Preparation:

1. Select RIPE or slightly overripe bananas and peaches that have reached a peak in color, texture, and flavor. (use bananas with brown speckled peels)
2. Prepare the peaches; wash, dry, and remove stones.  Make your pumpkin puree or use organic canned pumpkin.
   • Puree the peaches, bananas, pumpkin, sweeteners,  cinnamon, cloves, and salt, 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 a granulated sugar because it tends to change the texture. 
   • After the puree is nice and smooth, add the dried cranberries and blend for about 48 seconds.
   • Now add the walnuts and pulse about 4x.
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 4 hours.
   Transfer the semi-dried banana chips onto the leather, gently pressing them in.  Continue drying for about 4-6 hours or until done.  Flip the leather over about half way through, remove the teflex sheet and continue drying on the mesh sheet.  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 it 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.
   • 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.

4 thoughts on “Pumpkin Bliss Fruit Leather”

1. Kathleen Brown says:

   November 20, 2012 at 10:30 pm

   Well, thank you Amie Sue, for delicious recipes and for a seasonally invigorating warmth by the hearth of tantalizing raw vegan gourmet teazers. Thank you so very much, for sharing these beautiful photographs too, which bring home, the holiday charm to one’s virtual neighbors steps with folklore of tale. I love your stories, and the welcome of new blends, bringing friended freshness and flavor to kitchen traditions of ol’.

   Reply
   • amie-sue says:

     November 20, 2012 at 10:39 pm

     Thank you Kathleen. I appreciate your kind words. Happy Thanksgiving. :)

     Reply
2. Rose says:

   August 21, 2013 at 7:06 pm

   This looks very good and easy plus the website is beautifu.

   Reply
   • amie-sue says:

     August 21, 2013 at 8:52 pm

     Thank you Rose. Fruit leathers are a lot of fun to make. I hope you enjoy them, amie sue

     Reply

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