They get their name from the fact that, when dry, the product is shiny and has the texture of leather. Although leathers may be made from vegetables, fruit leathers are more common. Fruit leathers are essentially the same as the commercial fruit rolls. The advantages of preparing these products at home are they are less expensive, you can control the amount of sugar in them and you can mix fruit flavors. Fruit leathers are a great way to use leftover fruit pulp from making jelly.
Fruit leathers made without sugar make an excellent snack or dessert for diabetics.
Individual leathers can be made containing the amount of fruit allowed for a fruit exchange. Any type of fruit can be used. Good choices include apricots, apples, grapes, berries, pineapple, oranges, pears, peaches, plums, tropical fruits or others your family especially likes. Pur es of more than one kind of fruit may be combined for mixed fruit leathers. If using fresh fruit, select ripe or slightly overripe fruit.