Rachel Lambert: forager, author, guide
£0.00

Hawthorn Berry Fruit Leather

Rolls of homemade fruit yoyos!

Perfect for sluggish, cold days, this fruit leather is a fabulous pick-me-up. This recipe is definitely worth the effort sand time it takes to make. You'll have about 8 strips of fruit leather and will just need a nibble as a lift, so they last for ages!

The fruit of the hawthorn tree (Crataegus monogyna or Crataegus laevigata), can be good for the heart. In Chinese medicine it's described as getting your 'chi' moving (your life force energy), as well as be uplifting and tasty. So lets get down to the fruity business of haws.

It's November, and now is the perfect time to pick these fruits. They are a lovely dark red colour, and still a plenty, if you find the right tree. This recipe is suited for those who enjoy processes and have some patience. It's not quick, it takes some mashing, though is delicious and as we know, it is good for the heart.

Hawthorn Fruit Leather Recipe

Hawthorn fruit leather is a deliciously simple snack. It has a bit of a tang and a hint of natural sweetness to get you through sluggish afternoons or slow mornings. It's great for packed lunches, a snack for walking, gifts and will keep for up to 6 months or a year even.

This recipe is from my book 'Wild and Sweet' (p238) alongside 3 other haw berry recipes, such as haw berry and star anise jam and 100 more wild desserts.

I share recipes (and tasters) regularly on my wild food foraging courses, or stay up to date through my facebook or instagram page.

7 comments on “Hawthorn Berry Fruit Leather”

  1. […] A great way to use them is to make fruit leathers to nosh first thing as a healthy pick me up or for those sluggish moments during the day. They lasts up to 6 months and make a great alternative gift idea. Check this blog for a great recipe – it takes a few hours but is totally simple, just make sure you don’t forget they’re in the oven drying! https://www.wildwalks-southwest.co.uk/blog/hawthorn-berry-fruit-leather/ […]

  2. This has been known in my family in Norfolk for generations. My Grandmother made it from rose hips and haws from the hedgerows . My mother knew it as "Ip de Oy" in the Norfolk dialect at the beginning of the 20th century and it consisted of both the hips and haws being de seeded and de furred , mashed into a pulp and dried in the cooling oven . It was given to kids in paper parcels as treats for school days. There is no recipe or balance of amount of hips to haws . I have some in a jar I made 10 years ago trying to reproduce a lost British chewy sweet and still edible and delicious .

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sign up to the newsletter

Receive regular updates on news, recipes and events.

Privacy policy

Buy Rachel's books

Community Giving Project

We're raising funds to help purchase land for grassroots growing projects for BPOC communities in the UK.

Amount raised so far £4,816.65

Buy Rachel's books

Sign up to the newsletter

Receive regular updates on news, recipes and events.

Privacy policy