Making these Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Chips is incredibly straightforward, even for novice bakers. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity, requiring just a few steps to transform ordinary tortillas into a delightful dessert. Let’s walk through each step in detail to ensure your chips turn out perfectly crispy, golden brown, and utterly irresistible.

Step 1: Preheat Your Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets

Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This temperature is crucial for achieving that perfect balance of crispiness without burning the chips. Preheating ensures the oven is at the correct temperature when you place the tortilla chips inside, promoting even cooking and browning.

While the oven is heating, prepare your baking sheets. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Parchment paper is essential for preventing the chips from sticking to the baking sheet, making cleanup a breeze, and ensuring the chips lift off easily once baked. If you don’t have parchment paper, you can lightly grease the baking sheets, but parchment is highly recommended for the best results. Having two baking sheets ready will allow you to bake all the chips efficiently, especially if you are making a larger batch.

Step 2: Cut Tortillas into Chip Shapes

Now, take your flour tortillas and stack a few together for efficiency – about 3-4 at a time works well. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the tortillas into your desired chip shapes. The classic shape is triangles, which are easily achieved by cutting each tortilla in half, then in half again, and then once more diagonally through the center, resulting in 8 triangular chips per tortilla. However, feel free to get creative! You can cut them into squares, strips, or even fun shapes using cookie cutters if you’re feeling adventurous, especially for kids.

Cutting the tortillas into uniform shapes is important for even baking. Smaller chips will crisp up faster than larger ones, so consistency is key. If you are making a large batch, work in batches of tortillas to prevent them from drying out before you get to cutting them. Place the cut tortilla chips onto the prepared baking sheets in a single layer. Avoid overcrowding the baking sheets, as this can lead to steaming rather than baking, resulting in soggy chips instead of crispy ones. If necessary, bake in multiple batches to ensure each chip has enough space for even browning.

Step 3: Melt Butter and Brush Tortilla Chips

Melt the unsalted butter in a microwave-safe bowl or in a small saucepan over low heat. Melt it completely and ensure it is smooth and liquid. Melted butter is what will give the chips a rich flavor and help the cinnamon sugar mixture adhere beautifully.

Using a pastry brush, generously brush the melted butter over the tops of all the tortilla chips arranged on the baking sheets. Make sure to coat each chip evenly. Don’t be shy with the butter – it’s what contributes to the crispy texture and golden color. Brushing each chip individually ensures maximum coverage and prevents any dry spots. If you find the butter starts to solidify as you work, simply reheat it briefly in the microwave or saucepan to keep it melted and easy to brush.

Step 4: Prepare the Cinnamon Sugar Mixture

In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Whisk these ingredients together thoroughly until they are well combined and the cinnamon is evenly distributed throughout the sugar. This ensures that each chip gets a consistent coating of cinnamon sugar. The pinch of salt is subtle but essential for enhancing the sweetness and balancing the overall flavor profile.

Step 5: Sprinkle Cinnamon Sugar Mixture over Tortilla Chips

Now, generously sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the buttered tortilla chips. Aim for a good, even coating on each chip. You can use your fingers to help distribute the mixture evenly, or gently shake the baking sheet to encourage the cinnamon sugar to settle onto the chips. Don’t be afraid to be generous with the cinnamon sugar – it’s the defining flavor of these delicious chips.

Step 6: Bake Until Golden and Crispy

Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the chips are golden brown and crispy around the edges. Keep a close eye on them during the last few minutes of baking as they can go from golden to burnt quickly. Baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven and the thickness of your tortillas, so visual cues are important. The chips should be firm to the touch and have a lovely golden brown color when they are done.

Step 7: Cool and Crisp Up

Once baked, remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Chips cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes. As they cool, they will crisp up even further. Resist the temptation to move them immediately, as they are delicate when hot. Allowing them to cool slightly on the baking sheet helps them firm up and become perfectly crispy.

After a few minutes of cooling on the baking sheets, carefully transfer the Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Chips to a wire rack to cool completely. This step is crucial for maintaining their crispness. Cooling on a wire rack allows air to circulate around the chips, preventing condensation underneath and ensuring they remain wonderfully crispy and not soggy. Once completely cooled, they are ready to serve and enjoy! The cooling process is the final step to achieving that perfect crispy texture we are aiming for.