Homemade Strawberry Fruit Leather
In short: Strawberries and apple cooked to a puree, spread thin and dried slowly in the oven into chewy, rollable strips with no added pectin. It takes about 5 h in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 4 h 45 min
- Total
- 5 h
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 60 kcal
Fruit leather is a chewy fruit snack that is made by drying a thin sheet of cooked puree until it can be peeled off the paper. Strawberries give the flavor and color, and one apple adds natural pectin and body so the sheet holds together. Slow oven drying takes a few hours, but almost all of it is unattended. Roll the strips in baking paper and they travel well in lunchboxes.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 80°C (175°F), or its lowest setting. Line a 30 x 40 cm (12 x 16 inch) rimmed baking tray with baking paper.
- Put the strawberries, apple, honey and lemon juice in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring now and then, until the fruit is very soft.
- Blend with a stick blender until completely smooth. Simmer for 5 more minutes, stirring, until the puree is thick enough to leave a trail when you drag a spoon through it.
- Pour the puree onto the lined tray and spread it into an even layer about 3 mm (1/8 inch) thick, keeping the edges as thick as the center so it dries evenly.
- Bake with the oven door propped open about 2 cm (1 inch) with a wooden spoon for 4 to 5 hours, until the surface is no longer tacky and the center springs back when pressed.
- Cool completely on the tray. Leave the leather on its paper, cut both into 12 strips with scissors and roll them up like little scrolls.
Tips
- A dehydrator set to 57°C (135°F) gives the same result in 6 to 8 hours and uses less energy than an oven.
- Ripe mango, plums or strained raspberries work in place of strawberries. Very juicy fruit needs a few extra minutes of simmering before it goes on the tray.
Questions and answers
How do I know when fruit leather is done?
Touch the center. It should feel dry and only slightly tacky, and your finger should leave no mark. It firms up more as it cools.
How long does homemade fruit leather keep?
Rolled in baking paper and stored in an airtight container, it keeps for 2 weeks at room temperature, 2 months in the fridge or 6 months in the freezer.
Can I make fruit leather in a dehydrator?
Yes. Spread the puree on a lined dehydrator tray and dry at 57°C (135°F) for 6 to 8 hours, until the surface is no longer sticky.
How long does it take to make Homemade Strawberry Fruit Leather?
About 5 h in total: 15 min of preparation and 4 h 45 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Homemade Strawberry Fruit Leather?
About 60 kcal per serving, with 1 g of protein, 15 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 60 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 15 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 12 g |
| Sodium | 3 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
