Frugal Friday: Homemade Apple Leather

With apple season upon us, I have been making quarts and quarts of applesauce for the past two weeks. My family never has a problem eating applesauce as is, but I’ve been searching for some other ways to use all that sauce! Lately my kids have been loving Wegmans new Fruit Flats, which are basically a healthy fruit roll-up, made with apples and other fruit flavors. Those are fine, and an easy snack, but of course I wanted to try making my own!  It was so easy that calling this a recipe seems kind of ridiculous, but here’s how to make your own apple leather:

1. Line a cookie sheet with plastic wrap. I used my Silpat because it is reusable, and plastic wrap is not. 

2. Spread about 2 cups of applesauce on the plastic wrap, about 1-2 cm thick. 

3. Bake in the oven for 4-6 (yes, you read that right!) hours at 150. 

4.When you take it out, peel it gently off the plastic or Silpat. 

Apple leather can be stored for months in a tightly closed container in your cool, dark pantry.  This is easy snack for kids (and adults!) that takes very little effort to make, is sweet and delicious, and best of all is completely natural and healthy. 

I used apples from my parents’ orchard for the applesauce I used to make the leather in this recipe, and it turned out scrumptious. The best thing is that I know exactly what has been done to the apples (not a thing!) and what has been added to them (again, nothing!).