In your large pot mix the lemon juice/citric acid and water.
Wash, and peel the pears and apples, remove the cores and stem, and cut into small pieces.
Tip: Use an Apple Slinky to peel, core and slice and then slice the rings into ½ to save time.
Place the fruit into the water as you go, this stops the fruit from browning/discolouring.
Tip: Reserve the cores, and peels in a separate bowl to make pear or apple cider vinegar.
Once all the fruit is cut up, swish the fruit pieces around and then drain the liquid.
On the stove top, heat the fruit over medium to medium-high heat stirring when needed.
Once the fruit begins to cook, sweat and soften, reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring until you have a soft puree consistency. This can take 15 – 25 mins and will depend on how big you cut your fruit pieces. If required, very carefully use a stick blender or potato masher to smooth out the texture.
Line your trays with baking paper cut to size.
Slowly pour the purée onto the trays, gently pushing it out to the sides using spatula.
The thicker it is, the longer it takes to dry so aim for roughly 4 – 5mm.
Gently tap the tray on the counter to get of any bubbles and make the puree as even as possible.
Oven instructions:
Place trays in the middle part of the oven and set to 70°C with the door closed. If your oven doesn’t go this low set it at its lowest (no higher than 90°C) and proceed with the door slightly ajar. Check more regularly.
Dehydrator instructions:
Place trays in the dehydrator and set to 70°C.
After 4 hours rotate trays and swap tray levels.
Bake until the surface of the fruit leather is no longer tacky, generally another 6 – 8 hours.
Remove the trays, place on a wire rack, and let cool completely on the baking paper. Check to make sure there is no soft, tacky or sticky spots on either side. If there is, pop back it back in for another hour or two, checking hourly.
To turn into Roll Ups:
Starting at the long edge of the cooled fruit leather, roll it up in or out of the baking paper – your choice. Using clean kitchen scissors, cut through the roll to form desired-sized strips.
Tie off with string or loom bands or leave unsecured (they will unfurl a little). If you are feeding them to little ones, please remember to remove the string or band, they are not to be ingested. We store ours unsecured with the paper on.
To turn into Fruit Bark Shapes:
Remove from baking paper and cut or break into pieces for fruit bark.
