Unbeatable Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Chips & Warm Apple Dip Combo!
Cinnamon sugar tortilla chips and warm apple dip make an easy apple dessert dip from familiar ingredients. Crisp flour tortillas are cut into wedges, brushed with butter, and baked with cinnamon sugar. The dip cooks on the stove while the chips bake, turning diced apples, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon into a soft, spoonable topping.
Serve the chips and dip together for a quick fall dessert or an easy party dessert dip. The chips are sturdy enough to scoop, and the warm apples also taste good over ice cream or plain yogurt.
Ingredients
For the cinnamon sugar tortilla chips
- 8 small flour tortillas, about 8 inches (20 cm) wide
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the warm apple dip
- 2 medium firm apples, peeled or unpeeled, cored, and diced into 1/4-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Pinch of salt
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon cold water
Firm apples such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn hold their shape during cooking. Granny Smith apples make a tart dip; sweeter varieties produce a milder result. Peeling is optional. Leaving the peel on adds color and saves time, though the pieces will have a slightly firmer texture.
How to Make Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Chips
Heat the oven. Set the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, or use ungreased baking sheets.
Cut the tortillas. Stack the tortillas and cut them into six wedges each, as you would a pizza. Separate the wedges so they are easy to coat.
Mix the cinnamon sugar. Stir the granulated sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl.
Coat the wedges. Brush both sides of each tortilla wedge with melted butter, then sprinkle both sides with cinnamon sugar. A pastry brush gives an even coating; if you do not have one, drizzle the butter over the wedges and spread it with the back of a spoon. Arrange the chips in a single layer on the baking sheets.
Bake until crisp. Bake for 10 to 14 minutes, checking near the end. If your oven heats unevenly, rotate the sheets once. The chips are ready when their edges begin to turn golden and the surfaces feel dry. They will crisp more as they cool, so avoid waiting for them to become deeply browned.
Cool on the sheets. Let the chips rest for several minutes before serving. They are more likely to break while hot, and cooling gives their texture time to set.
Make the Warm Apple Dip
Start the apples. While the chips bake, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, salt, and 2 tablespoons of water. Stir to coat the apples.
Cook until tender. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 6 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender but still hold their shape. The exact time depends on the variety and size of the pieces. If the pan looks dry before the apples soften, add another tablespoon of water.
Thicken the sauce. In a small cup, stir the cornstarch into 1 tablespoon of cold water until smooth. Pour the mixture into the simmering apples while stirring. Cook for about 1 minute, until the juices turn glossy and lightly thickened. Remove the pan from the heat.
Serve the dip warm in a bowl alongside the tortilla chips. If it thickens as it sits, stir in a little water while reheating until it reaches a good dipping consistency.
Tips for Crisp, Scoopable Chips
A single layer helps the wedges bake evenly. If the pieces overlap, the covered areas can stay soft. Use two baking sheets rather than crowding all the chips onto one.
The baking time can vary with tortilla thickness and oven differences. Start checking at 10 minutes. Thin tortillas may finish quickly, while thicker ones may need a little longer. Watch the edges closely near the end, since sugar can darken fast.
For a more even coating, brush the wedges with butter before cutting them into triangles. Then stack and cut the buttered tortillas, and sprinkle the wedges with cinnamon sugar. This approach can be a little messier, but it may be faster when preparing a large batch.
If the chips soften after cooling, spread them on a baking sheet and warm them in a 300°F (150°C) oven for a few minutes. Let them cool again before serving. Avoid storing them while they are still warm, since trapped steam can make them lose their crispness.
Easy Changes to the Recipe
- Add vanilla: Stir 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract into the apple mixture after removing it from the heat.
- Use a little nutmeg: Add a small pinch along with the cinnamon. Nutmeg can take over quickly, so start with less than 1/8 teaspoon.
- Make the dip less sweet: Reduce the brown sugar to 2 tablespoons, especially when using a sweet apple variety.
- Add chopped nuts: Sprinkle toasted pecans or walnuts over the dip just before serving. Keep them separate if guests may have nut allergies.
- Use whole-wheat tortillas: These work, though their flavor is more pronounced and their texture may be less delicate than that of white flour tortillas.
You can also serve the apple mixture with graham crackers, pound cake, or vanilla ice cream. For a simple dessert platter, put the warm dip in the center and arrange the chips around it.
Make-Ahead and Storage
The apple dip can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated in a covered container. Reheat it gently in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, or use short microwave intervals and stir between them. Add a splash of water if the sauce has become too thick.
Refrigerate leftover apple dip within 2 hours of serving. Use it within 3 to 4 days, and reheat only the portion you plan to eat. The tortilla chips are best on the day they are baked. Once fully cool, store any extras in an airtight container at room temperature; if they lose their crispness, warm them briefly in the oven.
Recipe at a Glance
- Yield: About 48 chips and 1 1/2 to 2 cups apple dip, enough for 6 to 8 servings
- Preparation time: 15 minutes
- Cooking time: 20 minutes
- Total time: About 35 minutes
- Course: Dessert or snack
This tortilla dessert recipe is simple to scale for a gathering: bake more chips on additional sheets and cook a larger batch of apples in a wide saucepan. Keep the chips crisp and serve the dip warm, and you have a budget-friendly dessert that feels right at home on a fall table.
