Do you ever end up with more fruit than you can consume before it all goes bad? For a quick and non-perishable snack, homemade fruit roll-ups are perfect for keeping in your bag and my kids LOVE them!
Buying these snacks can quickly add up in price, so why not make your own? All you need is a food processor, an oven, and a lazy afternoon. And bonus – these homemade fruit leathers contain 15 calories instead of the 45 in most store-bought brands.
Line your pan:
Be sure to line your pan – the best thing to use is a silicone baking mat. The fruit will stick to both foil and parchment so I don’t recommend those. If you do decide to try it, you need to spray it with non-stick spray or brush it with vegetable oil first. I think plastic and silicone really work the best so go with one of those.
Prep the Fruit
Wash, dry and cut up four cups of strawberries (or other in-season fruits of your choice, such as peaches, bananas, or raspberries; frozen fruit works, too). Place in a food processor or blender.
Puree
Puree the fruit until completely smooth, about 30 seconds.
Sweeten
If your fruit is naturally sweet enough, you don’t even have to add anything. I always add a little something to mine. You can use granulated sugar, honey, or even Splenda or agave syrup. I’m going to add a little honey to my peach-strawberry mix. I added about 3-4 tablespoons. You can also add ground spices and extracts at this point. Keep in mind that flavours and sweetness intensify after drying, so less is more. For light coloured fruits, add about 2 teaspoons lemon juice to prevent browning. You can add lemon juice to any fruit combo just to brighten the flavour.
Pour and Bake
Slowly pour the pureed fruit onto the prepared pan. Use the back of a spoon or spatula to spread it out evenly. You’ll want it about 1/8″ thick. Your puree should be thin enough that it pours, but thick enough to stay put where you spread it. Carefully slide the pan into the oven, and bake for eight hours (or six to seven hours if your oven is at a slightly higher temperature) at the lowest. You’re basically just warming the air, helping the fruit dry faster. You can actually place the trays outside in the sun as well, but it does take much longer than the oven.
Cut and Store
Remove the pan once the fruit is set and still slightly tacky. Be careful not to overcook, as you’ll end up with fruit chips instead of fruit leather. Once the fruit has cooled to room temperature, slowly peel it off the mat or parchment paper. Lay it on a cutting board, then cut into strips and then roll them up individually. This is best done with a scissors or pizza cutter.
Most of the little rolls will stay rolled, but if they need help, you can always attach a little piece of tape, or a twist tie to keep them all bundled up.
They make yummy little treats in lunch boxes. Enjoy!
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