These homemade pear chips are an easy, healthy snack that's perfect for camping or hiking. You can make them in advance and pack them along on your trip and they don't require any cooler space.
Pears are one of my favorite autumn fruits. The super ripe and juicy ones get eaten out of hand, and the ones that are still a little crunchy get folded into foil packet pear crisps, and these handy little chips, which are great for camping and hiking, but make a pretty terrific mid-afternoon snack at home, too.
Why This Recipe is Great for Camping
- They're a great hiking or kid-friendly camping snack that can be made in advance.
- They don't require any cooler space.
- They're a healthy treat everyone can enjoy and a popular fall recipe.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Pears--You can use any type of pear for these homemade chips, but choose pears that are slightly underripe. Overripe or soft pears will be difficult to slice and will take a long time to dry.
How to Make Pear Chips
- Use a mandoline or sharp knife to slice the pears thinly. Remove any seeds.
- Arrange the pear slices on parchment-lined baking sheets and bake in a 225°F oven until crisp.
FAQs
Any moisture left in the fruit is going to make it a little chewy. To avoid this, cut your slices as thin as possible, and cook them until they are beginning to curl and feel dry. Let them cool completely before storing them as they'll crisp up more as they cool.
It's up to you. Some people find the pear skin a little tough and gritty on larger pieces of fruit, however, with very thin slices I don't find this is noticeable.
Variation: Cinnamon Sugar Pear Chips
If you prefer your chips a little on the sweeter side, mix together 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and sprinkle over them before baking.
Tips and Troubleshooting
- A mandoline will give you the thinnest, most even slices. If you have to cut them by hand it will still work, but you may end up with slightly thicker chips, which will take longer to bake.
- Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. They will soften over time as they absorb moisture.
- This pear chips recipe is suitable for gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan diets.
More Healthy Camping Snack Recipes You'll Love
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Recipe
Pear Chips
Ingredients
- 1 large pear peeled if desired
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 225°F (107°C). Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Slice a small round off the bottom of the pear and discard. Using a mandoline or very sharp knife, slice the pear into ⅛-inch (3-mm) rounds. Remove any seeds from the slices.
- Arrange the pear slices in a single layer on the baking sheets.
- Bake the pear chips for 1 hour, then rotate the sheets and continue cooking until the pears have curled around the edges and appear dry, 45 to 60 minutes more. They will crisp more as they cool.
Notes
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- Slicing the pear--A mandoline will give you the thinnest, most even slices. If you have to cut them by hand it will still work, but you may end up with slightly thicker chips, which will take longer to bake.
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- Storage--Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. They will soften over time as they absorb moisture.
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- Dietary--This recipe is suitable for gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan diets.
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