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Sassy Raspberry Banana Fruit Leather

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raw sugar free sweet and tart Sassy Raspberry Banana Fruit Leather

~ raw, vegan, gluten-free, nut-free ~

The raspberry is a sassy cousin to the strawberry.  They are sweet, and tart all rolled into one.  One thing that I love about raspberries is that they hold their own.

So, when I went to make this fruit leather, I was sure that the raspberry and banana would pair up just fine, with neither flavor getting lost.

This may sound a little strange, but I couldn’t stop smelling this leather when I took it out of the dehydrator. The raspberry fragrance was so strong and mouth-watering.

Raspberry Fun Facts:

Picking Tips:

Care and Handling:

raw sugar free sweet and tart Sassy Raspberry Banana Fruit Leathers displayed on an antique dictionaryIngredients:

yields 1 1/2 cups puree

Preparation:

  1. Select RIPE or slightly overripe raspberries and bananas that have reached a peak in color, texture, and flavor.
  2. Puree the fruit and maple syrup, in the blender or food processor until smooth.
    • Taste, and sweeten more if needed.  Keep in mind that flavors will intensify as they dehydrate.
    • When adding a sweetener do so 1 tbsp at a time, and reblend, tasting until it is at the desired taste.
    • It is best to use a liquid type sweetener.  Don’t use granulated sugar because it tends to change the texture.
  3. Spread the fruit puree on teflex sheets that come with your dehydrator.  Pour the puree to create an even depth of 1/8 to 1/4 inch.  If you don’t have teflex sheets for the trays, you can line your trays with plastic wrap or parchment paper.  Do not use wax paper or aluminum foil.
    • Lightly coat the food dehydrator plastic sheets or wrap with a cooking spray, I use coconut oil that comes in a spray.
    • When spreading the puree on the liner, allow about an inch of space between the mixture and the outside edge.  The fruit leather mixture will spread out as it dries, so it needs a little room to allow for this expansion.
    • Be sure to spread the puree evenly on your drying tray.  When spreading the puree mixture, try tilting and shaking the tray to help it distribute more evenly.  Also, it is a good idea to rotate your trays throughout the drying period.  This will help assure that the leathers dry evenly.
  4. Dehydrate the fruit leather at 145 degrees (F) for 1 hour, reduce temp to 115 degrees (F) and continue drying for about 16 (+/-) hours.  The finished consistency should be pliable and easy to roll.
    • Check for dark spots on top of the fruit leather.  If dark spots can be seen it is a sign that the fruit leather is not completely dry.
    • Press down on the fruit leather with a finger.  If no indentation is visible or if it is no longer tacky to the touch, the fruit leather is dry and can be removed from the dehydrator.
    • Peel the leather from the dehydrator trays or parchment paper. If it peels away easily and holds its shape after peeling, it is dry. If it is still sticking or loses its shape after peeling, it needs further drying.
    • Under-dried fruit leather will not keep; it will mold.  Over-dried fruit leather will become hard and crack, although it will still be edible and will keep for a long time
  5. Storage: to store the finished fruit leather…
    • Allow the leather to cool before wrapping up to avoid moisture from forming, thus giving it a breeding ground for molds.
    • Roll them up and wrap tightly with plastic wrap.  Click (here) to see photos on how I wrap them.
    • Place in an air-tight container, and store in a dry, dark place. (Light will cause the fruit leather to discolor.)
    • The fruit leather will keep at room temperature for one month, or in a freezer for up to one year.

Culinary Explanations:

a close up raw sugar free sweet and tart Sassy Raspberry Banana Fruit Leathers displayed on an antique dictionary

2 thoughts on “Sassy Raspberry Banana Fruit Leather

  1. Nikki Kostyun says:

    i wanted to do this but with vanilla extract and agave – any recommended amount of extract? thanks!

    • amie-sue says:

      Hello Nikki,

      I would use the same 2 Tbsp of sweetener and then add 1/2 -1 tsp of vanilla. :) Enjoy and let me know how it comes out. Blessings, amie sue

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