These quick and easy Air Fryer Apple Slices are made with sweet, crisp apples and cook in just 6 minutes. They are soft, naturally sweet, kid-friendly, and a simple healthy snack with no added sugar required.
This recipe has been refreshed with new photos and a cleaner layout, but the method is the same simple air fryer apple slices recipe I have made for years.
Air frying apple slices is one of the easiest ways to turn a fresh apple into a warm, tender snack. After testing different versions with lemon juice, sugar, and thicker slices, the simplest method turned out to be the best. Very thin apple slices cook quickly, soften beautifully, and keep their natural apple flavor without needing extra sweeteners.
The key is slicing the apple thinly and evenly. When the slices are thin enough, they only need about 6 minutes in the air fryer. The result is not a crunchy apple chip and not a syrupy apple pie filling. Instead, you get soft, lightly warm apple slices that are easy to snack on and naturally sweet, especially when made with apples like Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Golden Delicious, or Fuji.
If you enjoy a little extra flavor, cinnamon is a great optional addition. A small sprinkle of cinnamon, or cinnamon and sugar for tart apples, can make these air fried apples taste a little cozier without making the recipe complicated.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy: An air fryer works like a small convection oven, so it heats quickly and cooks food fast. These apple slices are ready in about 6 minutes, or even 4 to 5 minutes if your air fryer is already preheated.
- Only one main ingredient: Apples are the star of this recipe. Cinnamon is optional, but the apples are flavorful enough on their own when you choose a naturally sweet variety.
- No peeling required: Leaving the skin on saves time and helps the apple slices hold their texture. It also keeps more fiber in the snack.
- No added sugar needed: Sweet apples provide enough natural sweetness. If you use a tart apple, such as Granny Smith, you can add a small amount of cinnamon sugar if desired.
- Great for kids and adults: These air fryer apple slices are soft, easy to eat, and perfect as an after-school snack, light dessert, or simple fall treat.
Apples – The Only Ingredient!
- Apples are a naturally sweet fruit that provide fiber, vitamin C, and potassium. They are also a source of plant compounds called phytochemicals.
- The sweetness of the finished recipe depends on the apple variety. Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Golden Delicious, and Fuji apples work especially well because they are crisp and sweet.
- Granny Smith apples can be used, but they are more tart. If you prefer a sweeter snack, add a light sprinkle of cinnamon sugar before air frying.
- Keep the apple skins on for the best texture and to retain more of the apple’s fiber. The skin also helps the thin slices stay intact as they cook.
Kitchen Tools Needed
- Air fryer: Any air fryer can be used, but cooking time may vary slightly depending on the model. Always follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions.
- Mandolin slicer: A mandolin is the easiest way to cut the apple into very thin, even slices. Uniform slices cook more evenly and quickly than thicker hand-cut slices.
- Apple corer, optional: You can remove the core before slicing, but it is not required if you prefer to cut around the core.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here is a quick overview of how to make air fryer apple slices. For exact measurements, timing, and nutrition details, see the recipe card below.
- Wash the apple and leave the skin on. Cut the apple in half or quarters, depending on the shape of slices you prefer.
- Use a mandolin to slice the apple very thinly and evenly. A 2.5 mm setting works well for this recipe.
- Lightly coat the air fryer basket with a high-heat oil, such as avocado oil, to help prevent sticking.
- Place the apple slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket. A small amount of overlap is fine, but the overlapping slices may stick together.
- Add cinnamon if desired.
- Air fry at 325°F for about 6 minutes, or until the apple slices are tender and cooked to your preferred texture.
Helpful Tips
- These are soft air fryer apple slices, not crispy apple chips. If you want a chip-like texture, cook them a little longer.
- Choose a sweet apple for the best no-added-sugar flavor.
- A mandolin is important because thin, even slices cook faster and more evenly.
- If using Granny Smith apples, consider adding a very small amount of cinnamon sugar to balance the tartness.
- A slight overlap is fine, but overlapped slices may stick together after cooking.
- Use a high-heat oil, such as avocado oil, to lightly coat the air fryer basket. Avoid aerosol non-stick sprays unless your air fryer manufacturer says they are safe to use.
- If your air fryer is preheated, check the apples after 4 to 5 minutes.
- Thicker apple slices will need more cooking time and may not soften as evenly.
- Different air fryers cook differently, so adjust the time or temperature slightly as needed.
Questions You May Have
A vegetable peeler or cheese plane can work as an alternative, as long as the slices are very thin. Use caution with any sharp blade and slice carefully.
For a firmer, more chip-like texture, air fry the apple slices for about 2 additional minutes, then check them. Continue cooking only until they reach your preferred consistency.
Some fruits work well in an air fryer, including sliced apples and peaches. Delicate fruits, such as berries, are not usually the best choice because they can break down quickly.
Related Recipes
- Air Fryer Beet Chips
- Air Fryer Kale Chips
- Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
- Roasted Peaches (Oven or Air Fryer Peaches)
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Easy Roasted Broccoli in Air Fryer
- Best Air Fryer Beet Chips
- Easy Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
- Easiest Air Fryer Kale Chips
Did you make these air fryer apple slices and love them? Leave a comment and a 5-star rating to share how they turned out.
Follow along for more easy recipes and simple nutrition tips.
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Apple Slices
Kristi
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
- 1 Hand-held mandoline slicer
Ingredients
- 1 apple Any variety, washed, skin on, with the core and stem removed.
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon Optional.
Instructions
-
Slice the apple in half or into quarters for more traditional apple slice shapes.
-
Use a mandolin to cut the apple into very thin, even slices. A 2.5 mm setting works well.
-
Lightly coat the air fryer basket with a high-heat oil, such as avocado oil.
-
Arrange the apple slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket. A small amount of overlap is fine.
-
Sprinkle with cinnamon if desired.
-
Air fry at 325°F for 6 minutes, or until the apple slices reach your preferred texture.
Notes
- Use sweet apples for the best naturally sweet flavor.
- A mandolin is the best tool for slicing apples thinly enough for this recipe.
- Cinnamon is optional. A small amount of cinnamon sugar can be used if the apple is very tart.
- If your air fryer is preheated, the apple slices may be ready in 4 to 5 minutes.
- Overlapping slices may stick together, but they will still taste good.
- Thicker apple slices require more cooking time.
- For a firmer apple chip texture, air fry for about 2 additional minutes.
- Always follow your air fryer manufacturer’s instructions for safe use.
*Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the apple variety and exact amounts used.