A historical preserve from The White House cook book; a comprehensive cyclopedia of information for the home .. (1913). The mixture should be dry enough to spread in a thin sheet before setting out to dry in the sun.
Preserved exactly as written in the original source
Stew as many peaches as you choose, allowing a quarter of a pound of sugar to one of fruit
Mash it up smooth as it cooks
When it is dry enough to spread in a thin sheet on a board greased with butter, set it out in the sun to dry
When dry it can be rolled up like leather
Modern guidance to help you succeed with this vintage recipe
Cooking the fruit with sugar creates a concentrated pectin gel while evaporating excess moisture. The sugar acts as both a preservative and helps form the pliable texture by binding water molecules and preventing crystallization. Sun-drying further reduces moisture content to below 20%, which inhibits bacterial growth and creates the characteristic leather-like texture that can be rolled without cracking.
The cooked fruit mixture can be made 1 day ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container. Reheat gently until spreadable before proceeding with the drying process. This actually helps the pectin set more firmly, making the leather easier to handle.
Once fully dried, roll the fruit leather in parchment paper and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month, or refrigerate for up to 6 months. If the leather becomes too dry and brittle, place a damp paper towel in the container (not touching the leather) for a few hours to restore pliability.
AI-generated tips from Chef Cecil's culinary database
The cooked fruit mixture can be made 1 day ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container. Reheat gently until spreadable before proceeding with the drying process. This actually helps the pectin set more firmly, making the leather easier to handle.
Once fully dried, roll the fruit leather in parchment paper and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month, or refrigerate for up to 6 months. If the leather becomes too dry and brittle, place a damp paper towel in the container (not touching the leather) for a few hours to restore pliability.
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