Homemade Fruit Leathers

Fruit leathers are a fabulous alternative to store bought, additive laden, roll ups.  This recipe is easy to make at home with kids and has only 4 ingredients. My family likes the combination of raspberries and banana, but any combination of fruit can be used (apple & cinnamon, cherry & cranberry or mango & pineapple are also delicious). If you don’t own a dehydrator these can also be made in the oven, though drying times may vary.

Ingredients:
1.5 cups frozen raspberries
1.5 cups banana
3 tbsp honey
1 tbsp lemon juice

Method:

1. Combine raspberries and banana in a saucepan. If using frozen raspberries there’s no need to thaw them prior, they will melt quickly once put on the stove.
2. Add honey and lemon juice to the pan, stir together roughly and cover with lid.
3. Cook on low until the fruit is released in juices and combined together.
4. Let the mixture cook down together until thickened, similar to jam making.
5. Allow the mixture to cool.
6. Add to blender or food processor and blend until very smooth.
7. Spread the thick puree onto a dehydrator sheet. Try to ensure that the thickness is as even as possible.  Roughly a few cm thick works well.
8. Dehydrate at 65 degrees for 6-11 hours (depending on the humidity in the air, positioning of your machine and the thickness of the mixture).  You will know when it’s done when the mixture is tacky, but not sticky.  It should not be hard.
9. If one section dries faster than another turn the tray or flip the mixture occasionally to help keep the drying even.
10. Once sufficiently dry, peel the fruit leather off the sheet and cut into strips.  These can either be served as is, cut into shapes with cutters or rolled in baking paper to resemble conventional roll ups.