While we were over at Reid’s Orchard picking up some peaches, we also picked up some early apples. We usually wait for the main harvest to come in, but thought we’d like to see what these tasted like. They weren’t real good for eating – a bit too mealy for us – but they make great apple leather.
Here are my dehydrator trays ready for the leather mixture.
Dehydrator Trays
To begin I add to the saucepan for each pound of apples (washed, peeled, chopped, and cored) one cup of water or apple cider.
Cooking Apples
After the apple liquid comes to a boil, I let it simmer for 20 minutes or until the apples are soft. This mixture is then removed from the heat and allowed to cool. When cool I add it to the blender.
Apples in Blender
I blend until smooth and then add cinnamon to taste. I use Penzey’s Vietnamese Cassia because it’s my favorite of all of our Penzey’s cinnamons. When I’m happy with the taste, it’s time to pour onto the dehydrator tray. Three cups makes enough to fill up one 14 x 14 inch sheet.
Pouring the apple mixture
I then spread the mixture out as even as possible on the trays.
Sheet ready to be dried
It takes about 15 hours to dry, so I let the dehydrator run overnight. Then the next morning, my apple leather is ready to be cut into fourths and wrapped up.
Apple Leather
I love to tuck one or two of these wraps in my purse just in case I get hungry when I’m out and about. These are great for kids’ lunch boxes too. And if you don’t want to mess with the fresh apples, just buy ready-made applesauce. Of course, other fruit can be made into rollups and even tomatoes. However, my favorite is apple.
This is my favorite book about dehydrating. If you use your dehydrator and have a favorite drying foods book, I’d love to hear about it.
Mary Bell's Complete Dehydrator Cookbook
I’m looking forward to making my next batch of apple leathers to stock pile for the winter. These keep for a year or so in the pantry. They keep indefinitely in the freezer or refrigerator. However, they don’t last that long around here.
I have a dehydrator which I use primarily to dry herbs and have never ventured into fruit leather. You make it look very easy and manageable and the fruit rolls look delicious! You’ve inspired me to give it a try and the book looks great too. Thanks.
Linda, Great! You will love this fruit leather! And another way to use the dehydrator. What about drying tomatoes? I use my dehydrator mainly for drying them and peppers.
Seriously, your blog is introducing me to so many new things, Lynda! I’ve never heard about fruit leather before but it looks good
Kristina, Thanks for the compliment! Fruit rollups used to be a big thing for kids here in the States. Not sure how popular they still are, but it was just another way to get kids to eat fruit (and a great marketing ploy). However, the homemade ones are pure fruit – no additives and much better for the kids. But they are really good for big kids too
It’s neat to have an whole apple rolled up in my purse!
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Any ideas / suggestions for longer term storage of fruit roll ups? Can they be frozen?
Lisa, You can freeze them, but I’m not sure they will last any longer than a year. If you’re not going to eat them in say, six months, it probably would be good idea to freeze them. However, they never last here very long!
Looks like I’ll be purchasing a dehydrator now! These will be perfect to take hiking and cycling!
Thanks!
Deven, You will love it. And there are so many things you can dry besides apples. Check out this post on my dehydrator – http://www.bloombakecreate.com/2009/12/time-to-put-it-away/
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This is great! I can’t eat unprocessed fruit and the fruit leather they sell at the grocery store is so expensive. Not to mention they only seem to make 3 flavors. Thank you for posting this!
Christal, This will be perfect for you and as you said, you can make this out of about any fruit or vegetable!
I have an apple tree full of apples and hubby and I talked about making fruit leather-no sugar either my little guy will love these-can you please do a tutorial on dried fruit too-like apple chips!!
Tracylynne, It’s so much easier to make apple chips or apple slices. I usually make them too and will when the apples come in.
Just wash, peel, and core your apples. (I say peel unless you don’t spray your apples.) Cut them in real thin slices and place on the dehydrator trays. When they dry I usually seal them in bags and put in the pantry. You can also put them in ziplocks and put in freezer. If you want to get fancy or to retain a lighter color, you could dip the slices in a bowl of pineapple juice and let soak for 2 minutes. Strain and then move to dryer trays. You could sprinkle the apples with cinnamon on the drying tray or drop them in a bowl of cinnamon sugar before putting on the tray. However, I really just like them plain – no fuss, healthy and easy.
This has always been something that I’ve wanted to try. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for this post. I’ve read recipes, but seeing the photos really helps.
I have tried several batches and am unable to get the leather off of the parraflex sheets without destroying it! Any tips? The first batch I am sure was way too thin, but after that I don’t know. Any input would be appreciated!
Chantel, I’ve never had any problems with getting them off the sheets as long as they’re not too thin. However, now thinking about it, I don’t just leave them in the dehydrator to dry. I check on them periodically during the drying and try easing them off little by little at a corner. If they don’t loosen from the sheet, I’ll wait a little longer and come back. Eventually they will come off the sheet. Then I’ll turn them over and let them dry on the other side. Not sure if that’s needed really. I just get impatient and want to get them done.