Banana Chips: With No Added Sugar

Have you ever wondered how to make Banana Chips? It’s easier than you think and so much healthier than any commercial product. Naturally sweet and crunchy -the perfect addition to your breakfast bowls!

Have you ever made banana chips? 

I assure you that a homemade version of this fruit chip is (almost) always healthier than any commercial product you can buy.

The procedure is surprisingly easy -just slice and bake.

This two-step procedure is exactly how these Apple Chips and these Oven-Dried Strawberry chips are made. 

What do I need to make banana chips?

• Bananas!  No surprise here. You can use as many bananas as you like. Make sure they are ripe, but still firm.
• Lemon juice. This provides the perfect amount of zing!

As far as accessories are concerned, you need a cutting board, a sharp knife, a pastry brush, a cookie sheet, and parchment paper. 

The hardest part about making these is waiting for them to come out of the oven. Go ahead, grab the sharpest knife you have and let me show you how ridiculously easy these are to make.

How to make

The whole process begins by preheating the oven. You will want to set it at 225°F (105° C). 

Next, you are going to line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. 

Once that’s done, squeeze some lemon juice into a bowl. The total amount depends on how many you plan to make.  

Peel and slice your banana into 1/16th – ⅛th inch thick slices. As a general rule, the thicker the slices the longer the banana slices need to stay in the oven for the moisture to evaporate.

Lay them on the parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer and without touching each other.

Lightly brush the top layer with lemon juice.

That’s it! They are ready for the oven.

After baking for two hours, they should be almost completely dry and turn a light brown color.

Peel them from the parchment paper, flip and continue baking until they are completely dry, with no moisture. 

Once you remove them from the oven, they will become crisp. 

As you can see, there is nothing complicated about making this recipe.

Tips

• Slice uniformly so that they bake evenly.
• Store in an airtight container.
• They are a great addition to breakfast bowls, granola, and yogurt.

What kind of bananas makes the best chips? 

Bananas that have speckled peels, but are still firm. 

Are they healthy? 

Homemade banana chips provide a snack alternative and are so much healthier than any commercial product which contains high amounts of sugar and fat.

Make them your own

• Use different spices such as cinnamon or perhaps a bolder spice like chili to give it a little flavor.
• Use it as a topping for your homemade breakfast bars.

Easy banana recipes

Wondering what else you can make with ripe bananas? This banana muffin recipe is simply irresistible! If you like the combination of this fruit with chocolate, then this chocolate banana cake is for you. 

Recipe inspiration

Ever since I can remember, I have always loved foods that provide a good crunchy texture. 

Although never a fan of potato chips, I prefer the savory crispness of Italian Taralli. Similar in texture to bread-sticks, these savory treats provide a great crunch. 

Dried bananas were another favorite food that provided a great crunch. Unfortunately, that was not the only thing it provided me with.

When I was studying to become a dietitian, I became obsessed with reading food labels. A quick peek at the list of ingredients in any commercial product for this snack food convinced me that I did not need the added sweeteners nor the ridiculous amounts of saturated fats as a result of them being fried.

I was recently at Costco, waiting in line, and scrolling Pinterest. I came across a home version and thought to myself that’s a great idea.

A few days later, I am sharing this DIY with all of you.

If you have ever wondered what to do with ripe bananas, make this recipe!

Enjoy!

THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

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Ciao for now,

Maria 

★★★★★ If you have made these dried banana chips, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

Recipe

This post was originally published on October 24, 2018, and republished on April 22, 2020 with updated content and photos. Thanks for sharing!