Fruit Leather
Did you know that about 25% of the fresh fruit we purchase is typically wasted? If you have some extra fruit that’s close to its expiration date (and you’re hanging around the house for a bunch of hours), skip the trash and transform would-be waste into a 2-ingredient snack that’s crazy fun and tasty!
This recipe is kid-friendly (they can help make it… and devour it) as well as environmentally friendly (no spoiled fruit to toss). It’s the perfect rainy-day snack-tivity because it takes a looooong time to dehydrate in the oven (but I promise the prep is a total breeze). The finished product is reminiscent of those packaged rolled fruit snacks you enjoyed as a kid—and you can feel good about indulging in this version because it’s packed with only nutrient-rich fruit and a dash of honey. Who’s ready to roll?
Try these Cherry-Pineapple Pops!
Fruit Leather
Ingredients
- 3 cups fruit*
- 2 tablespoons honey
- * You can use frozen fruit but make sure it’s completely defrosted. For larger fruit, like mango and whole strawberries, the measurements should be made with smaller cut-up pieces. Blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries are already small enough!
Instructions
- Heat oven to 150° to 175° (must be under 200°F). Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or a very flat piece of parchment paper.
- Using a blender or food processor, puree the fruit and honey until completely smooth. Pour onto the prepared baking sheet and spread it out to form a thin rectangle using a spatula. Try to make it as even as possible; it can be a bit thicker on the edges since they’ll dry out first. You may want to tap it on the counter a few times to even it out.
- Place in the oven for 6 to 8 hours, rotating the pan every hour or so. Remove from oven when the center is no longer wet, sticky, or tacky. It takes a long time to get there! Let it cool completely, then slice it into fruit leather strips using a knife or pizza cutter. This will keep in a sealed container for up to a week.
- *To create “rolled fruit leather,” use a pair of scissors to cut the parchment paper and fruit leather (together at the same time) into 8 long strips. Then roll each of them up. The parchment paper will prevent the fruit leather from sticking to itself as you unravel and enjoy.
