Blackberry Leather Recipe

Origin: Britain      Period: Traditional

Apart from making jams and preserves there aren't that many ways of preserving blackberries. They do not dry very well, as they are mostly seed and water. In fact, if you do dry them all you get are hard little pellets. You are far better making a fruit leather from the fruit which you can then chop very finely and use instead of currants in cakes, etc, if you so wish.

Fruit leathers are an excellent way of preserving certain fruit for later use in the year. Leathers are dissolved to make drinks in the Middle East and are also used as the basis for fruit desserts or they can be eaten as sweets (candies), making them much more versatile than you think. This recipe is for a classic recipe using blackberries that preserves the fruit's flavour and essential tartness in the leather.

Ingredients:

600g blackberries, washed and dried
3 tbsp honey (or, to taste)

Blackberry Leather Preparation:

Method:

Making the purée is simplicity itself. Combine the blackberries and 40ml water in a saucepan then add the honey and bring to a simmer. Cook until the blackberries begin to soften then take off the heat to cool slightly.

Pass the fruit mix through a fine-meshed sieve to remove any seeds (press down with the back of a spoon to get the most liquid out). You should end up with about 500ml of purée.

Now line a baking tray with heat-proof clingfilm (the kind you can microwave). Note that an average baking tray (about 30cm x 42cm) will hold about 500ml of purée.

Add the purée to the covered baking tray, spread evenly with a spatula (you want a depth of about 4mm) then place in an oven pre-heated to 140°C. Place the baking tray in the oven but leave the door ajar (you want the steam to escape, as you are drying the leather) and cook for about 6 hours, or until the fruit leather is very dry. The exact drying time will depend on the sugar levels, the more sugar the longer it will take to dry.

The leather must be completely dry, or it will not keep. To ensure the leather is dry simply try to pull it away from the clingfilm (plastic wrap). If it comes away easily and holds its shape then it is dry (make sure its not too dry though, as then it will crumble bit it can still be eaten as a candy).

To store, cover the fruit leather in clingfilm (plastic wrap) and roll loosely. Place in a clean, dry container and seal (I typically use a pasta jar with a bung). It will keep in the store cupboard for between 4 and 12 months or you can refrigerate and keep even longer.

If you wish to use the blackberry leather instead of dried fruit, chop very finely and store in a jar, just as you would currants or raisins.

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