Ombre Fruit Leather Recipes

GRAPE FRUIT LEATHER

Steps:

• Puree the grapes in a blender or food processor, in batches if necessary, until very smooth. Pour the puree into a fine sieve and press hard with a spatula to extract as much juice as possible. Puree the grapes again and put them back into the sieve. Press again and reserve the juice for another recipe. There should be about 2 cups of grape puree.
• Pour the puree into a small saucepan with the sugar and lemon juice and bring to a boil. Simmer, stirring often and scraping the sides, until the puree turns glossy and darkens slightly, about 30 to 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 200°F using convection mode if available. Line a large-rimmed baking sheet with a silicon baking sheet. Pour the puree onto the mat and spread into an 1/8-inch thickness using an offset spatula, leaving a 1-inch border of space around the edge. Bake 1½ to 3 hours, rotating the tray halfway through, until the puree is tacky and not quite dried in the center. Let stand at room temperature until fruit leather peels easily from the tray, 24 hours to 48 hours.
• Place a piece of parchment paper over the fruit leather and invert. Peel off the silicon baking sheet and starting at the long end, roll up the fruit leather and parchment. Using scissors or a sharp knife, cut the fruit leather roll into 1-inch segments. Store in a resealable plastic bag for up to 1 week at room temperature or 2 to 3 months in the freezer.

HOW TO MAKE FRUIT LEATHER

Steps:

• Clean and prep the fruit: Rinse the fruit. If you're working with stone fruit, take out the pits. Chop the fruit. If you're working with apples or pears, peel and core them, then chop. If working with grapes, de-stem them. Taste the fruit before proceeding. Note how sweet the fruit is. If very sweet (ripe Concord grapes, for example) you won't need to add any sugar. If still a little tart, you may need to add some sugar in the next step.
• Boil the fruit with water, then mash: Place the fruit in a large saucepan. Add 1/2 cup of water for every 4 cups of chopped fruit. Bring to a simmer, cover, and let cook on a low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the fruit is cooked through. Uncover and stir. Use a potato masher to mash up the fruit in the pan.
• Season with sugar and spices, if desired: Taste the fruit and determine how much sugar, lemon juice, or spices to add. If needed, add the sugar in small amounts (1 tablespoon at a time), to your desired level of sweetness. Add lemon juice 1 teaspoon at a time to help brighten the flavor of the fruit. Add a pinch or two of cinnamon, nutmeg, or other spices to augment the flavor, if you'd like. Continue to simmer and stir until any added sugar is completely dissolved and the fruit purée has thickened, another 5 or 10 (or more) minutes.
• Purée the cooked fruit: Put the mashed fruit through a food mill or chinoise. Alternatively, purée the fruit thoroughly in a blender or food processor. The purée should be very smooth. Taste again and adjust the sugar/lemon/spices, if necessary.

FRUIT LEATHER

Steps:

• Mix 1/3 cup no-sugar-added fruit preserves with 1 teaspoon cornstarch. Spread into a 2-by-12-inch strip on greased parchment; bake 45 minutes at 225 degrees F. Cool, then trim the parchment and roll up.

STRAWBERRY FRUIT LEATHER

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 175 degrees F. Line a 17-by-12-inch baking sheet with a silicone baking mat.
• Put the strawberries, honey and lemon juice in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the puree into a saucepan, bring it to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes.
• Pour the puree onto the prepared baking sheet and spread it out almost to the edges, ensuring it's thin and even. Pay particular attention to ensure the middle is thin. Bake until the puree is set, about 5 hours. Let cool completely.
• Lay a sheet of parchment on top of the fruit leather. Invert the leather and gently peel off the mat. Cut the leather into 7 strips. Gently roll up each strip starting from the short end, then tie with twine. Store in an airtight container or package in cellophane bags.

PINEAPPLE-BERRY DEHYDRATOR FRUIT LEATHER

Steps:

• Combine the raspberries, strawberries and 1/2 cup applesauce in a blender and blend until very smooth. Strain through a fine mesh sieve and transfer to a medium bowl or measuring cup.
• Combine the pineapple and remaining 1/2 cup applesauce in the blender and blend until very smooth.
• Put one nonperforated dehydrator insert on a work surface. Pour the pineapple puree onto the insert in random dots. Pour the berry puree onto the insert to fill the remaining space, making sure not to overlap too much with the pineapple (it will create thicker layers that won't dry properly). Gently shake the insert to evenly spread the puree all the way to the sides. Use a spoon or offset spatula to thin out any thick spots.
• Place the insert in a dehydrator and dry according to the manufacturer's instructions at 125 degrees F until the fruit puree is dry to the touch, matte and no longer shiny, about 12 hours (times may vary depending on the machine). Test with your fingers to make sure it is dry all over. Let cool at room temperature for 5 minutes. Use a butter knife to loosen the fruit leather from the insert and slowly peel away.
• Cut or tear the leather into pieces and store in an airtight container up to a week.

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.

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.