Pestil (Turkish Grape Fruit Leather)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Candy confections Medium

A glossy, chewy sheet of cooked fruit and starch, dried until flexible and rolled up. This home version uses grape juice and molasses and a low oven. Makes 12 pieces in about 6 hr 55 min.

Prep 25 min

Cook 30 min

Cooling 6 hr

Total 6 hr 55 min

Yield 12 pieces

Diet Dairy free, Vegan

Ingredients

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pieces

3 ¼ cups (750 ml)unsweetened grape juice
⅔ cup (150 ml)grape or mulberry molasses (pekmez)
⅓ cup (40 g)cornstarch
⅓ cup (40 g)all-purpose flour
⅔ cup (150 ml)water
7 tbsp (50 g)chopped walnuts, optional

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Instructions

Whisk the cornstarch and flour with the water until smooth.
Warm the grape juice and molasses in a wide pot over medium heat until steaming, then whisk in the starch mixture.
Cook, stirring constantly, 15 to 20 minutes until the paste is very thick and pulls away from the pan.
Line two sheet pans with parchment and brush lightly with oil. Spread the hot paste into an even layer about 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick. Sprinkle with walnuts if using.
Dry in the oven at 170 F (77 C), door cracked open, 5 to 6 hours until the surface is tacky but not wet and the sheet peels cleanly away.
Cool, peel off the parchment, cut into strips and roll up.

Tips

Spread evenly; thin spots dry fast and thick spots stay sticky.
Dust with a little cornstarch if the sheets stick together.
Mulberry pulp can replace part of the juice for the traditional flavor.
Dry fully; moist leathers can grow mold.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make pestil (turkish grape fruit leather)?

Plan on 25 minutes of prep and 30 minutes of cooking, plus 6 hours to chill. The recipe makes 12 pieces.

How should I store pestil (turkish grape fruit leather)?

Store rolled in parchment in an airtight container up to 2 months at room temperature.

Can I make pestil (turkish grape fruit leather) ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Is this recipe vegan?

Yes, as written. Check that packaged ingredients such as chocolate, sprinkles and plant butter are labeled vegan.

A Turkish fruit leather cooked from fruit pulp or juice into a thick paste and dried in thin sheets; mulberry pestil is a specialty of Gümüşhane. Serve it with black tea.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

109 Calories / serving

2.9g Fat

20.9g Carbs

1.5g Protein

12.4g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~1308 cal · 35g fat · 251g carbs · 18g protein · 149g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.