Fruit Leather




Kids will enjoy making and eating this delicious fruit leather. Have you ever noticed how excited kids are when they make something themselves? As a mom I like knowing that when they eat a sweet snack like this, we know exactely where it came from and what is in it.

Ingredients:

  • Fresh fruit of your choice (we have used peaches, blueberries, strawberries, and apple)
  • Filtered water
  • Lemon juice
  • Sugar or honey (as needed depending on the sweetness of your fruit)
Supplies:
  • rimmed baking sheet
  • saucepan
  • measuring cups
  • food processor or food mill
  • plastic wrap or parchment paper (optional)
  • tea towel
Directions:
  1. Wash, peel, core and chop your fruit, and pat dry with a tea towel
  2. Place fruit in a saucepan, the ratio of fruit to water is 4 cups chopped fruit to 1 cup filtered water
  3. Cover and heat on low for about 15-20 minutes.
  4. At this point check your fruit for sweetness, if it needs it add some sugar or honey to taste.
  5. Cook until mixture is very soft and thick for about 10 more minutes, stir occasionally.
  6. Preheat your oven at this time to 200 degrees F
  7. Now carefully transfer the mixture to a food mill, or a food processor and blend fruit until it is very smooth and the texture of baby food.
  8. Line your rimmed baking sheet with heat safe plastic wrap. If you have a silicone rimmed baking sheet you can skip this step. If you try to avoid plastic you can place parchment paper instead.
  9. This will take 6-8 hours. You will know it is done when the leather is no longer sticky to the touch and will be very smooth.
  10. Remove it from the oven and peel from the plastic wrap. Store in an airtight container. This goes pretty quick in our house, but I think it would keep longer if stored in the refrigerator or the freezer.
You could also use a fruit dehydrator, which I have yet to try! Enjoy!!