This is one of my favorite go to semi-healthy option of snacks. The big variation in making this for me is how crispy vs. chewy you like your fruit snacks to be. I tend to be on the slightly crisp as a preference and I like to sprinkle my favorite fruit punch powder mix on top just before dehydrating (or baking) – opposed to mixing it in the orange juice.
You will need A dehydrator, or convection Oven, with a low temperature around 135-155 degrees (ideally) or closely monitored at 200 degrees max as an option.
Convection oven method requires baking pans (line with foil to catch fruit drip) and baking racks (Amazon example) for fruit to sit on while dehydrating in oven.
INGREDIENTS
- 10 medium/small Apples
- 1 Can Pineapple Chunks
- 1 cup of Orange Juice
- 1-2 Tbsp of Fruit Punch Powder – I use Kool Aid (Optional)
PREPARE
- Pour can of Pineapple chunks and 1 cup of orange juice into gallon bag (I like to use two bags and do half with Pinapple/Orange Juice and the other with my Kool Aid dusting method)
- Core apples, slice into sized chips (I cut about a nickel+ sized width for each chip – this will allow for slightly crispier chip on finish)
- As you cut apple chips place them in gallon bag (optionally, mix in fruit punch powder (kool aid) in orange juice or after marinating in juice, dust sprinkle kool-aid mix on top just before dehydrating
- Marinate and refrigerate 4+ hours (I like to do mine overnight)
DIRECTIONS
Optionally, if you are Dusting with Kool Aid fruit punch
Use a dinner Tablespoon to “bump dust” – from a foot above hold spoon with Kool-Aid mix and gently bumping spoon with other hands finger to make kool-aid fall off edge of spoon as moving across apples.
If your are using a Dehydrator – Set to approx 145 degrees – it will take anywhere from 7 to 9 hours to complete. Often right after finishing – you want to wait 20-30 minutes to see the “true” level of dehydration you are currently at. – if still chewy, dehydrate another hour and check again after resting… repeat as needed
Kool-Aid dusted, Orange/Pineapple Only in qt bags (this was about 20 small to medium sized apples)