I still don't love commercial candy (artisan or homemade caramels are delicious though), but I do love fruit roll-ups. Real fruit roll-ups, though, made of dehydrated fruit puree, maybe a spice or two and a drizzle of sweetening... nothing else. This version is probably the simplest of my batches this year, needing only apples, cinnamon, maple syrup and a pinch of smoked (or regular) salt. Homemade fruit roll-ups are a delicious, easy portable snack for everyone's lunchbox, and are doubly easy if you have a dehydrator and an offset palette knife. Of course, if you don't have a dehydrator and aren't in the market (granted, mine cost me $10 on Kijiji) a low oven is a viable substitute! I've given both sets of directions below so everyone can play with Nature's candy, adding a healthy, sweet treat to your family's routine.
Maple-Sweetened Apple Fruit Leather
Makes 1 cookie sheet, 10 rolls
8 medium apples (any kind, I used Wealthy and MacIntosh), peels left on, chopped roughly
3 tbsp maple syrup (I use Grade B for all my cooking (and most of my eating), since I like it's stronger flavour)
1 tbsp cinnamon
pinch smoked (or fine sea) salt
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Toss apples and maple syrup in a large casserole dish.
- Cover and roast for 2 hours, until apples are extremely soft.
- Allow to cool slightly, then add apples and any liquid to a food processor and puree completely, making sure peels are finely ground (alternatively you can run this through a food mill).
- Stir in cinnamon and salt and scrape back into the casserole dish.
- Re-cover and bake another hour, then remove the lid and bake a further 30-40 minutes, until very thick.
- Spread on parchment-lined dehydrator trays to about ⅛” thick and dehydrate for 6-8 hours, until pliable and slightly tacky. Turn off the dehydrator and let trays cool completely before moving*.
- Cut into strips and roll up. Keeps in an airtight container for 1-2 months.
*Alternatively, spread mixture on rimmed cookie sheets lined with parchment and dry at 170F for 2-2 ½ hours, until just slightly tacky. Cool in the oven for 30 minutes, then remove to a wire rack and cool to room temperature
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 74.9
Total Fat: 0.2 g
Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
Sodium: 0.7 mg
Total Carbs: 19.9 g
Dietary Fiber: 3.0 g
Protein: 0.3 g
I love that you made a fruit leather! I can't wait to try this recipe
ReplyDeleteI LOVE using my dehydrator. Thanks for the great recipe, can't wait to try it.
ReplyDeleteApple fruit leather with cinnamon sounds delicious and you can't find that in a package.
ReplyDeleteApple fruit leather sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to try this! Sounds great!
ReplyDelete