Nitrate & Nitrite Free Apple Cinnamon Fruit Leather
Chewy, sweet, and warmly spiced, this homemade fruit leather is the kind of snack that feels like a treat but is made entirely from whole, recognizable ingredients. Store-bought fruit snacks and leathers are notorious for containing preservatives and curing agents that people following a nitrate- and nitrite-free lifestyle need to avoid — making this oven-dried version a genuinely satisfying alternative. Fresh apples, honey, lemon juice, and Ceylon cinnamon are all you need to build deep, natural flavor without anything hidden on the label. Ceylon cinnamon in particular brings a delicate, floral warmth that's noticeably more nuanced than the standard supermarket variety. The slow oven-drying process does all the preservation work here, pulling moisture out gradually until you're left with a pliable, glossy sheet that peels cleanly and rolls up beautifully. Cutting it into strips and rolling each one in parchment keeps everything tidy and snack-ready for up to a month in the fridge. It's the kind of recipe that makes you wonder why you ever reached for a packaged version 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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