Apple and elderberry fruit leathers

Not only are these fruit roll-ups an energising snack for country walks, they're also high in nutrients that can bolster your immune system for autumn and winter

This time of year our hedgerows are sagging under the weight of fruit and berries, packed with nutrients that can help bolster our immune systems for the chillier months ahead.

While we usually familiarise the elder tree with its white blossoms in early summer (which of course make a great cordial or champagne), when left unpicked the blossom transforms into clusters of dark purple berries renowned for keeping colds and flu at bay.

Every late-summer we make elderberries into a syrup to add to our children's porridge for breakfast. It’s great for boosting the kids’ immune systems (and ours!) in time for back-to-school germ term. This year, instead of syrup, we thought we'd try making fruit leathers – a handy snack that's ideal for school lunchboxes or fueling long walks.

We stuck to just elderberries and cooking apples for this recipe but feel free to add whatever fruit you like - there’s lots in the hedgerows at this bountiful time. Just remember to leave plenty for the birds, too.

Ingredients

500g elderberries

500g cooking apples, peeled and chopped

100g granulated sugar

1 cinnamon stick

10 cloves

Method

Use a fork to strip the elderberries from the stalks and place in a pan with the apples and cinnamon.

Simmer gently until the berries soft and apples are mushy.

Pass the fruit through a fine sieve – use the back of a ladle to help pass it through. The resulting puree will make your leathers.

In another pan, add the sugar and spices to the puree and reheat until the sugar has dissolved and you have a thick, syrupy consistency that sticks to the back of a spoon.

Remove the spices then spread the puree onto baking trays lined with greaseproof paper, spreading the mixture out carefully with the back of a spoon to cover the sheet in an even layer.  

Place in the oven (preheated to 50°C) overnight. If you have a dehydrator, use that instead!

To store the leather, cut a piece of baking paper that is a little larger than the leather. Place the leather on it and roll it up tightly from the long side. Twist the ends to seal and keep in an airtight container. Providing the leather is kept dry, it will keep for a long time! Cut into strips when you're ready to eat them.