Homemade Fruit Leather

Local summer produce yielded several kinds of fruit, and we took full advantage of the offerings through Bountiful Baskets. We soon found our kitchen full with: 12 pints of blueberries, 18 lbs. of cherries, and 21 lbs. of apricots!

The question is, "Is it possible to have too much fruit?" Unfortunately, yes. To avoid letting anything spoil or go to waste, we had to find options other than snacking on these raw fruits. Of course, we can throw them in smoothies (like the ones mentioned in a previous post), but you can only consume so many meals through a straw!

Introducing... homemade fruit leather (or "fake fruit roll-ups" if you're Alison's kids)! I've found several different recipes for drying fruit into strips for longer-lasting healthy snacks, and they all vary in procedure and cooking/drying time. So, I experimented with every method and can attest to this tried-and-true recipe. I prefer the raw flavors of the fruits mentioned above, so I did not add any honey or lemon juice, and they all came out great!

Homemade Fruit Leather

• 4 cups of fruit
• water
• 2 TBSP honey (optional)
• Lemon juice to taste (optional)

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or plastic wrap (It won't melt at your oven's lowest temperature).
2. Set the oven to the lowest temperature (mine says "WM," others are around 150 degrees F - Do not exceed 150 if you're using plastic wrap!).
3. Blend your desired fruit to a smooth liquid in a blender or food-processor.
   *For less liquid-y fruits (like apricots), simmer them in a saucepan on low heat with just enough water to cover first. 
4. If you like your fruit leather especially sweet, add honey. If you like tart fruit (or you're working with a very sweet fruit like grapes), add lemon juice.
5. Poor the liquid fruit mixture onto the baking sheet. You want a thin, even layer. Spots that are too thin will dry early and become crispy. Spots that are too thick will take too long to dry and/or become sticky.
6. Dry in the oven for 4-6 hours.
   *The first time you work with a new kind of fruit, you will have to start checking after 4 hours. Drying time can vary based on your oven's lowest setting, the thickness of the fruit, and whether you added water or lemon juice. I found apricots to take the longest - over 8 hours! I recommend trying this first on a rainy day when you'll be at home. Then, it's great to put in overnight, and wake up to the sweet smell of dried fruit!
 

Enjoy!