A lightly sweet and earthy fruit leather with a hint of cinnamon made in a dehydrator. Perfect for packing as a snack for your outdoor adventures or in your child’s lunchbox.
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I first made this fruit leather because I was looking for a snack that had some vegetables. I liked the idea that it was portable snack and would last for a while without spoiling. Because the spiced apple beet fruit leather is so unique I assumed my boyfriend and I were the only people who enjoy it. As we’ve shared samples with others, they love it too. I hope you love it just as much as we do!
Ingredients for Spiced Apple Beet Fruit Leather
- Apples: Provides the pectin that makes the leather hold together.
- Beets: Adds an earthy flavor to the leather and gives it the beautiful red color.
- Cinnamon: Any cinnamon will do, but use Saigon cinnamon* for a better flavor.
- Ground Black Pepper: Adds a hint of heat to the leather.
- Water: Used for cooking the beets and additional water for making the apple beet sauce. Do not use the water the beets were cooked in for making the apple beet sauce.
- Neutral Oil: Lightly grease the fruit roll trays before adding the sauce so the dehydrated fruit leather comes off easier. Canola oil or avocado oil work great. Do not use cooking spray as this will gum up the fruit roll trays.
Equipment needed
Measuring cups and spoons: To measure the ingredients. A food scale* also works to weigh the apples and beets.
Large stock pot: The recipe will make about 3 quarts of sauce, depending on the size of the apples and beets. Ensure you have enough space to hold the ingredients when cooking.
Fruit roll trays*: These are thin plastic trays designed for your dehydrator. They are necessary to hold the sauce and turn it into fruit leather. (Note: the linked fruit roll trays are for specific models of Nesco dehydrators; check your brand for a comparable product)
Spatula: Use to spread the leather on the fruit roll tray.
Paper towels: Use a paper towel to spread a thin layer of neutral oil on the fruit roll trays to prevent the dehydrated leather from sticking to the tray.
What type of apples should be used?
A sweet apple that is good for saucing would be a great choice. A saucing apple is one that breaks down when cooked. Some apple varieties that work well are Pink Lady (my favorite!), Gala, Golden Delicious, Fuji, and McIntosh. Use a variety of apples to get a complex flavor.
Can you use more apples than beets?
Absolutely! The apples contain pectin and this is what gives the fruit leather structure to hold it together. When making a fruit leather with a lower pectin food, such as beets, use a food that contains a high amount of pectin, such as apples. A good ratio is a 50/50 mixture or a higher amount of the high pectin food.
Cost Saving Tip
To keep the ingredient cost low, look at the reduced-price produce section at your local grocery store. My local store often has packages of beets and packages of mixed apples. I try to look for apple packages that contain a variety of apples I prefer. When using the reduced-price produce, cut out any bruised spots.
How long should the fruit leather dehydrate?
The fruit leather will take about 12-14 hours to dehydrate at 130-135 degrees Fahrenheit. Things that will impact the dehydrating time are the humidity in the air, the sugar content from the apples, and the amount of water in the apple beet sauce.
How do I know when the fruit leather is done dehydrating?
Stop the dehydrator and touch the fruit leather. If it does not feel wet or tacky it is done. You may need to let the fruit leather cool for 10-15 minutes to ensure it is done.
Why does my spiced apple beet fruit leather not roll up?
Because the beets do not contain a high amount of pectin, this fruit leather will not have the flexibility like a fruit leather that is made from all fruit. Good thing is you can just tear this leather into strips and store. It won’t stick to the other pieces.
Spiced Apple Beet Fruit Leather
Ingredients
- 3 Pounds Beets about 6 medium – large
- 3 Pounds Apples about 6 large
- 3 Tablespoons Cinnamon
- 1.5 Teaspoons Ground pepper
Instructions
Prepare Spiced Apple Beet Sauce
- Put beets in a pan and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook on medium heat until the beets are fork tender, about 30 minutes, depending on the size of the beets.
- While the beets are cooking, peel and core the apples. Cut into chunks and put into a large pot.
- Once the beets have cooked and are comfortable to the touch, peel the beets, cut into chunks and put in the pan with the apples.
- Add 3 cups of water to the pan with beets and apples and cook on medium-low heat until the apples start to fall apart, about 30 minutes. Stir the mixture occasionally while it is cooking. Do not let the water boil out; add more if the water boils down too much.
- Add pepper and cinnamon to the apple beet mixture. Puree in a blender in batches or with a stick blender.
Dehydrate Spiced Apple Beet Sauce
- Lightly oil the fruit roll sheet with a neutral oil, such as canola or avocado.
- Evenly spread the Spiced Apple Beet Sauce on the fruit roll sheets and place in the dehydrator.
- Dehydrate at 130-135 degrees F for 12-14 hours. Leather is done when it is not tacky to the touch and does not feel wet.