Emulsifier Free Apple Cinnamon Fruit Leather
Store-bought fruit snacks are notorious for hiding additives like lecithin, mono- and diglycerides, and other emulsifiers that have no business being in something that should just taste like fruit. This homemade version keeps things beautifully simple — just fresh apples, honey, lemon juice, and warm spices that you probably already have in your kitchen. The apples are cooked down until completely soft, blended into a silky purée, and then slowly dried in the oven until you get that satisfying, peel-and-roll texture that kids and adults both love. Ceylon cinnamon gives it a gentler, more floral warmth than regular cinnamon, and the optional ginger adds just a little kick if you're into that. Spreading the purée thin and even is the real trick here — it's what ensures every strip dries uniformly without sticky patches in the middle. Once cooled and cut into strips, they roll up neatly in parchment and keep well at room temperature or in the fridge, making them a genuinely convenient snack to have on hand. It's the kind of recipe that makes you wonder why you ever bought the packaged stuff in the first place.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 2 lbs apples (about 4 medium), peeled, cored, and roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp ground ceylon cinnamon
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ tsp ground ginger (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 170°F (77°C). If your oven's lowest setting is 200°F (93°C), set it there and prop the door open slightly with a wooden spoon. Line an 18×13-inch rimmed baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
- 2
Combine the chopped apples, honey, Ceylon cinnamon, lemon juice, and ground ginger (if using) in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are completely soft and beginning to break down, about 12–15 minutes.
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