Yesterday it was Operation Black currant leathers, and making cordial. When dehydrated I will cut and roll the leathers up in grease proof paper for a sweet treat for myself and my grandson. These last well stored in a sealed jar or box if you can resist eating them. Leathers are a healthy versions of the Winders that you can buy in the supermarket. My leathers were dried in the sun in my conservatory. They can also be dried in a low oven, a dehydrater, or in some air fryers. In the past I have dried them on the parcel shelf of my car.
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I have kept enough cooked currants to make a pie for tomorrow, and I am thinking of bottling some, but am just a bit scared of wasting them. Has any one else done this without putting them in syrup, please? I don’t have a canner and so would have to water bath them. I also usually infuse some in gin and vodka to give away as Christmas presents.
There are already 8Ibs of currants in the freezer, and loads more to pick. We make a pan of compote every week of the year to help with our nutrition, and add them to smoothies as well. We still have so many more to harvest. It has been a good year for currants. I also grow red and white ones and they supply pies, crumbles, and other comfort food during the winter.
My currant hedge started with 4 cheap cuttings bought from Home Bargains. They were £1 each, 10 years ago. I have propegated branches each year, and sold and given them away, and now have 8 currant bushes in the garden which give me free, nutritious berries every year. A small investment of £4 in the garden has brought me so much joy, goodness, money, and satisfaction to my simple, frugal life. 😊
There is already an apple recipe for fruit leathers on here, but I thought that I would share the black currant one here, again. A fruit leather can be made from most fruit. I tend to make them with black berries, black currants, or apple. They can be made with or without sugar. I tend to put a bit of honey in them as black currants are very tart. Leathers make a nice healthy treat when I feel like something sweet, and are something that I can give, guilt free, to my grandson when he is asking for a snack.
Ingredients.
I am not going to give specific weights as you can use what you have. You do however need at least 8oz of fruit and a sweetener to taste. I have always used granulated sugar or honey.
Method
1. Put the washed blackcurrants into a thick bottomed pan, with a splash of water.
2. If you are adding sugar or honey add it now before the mixture boils.
3. Simmer gently until the sugar dissolves and then for 10 more minutes. Taste to see if you want to add any more sweetener. I like my leathers to be quite sour.
4. Bring to the boil without a lid until the mixture starts to thicken as moisture evaporates.
5. Take the pan off the heat and allow it to cool down.
6. Whiz the blackcurrant mixture in the blender until smooth.
7. I then spread on the silicone mats but grease proof paper can be used.
8. I dehydrate mine in the sun but have done them in winter with the oven at 50⁰C. It can take anything between 5 and 12 hours to dehydrate a sheet. A dehydrator could also be used, or some air fryers. Mine took 6 hours yesterday as it was a hot day.
9. Once you can peel them off the mat with no sticky residue, they are ready.
10. They then need cutting with a clean pair of scissors. Each silicone mat makes me 8 to 12 roll ups, depending on how thick that I cut the strips. I cut mine long ways about 3 or 4cm thick, and then in half crossways.
11. To store them, I roll them up in clean parchment paper and secure the rolls with tape or string. This stops them sticking together. I then store them in a jar, tin, or box.
I enjoy the fact that I can have some sweets that are reasonably healthy. I know exactly what is in them and there are no E numbers or ingredients that I can’t pronounce.
Blackcurrants are full of vitamin C but I have never seen them sold in a shop. I think that the well know drinks company buys most of them to make black currant cordial. They also contain vitamins K, B6, E, and minerals such as calcium, manganese, potasium, iron, phosporus, and magnesium. Black currants are great for the immune system, protect against skin damage, and help produce collagen.
Do you grow currrants. What do you like to make with them?
I like to make blackcurrant summer pudding sometimes during winter, we also usually make jam but still have some left from last year.
Yes I tend to make jam with defrosted ones to make room in the freezer for after Christmas bargains 😊. I haven’t made a summer pudding for ages. Thanks for the nudge.
I grow just one plant of blackcurrants and make a few jars of jam or juice every year. My family don’t really like the taste of it. I might try your recipe.
They taste like sour sweets. I am having to ration myself 😊. I hope that your family like them.
You have inspired me to buy a blackcurrant bush! I’ll try Home Bargains tomorrow.
Thank you, Helen
They might not have any as it is usually winter or early spring that I see them. They are worth having.
Yes you’re right Toni, they didn’t have any. Might get one on eBay. Thanks for the leathers recipe. I have a lot of blackberries this year so will try those. Best wishes, Helen
Sounds a good idea can you make it with frozen fruit ? Have you tried making plum leathers ?
Yes I have made it with frozen fruit. No not made plum leathers but have made with apple. The seeds in blackberries made them too crunchy for me