Jams & Preserves
Cranberry Leather
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Prep
15 min
Cook
30 to 40 min simmer, plus 2 to 4 hours dehydrating
Total
4 hr 55 min
Serves
Yields 1-2 sheet trays
Tart, jewel-red, and just sweet enough, cranberry leather is what you make when you want cranberry flavor in a thin, flexible sheet. It has the sweet-sharp balance of a well-made cranberry sauce but in a form you can tear, fold, and plate.
Ingredients
- 24 oz (680 g) fresh cranberries (2 packages)
- 32 oz (910 g) fresh strawberries, trimmed
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (240 ml) orange juice
- 1/2 cup (110 g) brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp ground allspice
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- 1Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat.
- 2Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries have burst and softened completely.
- 3Reduce until very thick, like a jam.
- 4Blend until smooth.
- 5Spread thinly and evenly on a lightly oiled silpat-lined sheet tray.
- 6Dehydrate at 93 °C (200 °F), checking and rotating every 30 minutes, until the leather is set, pliable, and not sticky.
Cook's Note
Let it cool before testing for doneness, hot leather feels softer than it actually is. It should peel cleanly from the silpat without tearing.
How to Use This
Tear or cut into shapes for plating. Works as a garnish, a wrapping element, or a layer in a dessert.
Why This Foundation Works
Strawberries add sweetness and a deep red color that makes the leather visually striking, plain cranberry alone would be too dark and too tart. Black pepper in the background adds warmth without tasting obviously spiced.
Make It Yours
- Add a little fresh grated ginger for a sharper, spicier leather.
- Swap the strawberries for raspberries for a more acidic, berry-forward version.
- Add orange zest to the simmer for a more citrus-forward flavor.
Leftover Strategy
Store between sheets of parchment at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, or refrigerate for longer shelf life.
Common Questions
What is fruit leather?
Fruit pureed, sweetened, and dried into a thin, flexible sheet. This one is cranberry and strawberry, made to plate as a garnish or wrap rather than eat like a snack roll.
Why add strawberries to cranberry leather?
Strawberries add sweetness and a deep red color. Cranberry alone would be too dark and too tart to work as a bright plating element.
How do I keep the leather from sticking?
Spread it on a lightly oiled silpat, not a bare tray. Let it cool fully before peeling; it releases cleanly once set.