faster — pull them out a few minutes early if needed.

Troubleshooting: Why Aren’t My Apple Chips Crispy?

• My chips are chewy, not crispy. You probably pulled them too early, sliced them too thick, or didn’t cool them long enough. Slide them back in for 2–3 minutes, then cool fully on a rack.
• My chips burned. Your air fryer runs hot, or the slices were too thin for the temperature. Drop the temp 25°F and check more often.
• My chips are pale and floppy. Likely overcrowded basket or temperature too low for the time you used. Work in smaller batches.
• They taste bitter. Some apples (especially older or under-ripe ones) get bitter when dehydrated. Try a fresh, in-season apple.

How to Store Dehydrated Apples

Cool the chips completely before storing — any leftover moisture will turn the chips soft within hours.

Storage Method	Shelf Life
Airtight container, pantry (cool, dark)	1–2 weeks
Airtight container, refrigerator	3–4 weeks
Vacuum-sealed bag, pantry	2–3 months
Vacuum-sealed bag, freezer	6–12 months

Conditioning tip: For longer storage, “condition” your chips by placing them in a loosely covered jar for a week, shaking daily. If you see any moisture on the jar, return them to the air fryer for a few minutes. This step ensures no hidden moisture causes spoilage later.

Note: Air-fried apple chips don’t reach the same low moisture level as truly dehydrated apples (from a dedicated dehydrator). For pantry storage longer than a few weeks, refrigerate or freeze them.

Recipe Variations

• Spicy Apple Chips — Add a pinch of cayenne for a sweet-heat combo.
• Apple Pie Spice Chips — Swap cinnamon for 1 tsp apple pie spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves)
• Pumpkin Spice Apple Chips — Fall favorite; use 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• Cinnamon Sugar Apple Chips — Add 1 tsp coconut sugar or maple sugar with the cinnamon (still much lower sugar than store-bought)
• Savory Apple Chips — Toss with a pinch of sea salt and smoked paprika; surprisingly delicious with cheese
• Vanilla Apple Chips — Add ¼ tsp vanilla powder to the cinnamon

How to Use Dehydrated Apple Chips

Beyond grabbing them by the handful:

🥧 Rehydrate in warm apple cider for pie filling — simmer 15 minutes until soft

🥣 Crumble over oatmeal, yogurt bowls, or air fryer breakfast bakes

🥨 Add to homemade trail mix with nuts and seeds

🥗 Crush and sprinkle over a fall salad with goat cheese and walnuts

🍰 Stir into muffin or quick bread batter (like these caramel apple muffins)

🧀 Serve on a cheese board with sharp cheddar or brie

🍦 Use as a topping for ice cream or frozen yogurt

🎒 Pack into lunchboxes as a shelf-stable snack

Air Fryer vs. Dehydrator vs. Oven: Which Method Is Best?

Method	Time	Crispness	Batch Size	Best For
Air Fryer	15–60 min	Very crispy	Small (2–4 apples)	Fastest, best for snacking soon
Food Dehydrator	6–12 hours	True dehydrated, can be leathery or crispy	Large (10+ apples)	Long-term storage, big batches
Oven	2–4 hours	Crispy	Medium (4–6 apples)	When you don’t have either appliance

Bottom line: The air fryer is the fastest method and produces excellent chips for short-term eating. If you want to preserve a bushel of apples for the year, invest in a dehydrator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What temperature do you dehydrate apples in an air fryer? The ideal temperature is 150°F (66°C), but most air fryers can’t go that low. If yours starts at 200°F, dehydrate apples at 200°F for 18–22 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes. At 300°F, cook for only 10–14 minutes, flipping every 3 minutes.

How long does it take to dehydrate apples in an air fryer? Most apple chips are done in 15 to 25 minutes in an air fryer running at 200–300°F. At true dehydrating temperatures (150°F), it can take 45–60 minutes. Time varies with slice thickness — ⅛” slices take roughly 20 minutes; ¹⁄₁₆” slices take about 15.

Do I need to peel the apples? No. Leaving the peel on adds fiber and natural color. Peel only if you prefer a softer texture or are using a variety with thick, waxy skin.

Why are my air fryer apple chips not crispy? The two biggest culprits are: (1) you didn’t let them cool on a wire rack — they crisp up as they cool, not while hot; and (2) you sliced them too thick. Use a mandoline to get a consistent ⅛” or thinner.

Do I need to soak apples in lemon juice before dehydrating? It’s optional. A quick dip in lemon water (1 tablespoon lemon juice per cup of water) prevents browning and helps the chips keep a bright color. Skip it if you don’t mind a slightly darker, more rustic-looking chip.

Are dehydrated apples healthy? Yes — dehydrating apples preserves most of their fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants. Because the water is removed, the sugars are concentrated, so a serving of dehydrated apples has more sugar per ounce than fresh apples. They’re still far healthier than chips, candy, or store-bought fruit snacks.

Can I dehydrate apples without cinnamon? Absolutely. Plain dehydrated apples taste like sweet, concentrated apple. The cinnamon is purely for flavor.

How do I know when my dehydrated apples are done? Done apple chips will look shrunken and wrinkled. They should be dry to the touch and feel leathery to slightly crisp when warm. After cooling completely on a wire rack, they should snap or crunch when bent. If they still feel moist or floppy after cooling, return them to the air fryer for a few more minutes.

Can I make these without an air fryer? Yes — dehydrate them in the oven at the lowest setting (typically 170–200°F) for 2–4 hours, flipping every 30 minutes. Or use a food dehydrator at 135°F for 6–12 hours for the best long-term storage results.

How long do homemade dehydrated apples last? In an airtight container in the pantry, 1–2 weeks. Refrigerated, 3–4 weeks. Vacuum-sealed in the freezer, up to a year. Air-fried apples retain slightly more moisture than dehydrator-dried apples, so they don’t keep as long at room temperature.

More Air Fryer Dehydrated Snacks You’ll Love

• Air Fryer Dehydrated Blueberries
• How to Dehydrate Grapes for Homemade Raisins

Don’t Forget To Follow Us Along on Social Media; Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, and Join Our Facebook Page and group for all your Air Fryer Recipes and Tips!