I didn’t exactly set out to whip up multiple batches of homemade fruit leather, but there I was. Our electricity was off for days and we had a whole freezer of cold, but defrosted food. When we discovered the situation, I had been dreaming that I had just given birth to quins (FIVE babies). It was one of those super real dreams which had freaked me out a little, so waking to a freezer full of defrosted food didn’t seem as big a hassle as it might have otherwise.
In among the miscellaneous food items, were five plastic containers of apple puree. Last summer we picked wild apples from the side of the road, stewed them up, and froze them to eat with pork.
I had been meaning to have a go at making fruit leather for ages so I added a container of frozen plums for extra flavour and colour, and popped them in the oven.
The kids took them to school in their lunch boxes for a snack, and they seem to be a hit. Here’s how easy it was to make this homemade fruit leather.
Try this too: Homemade protein balls are a quick and nutritious snack
Homemade fruit leather
Bakes 4 hours
Makes one tray
- 2 cups of pureed fruit – I used apple and a little plum (apple, strawberries, stone fruit all work well) – you can mix them together.
- 2 tablespoons sugar (depending on how sweet you want your leather)
- Make sure your puree is super smooth by blitzing it with a food processor or blender.
- Add sugar and puree again.
- Line a biscuit tray with baking paper.
- Spread the pureed fruit evenly all over the lined tray. It should be no more than half a centimeter thick.
- Place the tray in the oven at 60°c for a fan forced oven and leave for 4 to 6 hours until the surface is no longer sticky.
- Turn off the oven and allow the leather to cool.
- Use scissors to cut into long strips then store in an airtight container for up to a couple of weeks.
