How to Make Fruit Leather

Can I make fruit leather/DIY fruit roll ups?

Look at this! How to make fruit leather, kind of a DIY fruit roll up! Some of these simple pioneer type recipes are ones we don’t think can be done at home. But they can, they don’t have to come out of a box! Fruit leather makes a fun healthy snack or a good way to preserve extra fruit.

Well, let’s see how it is done! Intrigued? The kids will be intrigued too.

Apple fruit strips

We are going to make fruit leather from chopped apples, but you can make it from almost any type of fresh fruit. Get creative and mix your fruit types- yum!

Note: Use fruit such as peaches, pears, strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, etc.

Wash the fruit. Take out the pit, core, seeds, stems, etc., and peel if appropriate. Then chop into pieces.

Prefer to watch a video?

How to make fruit leather

Place the chopped fruit and the water in a saucepan and cover. Simmer the chopped fruit until it is soft and mashes easily. 

Take off the lid and mash the fruit a bit. 

Add sugar to taste

I add a bit of sugar to the cooked fruit. You can experiment with this, there isn’t an exact recipe. Taste the fruit for sweetness and add sugar if it is tarter than you would like the fruit leather to be.

The drying is what preserves the fruit, so you don’t have to add sugar if you don’t want to. Or you could try honey as an alternative sweetener. I haven’t done that before, but I know others who do.

Add lemon juice to lessen browning

I also add some lemon juice into the fruit. It helps keep the color brighter because some fruit will turn brown. My recipe could have used more lemon juice because apples easily brown.

When I was teaching home economics, we did an experiment trying the fruit leather recipe with or without sugar and with or without lemon juice. It was interesting how this slightly changed the product. It all tasted good though, the students liked that for sure!

A bit of ground cinnamon can be added to the apples too if you like, ½-1 teaspoon.

Cook and puree

Continue to cook the fruit in the saucepan uncovered until it thickens some, stir so it doesn’t burn.

Let the fruit mixture cool off then run it through a blender or food processor until smooth.

How to make fruit leather without a dehydrator

Place some parchment paper onto a baking sheet with sides. If you have a silicone mat that will work as well.

Note: Use parchment paper, NOT waxed paper.

Pour the fruit mixture onto the parchment paper. Spread the fruit out to about a ⅛-1/4 inch thickness. If too thin it is hard to get off the parchment paper and roll after it’s dried.

How to make fruit leather in the oven

Place the baking sheet in a 200-degree oven for at least 2-4 hours. Check regularly and take out when it is no longer sticky to the touch. 

If your oven can be set to a lower temperature, say 140-150 degrees, you can place it in the oven overnight for 8 hours or so.

This would work in a dehydrator as well. Follow the instructions for your dehydrator if you choose this option.

Dried fruit in the sun

Years ago, my daughter and I went on a mission trip to a place in California that was given imperfect fruit from processing companies in the area. They dried the fruit on screens in the California sun. The dried fruit was packed in 5-gallon buckets and sent overseas to where it was needed. Isn’t that a great idea?

I may try drying some of the fruit leather under cheesecloth in the 100-degree heat of the Kansas summer sun. This heat must be good for something!

How to make homemade fruit roll ups

When it is done, peel the fruit leather off of the parchment paper and cut into strips. I use my kitchen shears. 

Roll the strips up or just cut into pieces.

How to store fruit leather?

You can individually wrap the rolls in plastic wrap or just place in an air tight container or plastic bag. 

Refrigerate your fruit leather and it will last for 3-6 months if well wrapped.

So there you have it, your very own fruit leather or DIY fruit roll ups! Cool, huh?

This is a great way to use fruit that may go bad if uneaten, bulk fruit off a tree or bush in your yard, or the extra mash that is left after making jelly. 

Don’t you feel just a bit more “pioneer”?

Want more recipes with fruit?

• Fun Fruit Parfait
• Fantastic Fruit Pizza Recipe
• How to make Jelly
• How to draw an orange (OK, so this isn't a recipe, I know, I know)

Another recipe we don't think of making at home...

Have you tried making marshmallows yourself? This is another fun one to try. You can find a recipe at WTN How to Make Your Own Marshmallows.

Enjoy!

If you try this craft, let me know! Go ahead and leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo with #WelcometoNanas wherever you post.

Come join the fun at https://welcometonanas.com

Supplies for Fruit Leather.

• Saucepan
• Blender (Ninja shown in pictures) or food processor
• Parchment paper or a silicone baking mat
• Baking sheet with sides
• Kitchen shears
• Plastic wrap (optional)