Fruit leather

Submitted by Kids Recipes Team on Sun, 2010-07-11 06:27

Description

Fruit leather is a snack that many kids enjoy. If you cannot find them where you live, you can make your own. This recipe is quick and easy.

Use microwave safe utensils. You will need microwave safe bowl, plate, wax paper or plastic.

Ingredients

3  
peaches (fresh, large, peeled, stoned and diced)
4 1⁄2 teaspoons
sugar (granulated)

Instructions

  1. Process fruit and sugar until smooth in a blender or food processor.
  2. Pour pureed fruit into a bowl and microwave on HIGH for 8 minutes or until puree is reduced by half.

Microwave method

  1. Lay plastic wrap - or waxed paper - or plastic wrap suitable for microwave use on a plate - 10 inches, 25 cm wide recommended.
  2. Spread evenly 1/4 cup - about 60 ml or 4 Tablespoon - of the fruit mixture to form a 6 1/2 inch - about 16.5 cm - diameter circle on the plate. Elevate plate.
  3. Microwave at MEDIUM (50% power) for about 5 minutes or until leather is no longer sticky in center.
  4. Remove the fruit leather together with wrap from the plate and place on a wire rack to cool. Let stand at room temperature overnight to dry.
  5. Repeat with remaining fruit puree until none is left.

Sun drying method

  1. Allow the fruit puree to cool.
  2. Wrap a shallow pan in plastic or layer with waxed paper.
  3. Spread fruit puree to a 6 1/2 inch - about 16.5 cm - circle or rectangle, no more 1/4 inch - 6 mm - thick.
  4. Cover pan with cheesecloth.
  5. Place pan in direct sunlight for 12 hours,or until ready.
  6. Fruit leather is ready when edges pull back from plastic and the center is no longer sticky.

Notes

When spreading the cooked fruit puree on the plate, previous step to dry in the microwave, make sure edges are not too thin or they will scorch.
Use the lowest of the racks in your microwave. If your microwave does not have this sort of rack, lay the plate with the fruit pured a on top of an upside-down saucer or shallow bowl - no need to repeat, a saucer suitable for use in a microwave.
If your fruit lather has not dried enough and more microwave cooking time is needed, cook at MEDIUM in 20-25 second increments. Watch carefully so that leather does not burn.
Roll up leathers in plastic wrap. You can store them at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Plums are also good to make fruit leather, you will need about 6. If they are sweet and ripe, you may not need to peel them before pureeing - but do remove stones.
We explain the sun drying method as we received it, but it has not been tested in our kitchen.