Fruit Leather (No Dehydrator Needed)

This can be made with any ripe fruit. If you like your fruit leather entirely smooth, you can remove the skins, but you can leave them in for the nutritional value. Remove any stems, seeds or bruised areas. Be creative with spices and flavorings - apples or pears go marvelously with a pinch each of nutmeg and cinnamon, while cherries and peaches both love almond or vanilla extract. Add sweetener if the fruit needs it. The cooking time will vary widely depending on the ripeness and water content of the fruit - it's done when it is barely tacky to the touch and peels easily off the sheet. Keeps 2 weeks at room temperature, 3-4 months in refrigerator, 2 years in freezer. Adapted from a recipe by Carolyn Cope at Serious Eats. http://bit.ly/nKBqiY

• Ready In: 8 hrs 10 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

•  nonstick cooking spray
• 3  cups  chopped  fruit
• 1 -2  tablespoon honey (optional) or 1 -2  tablespoon maple syrup (optional)
• 1  tablespoon lemon juice
•  spices, to taste
•  extract, to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to its lowest setting (between 150°F and 200°F depending on your oven - anything up to 200°F is fine). Line a baking sheet with parchment or a silicone baking sheet (Silpat). Spray lightly with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Puree the fruit in blender or food processor with sweetener, lemon juice and flavoring(s) until smooth. Pour puree onto prepared baking sheet and tilt pan to form as thin and even a layer as possible. Bake in preheated oven 2-8 hours, until the fruit is just barely tacky to the touch and peels off the sheet easily.