Making Fruit Leathers

My favourite snack as a kid was fruit roll-ups. Under the guise of being healthy, these dehydrated fruit purees were a staple of my school lunch box. Now we know they contain corn syrup and lots of preservatives. However, you can easily make your own. Most fruits work here…I have made some with plums and strawberries, but its peak apple season as I am writing this, so apples it is!!

Ingredients

  • About 4 large apples, peeled, cored and chopped.

  • 115g/1/2cup of water

  • Sugar to taste (I added 2Tablespoons as my apples are tart!!)

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Place the apples and water in a medium pan and simmer. Cook until soft

  2. Add granulated sugar and cinnamon and mash. Cook 2-3 more minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally.

  3. Process mixture with an immersion blender until smooth.

If making in the oven:

  1. Pour onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a Silpat and spread with a spatula into a thin layer.

  2. Bake at 170f/75c degrees for 2-3 hours or until it's tacky but doesn't stick to your finger.

If making in a dehydrator:

  1. cut some parchment paper to fit your dehydrator tray

  2. Spread the puree on the shelf

  3. Set the dehydrator to 140F/60C and leave for 8-10 hours.

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Guide to Dehydration

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Bottling Juice and Making Cordials