Dehydrated Apple Chips using local Honey

Prep Time: 1 hr

Cook Time: 6 hrs

Equipment

• 1 dehydrator

• 1 apple peeler

• 1 knife or slicer (mandoline)

• 1 bowl

Ingredients

• 1 quart warm water

• 1 cup honey

• About 6 lbs apples (fills up 4 trays of a Nesco dehydrator)

• 1/2 cup sugar

• Ground spices of your choice (Traditional spiced apple rings: 1 tsp cinnamon + 1/4 tsp nutmeg + 1/8 tsp cloves. Chai spiced apple rings: 1-2 tsp cinnamon + 1/4 tsp cardamom + 1/4 tsp ginger)

Instructions

1. Blend sugar and spices in a small bowl and set aside.

2. Stir the honey into the warm water, and keep it covered as you work, to keep it warm.

3. Peel and core the apples, and cut them into 1/4 – 3/8 inch wide rings.

4. Soak 3-4 cups of the rings at a time in the warm honey/water, for about a minute.

5. Remove apple rings with a slotted spoon, and spread them out on dehydrator trays.

6. Lightly sprinkle each ring with sugar/spice mixture.

7. Set the dehydrator to 135 degrees F, and dry until rings are either leathery or crisp. It takes about 5-7 hours for leathery slices, and longer for crunchy apple chips. Make sure the thickest rings are no longer raw inside.

8. Place your honey spiced dried apple rings into freezer bags. Before closing the bags, squeeze out as much air as you can, or use a vacuum packager.

9. Store in freezer.