Homemade + Healthy Road Trip Snacks: Fruit Leather

Homemade + Healthy Road Trip Snacks: Fruit Leather

On leg two of my road trip! So here is my second recipe: fruit leather!
This is my favorite recipe of the moment, I ate up all the leather I made within the day >.<
It has no added sugar, just fresh fruit and lemon juice, and it is yummmm and so easy. You can use any combo of fruits, but I used plums and pears that came in my Farm Fresh to You box.

*A couple tips: definitely recommend the plums and pear combo, they made a great pairing and a beautiful color. I've also used fruits like Fuji apples that also taste great, but since they are so watery you may need to cook them longer in both steps. And of course apples turn brown, so a tip for battling the ugly brown color is to add a very vibrant fruit like raspberries.

Fruit Leather
Makes one 12x17 inch pan

• 1-1/4 lb.s chopped fruit
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice

Directions:

Place chopped fruit and lemon juice in a food processor and puree until smooth. Pour your puree into a saucepan and place over med-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until it starts to simmer (careful of splattering!) then reduce to med-low. Cook for 35-45 minutes more, stirring often, until the mixture is very thick. 

Heat oven to 200F. Line your baking sheet with a silicone mat (or nonstick foil, but highly recommend the mat!). Pour your puree into the pan and spread evenly. Place in oven and cook for 3-3.5 hours, or until the leather is tacky. Let cool completely, then peel the leather away from your mat or foil and place on parchment paper or wax paper. Cut into 1.5 inch strips, roll, and store for up to a week. 

Recipe adapted from Food Network.