Cinnamon-Sugar Air Fryer Banana Chips

The single most important factor in making successful air fryer banana chips is banana ripeness.

Ingredients

• 2 large firm yellow bananas (peeled and sliced into uniform $1/8$ -inch / $3\text{ mm}$ rounds)
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil , melted (or neutral avocado oil / melted unsalted butter)
• 1 tablespoon granulated cane sugar (or coconut sugar for deeper caramel notes)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt (essential to sharpen the sweetness and spice)
• Optional: 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (whisked directly into the melted oil)

Instructions

1. Prep the Air Fryer Basket: Lightly brush or spray the air fryer basket with a thin layer of oil, or line the bottom with a perforated air fryer parchment sheet to prevent delicate slices from sticking as the sugar caramelizes. Preheat your air fryer to $320^\circ\text{F}$ ( $160^\circ\text{C}$ ) for 3 minutes.
2. Mix the Cinnamon-Sugar Coating: In a small bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and fine sea salt until evenly combined. Set aside.
3. Slice the Bananas Uniformly: Peel the bananas and slice them into even $1/8$ -inch ( $3\text{ mm}$ ) coins. Consistency is critical here—if some slices are thick and others paper-thin, the thin chips will char while the thick ones stay chewy. Using a mandoline slicer or a sharp chef’s knife helps keep thickness uniform.
4. Coat with Oil: Place the banana slices in a medium mixing bowl. Drizzle the melted coconut oil (and vanilla extract, if using) over the slices. Toss gently with a silicone spatula or your fingertips so every slice has a light, glossy sheen without breaking.
5. Arrange in a Single Layer: Transfer the oiled banana slices into the preheated air fryer basket in a single, flat layer. Make sure the slices do not overlap—air needs to circulate freely around every edge to draw out moisture. (Depending on your basket size, you may need to cook in two batches.)
6. Season the Top: Sprinkle half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the arranged banana slices.
7. First Air-Fry Cycle (8 Minutes): Slide the basket into the air fryer and cook at $320^\circ\text{F}$ ( $160^\circ\text{C}$ ) for 8 minutes . Because banana slices are lightweight, check halfway through if your air fryer has an aggressive fan; if slices blow around, gently press them flat with tongs.
8. Flip and Finish Seasoning: Pull out the basket and carefully flip each banana slice using tongs or a fork. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture over the flipped sides.
9. Second Air-Fry Cycle (6 to 8 Minutes): Return the basket to the air fryer and cook at $320^\circ\text{F}$ ( $160^\circ\text{C}$ ) for another 6 to 8 minutes , checking closely at the 6-minute mark. The chips are ready when they turn deep golden-brown around the edges and feel dry to the touch.
10. Cool Completely to Crisp Up: Transfer the hot banana chips onto a wire cooling rack or a parchment-lined plate in a single layer. They will still feel slightly pliable straight out of the basket, so let them cool undisturbed for 10 minutes —as the residual moisture evaporates and the caramelized sugar sets, they transform into crisp, snappy chips.

Nutrition

Calories: 112 kcal 6% · Protein: 0.8 g 2% · Fat: 3.6 g 5% · Carbohydrates: 20.5 g 7% Dietary · Saturated Fat: 3.0 g 15% · Fiber: 2.1 g 8% · Sugar: 11.4 g — Added · Sodium: 74 mg 3%