Fruit Leather Apple Recipes

BERRY STUDDED APPLE FRUIT LEATHER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 170 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment, making sure there is an overhang. Spray the parchment with cooking spray.
• Place the apples, juice, cinnamon and a pinch of salt into a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples have softened, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside. Pulse the apple mixture in a food processor until smooth and free of any large pieces. Using a ladle, pass the apple puree through a fine-mesh strainer. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, place the blueberries, sugar, lemon zest and 1/4 cup water into a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the berries soften and burst, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and crush the berries into a coarse puree using a potato masher. Set aside.
• Using an offset spatula, spread the apple puree evenly over the prepared baking sheet. Tap the baking sheet once or twice on the countertop to settle any air bubbles. Using a small spoon, spread the blueberry mixture in thin diagonal lines across the apple puree. Tap the baking sheet again to remove any remaining air bubbles.
• Bake, until the surface is smooth and no longer sticky, 3 to 4 hours, then let cool 20 minutes. Remove the parchment from the baking sheet and flip over to peel the paper away from the fruit leather. Slice the fruit leather into 16 long strips, 1-inch wide. Roll each strip in wax paper and store in an airtight container.

FRUIT LEATHER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 150 degrees F (65 degrees C). Cover a baking sheet with a layer of plastic wrap or parchment paper.
• In the container of a blender, combine the sugar, lemon juice, apple and pear. Cover and puree until smooth. Spread evenly on the prepared pan. Place the pan on the top rack of the oven.
• Bake for 5 to 6 hours, leaving the door to the oven partway open. Fruit is dry when the surface is no longer tacky and you can tear it like leather. Roll up on the plastic wrap and store in an airtight jar.

FRUIT LEATHER

Steps:

• Tip the strawberries and apple into a saucepan. Put the pan over a low heat, you don't need to add any water. If you've used frozen fruit, juice will run out as they thaw. Heat gently, keeping an eye on the pan until the strawberries start to break down, you can put a lid on the pan if you like, this keeps the steam in and helps the fruit break down. Cook until the strawberries have softened and given up their juice and the apple is soft.
• Take the pan off the heat. Purée the contents with a stick blender or in a food processor. Squeeze the purée through a sieve into a clean pan, pushing as much pulp through as possible.
• Put the pan back on a low heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the purée thickens enough to leave a clear patch on the base of the pan when you pull a spoon through it. The more moisture you drive off now, the shorter your drying time will be.
• Heat the oven to as low as it will go. Pour the purée onto a lined baking sheet (we use a reusable silicone tray liner) and spread it out to a thin layer, the purée should be thick enough to look opaque.
• Put the tray in the oven and dry until the surface is no longer tacky when you touch it, but the leather is still flexible - don't overcook it or it will turn brittle. This will take several hours depending on the oven temperature. If it is very hot and sunny you can air-dry the leather, or use a dehydrator.
• Leave the leather to cool to warm and then peel it carefully off the tray. Trim off the raggedy edges. Roll the leather up, then cut the roll into sections, using scissors is easiest. Each of these will unroll to make a strip. Keep the strips individually wrapped and airtight. The offcuts can be chopped up and used in baking, or snacked on.

APPLE-CRANBERRY FRUIT LEATHER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Generously coat two 13-by-9-inch rimmed baking sheets with cooking spray, and line with a Silpat baking mat if desired.
• Working in batches, puree apples, cranberries, apple juice or cider, lemon juice, honey, and sugar in a blender. Pour into a bowl to combine.
• Divide puree between prepared pans. Let stand 1 minute, then drain excess liquid. Smooth with an offset spatula. (The puree should be almost 1/4 inch thick.) Bake, with oven door open slightly, until dry to the touch (but not browned), about 6 hours. Close oven door, turn off oven, and let dry overnight in the oven. (Fruit leather should be stiff, but still pliable.)
• Remove fruit leather from pans. Trim uneven edges, cut into desired size, and roll up if desired.