How To Make Fruit Leather

Sweet, chewy, and packed with vitamins, this delicious Fruit Leather brings back childhood memories of your favorite after-school treats—and you only need three ingredients. Get their lunch boxes ready: a new fruit snack is in town. 

Fill their lunch boxes with this homemade fruit leather, yummy chicken bacon ranch pinwheels, and Caprese sticks for a lunch other kids will want to trade for. 

What is fruit leather? 

Think of it as fruit jerky! Fruit leather is made by blending pureed fruit with sweetener and then drying it over low heat until it reaches a springy, stretchy, fruit roll-up consistency. 

Do I need a dehydrator?

Nope! There are plenty of fruit leather or dried fruit recipes that call for one, but we know most people don’t have a dehydrator just lying around. Instead, you’ll just need your oven.

What you’ll need to make fruit leather

Treat your kids (and your inner child) to homemade fruit roll-ups and watch yourself become parent of the year with just a few simple ingredients:

• Fresh Fruit: We recommend using chopped strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries!
• Honey: A little sticky sweetness is needed. 
• Vanilla Extract: Optional, but adds a lovely flavor.

What is the best way to wash berries?

Did you know that you can wash off most pesticide residues with a warm salt wash? Dissolve a generous amount of salt in a bowl of warm water then add the fruit, swirling gently for a few minutes. Drain and rinse the berries with cold water, then pat dry! You can avoid pesticides by using organic fruit, but we still recommend washing all fresh fruit thoroughly before consuming it. 

How to make your own fruit leather

While this easy snack takes just ten minutes of prep time, the actual drying process takes a long time. But don’t let that intimidate you! This simple recipe makes one of the most delicious snacks you’ll ever have. 

1. Preheat the oven to 175°F and line a 9″x13″ baking sheet with parchment paper. Put your fruit in a high-speed blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
2. Remove large seeds and skins from the liquid for a smooth fruit mixture using a fine-mesh strainer. Press and stir the mixture into the strainer with a spatula to get as much fruit product as possible into the bowl.
3. Stir the honey and vanilla extract into the pureed fruit until fully incorporated.
4. Pour the fruit puree onto the prepared baking sheet, ensuring it is in an even layer throughout the pan. 
5. Place pan in the oven and bake for 10-12 hours, or until the fruit leather peels away easily from the parchment and the center is firm.
6. Let cool fully. Remove from parchment paper, slice into long strips, and roll! Pack in a lunch or stash in an airtight container for a few weeks.

How do you know when fruit leather is done?

When homemade fruit leather is properly set, it will peel away from the parchment paper easily. You also shouldn’t see any gooey or wet spots in the center of the baking sheet—you want the fruit mixture to be dried all the way through.

Why is my fruit leather not setting? 

It needs to dry for longer! We recommend checking in on your fruit leathers around 6-8 hours in to the drying time, depending on your oven. Be prepared for up to 12 hours of baking time for a good quality end product. 

How do you wrap and store fruit leather?

Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut the sheet of dehydrated fruit puree into long strips. Cut parchment paper into strips just slightly larger than the fruit leather pieces. Place a piece of fruit leather on top of a piece of parchment, and roll into a spiral. Repeat with remaining fruit leather and parchment paper. 

Can I make this ahead of time? 

Absolutely! Roll each piece with parchment paper to keep the rolls from sticking together for best results.

How long does fruit leather last?

These can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for a few weeks.