Basics: Pineapple Banana Fruit Leather

You can make fruit leather out of almost any kind of fruit, and different fruit combinations. Some fruits require that you cook them a bit first, but most can be dried fresh. If you choose to dry your fruits fresh, be sure to pick in-season, ripe fruit.  You can always add sugar to taste.  This is a great recipe for home or on the trail -  school lunch or summit adventure. I have added coconut and macadamia nuts for added calories (needed in the backcountry).  If you are eating at home, consider skipping these for a lighter snack.

 

Pineapple-Banana Fruit Leather - Serves 4
4 cups bananas 
2 cups pineapple, diced 
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice 
2 Tbsp Macadamia nuts, toasted and chopped 
2 Tbsp shredded coconut, toasted

 

At home: 
Peal bananas and break apart into chunks and add to food processor 
Add diced pineapple and lemon juice. 
Blend until you have a smooth paste.




Spread paste out onto dehydrator plastic trays. 
Make sure the paste is spread evenly.



 Sprinkle each tray with 1 Tbsp of the shredded coconut.



Place trays in food dehydrator and dehydrate at 135 degrees (or fruit setting) for about 8-10 hours. Set a timer to check the trays every hour or so after the 6th hour to make sure your leather is not over-dried. When the leather begins to become sticky, sprinkle each tray with 1 Tbsp macadamia nuts.



Remove leather from trays and wrap tightly in plastic wrap, or tear in to small pieces and seal in Ziploc bags.
Your leather should keep for about a week.
Eat as a snack, or tear small pieces up and add to plain oatmeal or grits for breakfast.