Homemade Fruit Leather (Fruit Roll-Ups)

1 1/4 lb. chopped fruit, use one fruit or mix and match
3/4 cup sugar
1 to 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Combine fruit and sugar in a blender. Add the lemon juice to taste (use 1 tbsp for most fruits, except use 2 tbsps for apples or bananas). Puree until smooth.

Transfer the pureed fruit to medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over med-high heat. Reduce heat to med-low and cook, stirring occasionally at first and more often towards end, until most of the liquid evaporates and the mix is thick, 30 to 45 minutes.

Line 12 x 17 inch baking sheet with a silicome mat or non-stick foil (do not use regular foil, the leather will not remove from regular foil). Use offset spatula to spread fruit into a thin layer, about 1/8th of an inch thick. Bake until barely tacky (no longer sticky), about 3 to 3 1/2 hours.

Transfer baking sheet to rack to cool. Let the leather cool completly before removing from mat or foil. If leather is still wet on the underside, return it to oven, sticky side up, and cook for another 20 minutes.

Place leather on a sheet of wax paper and cut into strips and roll into wax paper. Cut with kitchen sheers or use a sharp pizza cutter. Store in an air tight container for up to one week.

 

Adapted from foodnetwork.com
Photo credit:www.sxc.hu