Fig Fruit Leather

Fig fruit leather. So, I’m not going to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes here and say this is the Best Desert Ever, for let’s face it, it’s not Grandma’s Chocolate Cake. There’s no refined sugar here, or magical gluten, or it’s not even made from fruit that people place in their list of top 20. But it IS a good sweet treat for those who are not looking for any of the above. (For instance, my 2 1/2 year old nephew knows “cookies” only as date rolls. Go Mama Kate!! This would be right up Moe’s alley.)

Our friend Sam has what we *think* is a Kadota fig tree (much deliberation has gone on, obviously). These figs are green on the exterior, but pink in the middle. These are different from ours, which we *think* are Brown Turkey.

I’m thinking if you disguised the name some, like “Not-colate,” or “Fun Brown Fruit,” or “Flat Goodness,” or something, you might be able to trick your kids into eating this naturally sweet treat. We’ll see. You can get back to me on that one if it works.

Ingredients:

2 c Fresh figs, any kind
1/4 c honey
1 T balsamic vinegar
1 T lemon juice
Pinch of salt

Instructions:

Heat the chopped figs with all the other ingredients in a sauce pan over medium heat until the figs are soft, or about 5-7 minutes or so. Transfer to a food processor or blender. Blend until pulpy. Transfer either to a baking sheet that has a thin layer of oil, or a greased dehydrator tray without holes, like I did. Spread a thin and even layer of the pulp on the tray (1/8 to 1/4 inch thickness). In an oven, cook for 6-8 hours at a temperature of 150-170 degrees. In a dehydrator, dehydrate at medium heat for about the same amount of time, or more. Cut into desired shapes, and give it to hyperactive children who need no more refined sugar. Maybe they won’t thank you for it, but you’ll be happy that fruit leather was your choice of treats.