How to make yogurt leather for snacks, camping, or hiking trips. Higher protein and less sugar than regular fruit leather! Experiment with all sorts of flavor options!
When my daughter turned 10 years old, I knew we were ready for a new challenge. Though she was still rather short and too small to carry a large pack, she was mighty and determined. Our family was finally ready for a backpacking trip!
However, as I have mentioned before, my son has a sulfite sensitivity, which means that we really can’t serve him instant anything. Dried fruit, instant mashed potatoes, and minute rice are never sulfite-free. So when we go light-weight camping, it always involves a lot of homemade meals.
This yogurt and fruit leather is something I came up with for our first backpacking trip. We were going to be hiking the Juan de Fuca Trail, spread over 5 days. I knew that we would need plenty of protein and calories to sustain us.
Fruit leather and dried fruit are both really high in sugars. That’s great if you need a quick burst of energy. But it’s not the best option for sustained energy. That’s why I decided to add yogurt to my fruit leather. Strained yogurt offers a lot of protein to slow down and balance the digestion of fruit sugar, offering a more sustaining snack.
Strained Yogurt and Flavorful Fruit
The key to this recipe is to use strained yogurt (aka Greek yogurt). As a fermenting foodie, homemade yogurt and strained yogurt is definitely something I make regularly. However, if that’s not your thing, simply start with a tub of Greek yogurt.
Choosing a fruit that isn’t too tart or juicy is also key. The yogurt doesn’t add any sweetness so it’s important to choose fruits that will bring a lot of flavor to the leather.
It’s also fun to add spices and other flavors. Here are a few delicious fruit and flavor combinations.
- Bananas (with vanilla bean)
- Strawberries and blueberries
- Mangos (with rosewater)
- Figs (with cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon)
- Kiwis (with lemon zest)
- Apricots (with cinnamon)
Toppings!
I love playing with flavor and adding toppings to your leather is another great way to change up your fruit leather! Toppings are sprinkled on before dehydrating.
Here are a few suggestions:
- Granola
- Unsweetened coconut
- Chopped nuts or seeds
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