Forget about artificial colors, added sugar, and corn syrup… this homemade fruit roll ups recipe creates a naturally sweet snack with mostly hands-off effort! With just 5 minutes to prep and no specialty tools needed, I’ll show you my best flavor ideas and tips for creating your own easy fruit leather. My kids love this stuff, and with no added sugar, I feel good about giving it to them. Like air fryer zucchini chips, sugar-free gummy bears, and flax seed crackers, they also use just a few simple ingredients!
What Is Fruit Leather?
Fruit leather consists of fruit purée dried to a chewy consistency. Many recipes for fruit leather contain added sugar or honey (and many store-bought versions contain added corn syrup, juice, pectin, or artificial colors), but you can easily make homemade fruit roll ups without all these ingredients.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for homemade fruit roll ups, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Fruit – Try mango (and use any extra for a mango salad), berries (blackberries, raspberries, strawberries), stone fruits such as peaches, plums, or apricots, or other easy fruits like apples, kiwi, or banana. If the fruit has an edible peel, you can include it in the recipe for extra fiber and texture. No matter what kind you use, you’ll need one pound for this recipe, which is about 2 to 3 cups of fruit. See my tips below about using frozen fruit!Lemon Juice – Use fresh juice or bottled lemon juice to brighten up the flavor in homemade fruit leather and help the fruit retain its color. You could also use fresh squeezed orange juice.
How To Make Fruit Leather In The Oven
This section shows how to make fruit roll ups at home, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Can You Make Fruit Leather In A Dehydrator?
Yes, you can easily use a dehydrator to make a fruit leather recipe. After pureeing, transfer to your dehydrator’s fruit leather tray (or simply line with parchment). Dehydrate for 6-12 hours at 140 degrees F or 60 degrees C. Start testing for doneness after 6 hours. It can also help to pulse the blender, starting and stopping, especially at first.
Can You Make Fruit Leather With Frozen Fruit?
Yes, you can make fruit leather with frozen fruit! Simply defrost fruit fully in the fridge and drain off any extra liquid before pureeing.
Storage Instructions
Store: Keep the homemade fruit roll up recipe in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week. However, it’s fine to take these on-the-go for the day without refrigerating.Freeze: Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 6-8 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before enjoying.
More Healthy Snack Recipes
It’s easy to make better-for-you snacks right at home. Try my index of healthy snack recipes, or try some of my favorites below: Set your fruit leather up for success with these easy tips.
Use the right pan liner. Parchment or silicone mats work best. Avoid using wax paper or plastic wrap, which are not suitable for the oven, or foil, which will stick. For better texture, strain the seeds if desired. If using berries or other fruits with edible seeds, you can strain them through a fine mesh sieve before transferring to the baking sheet. Spread evenly. Shake the baking sheet to evenly distribute the puree on the baking sheet. If fruit is not spread evenly, the fruit roll up recipe will have a lumpy texture, and the thinner parts may burn before the thicker parts are done. Try to create as thin a layer as possible without making any holes. Watch for doneness. Over-dried fruit leather will be brittle and crack easily, so keep testing for doneness after 3 hours. Fruit too sour? Add sweetener. If you use out-of-season or particularly sour fruits, add sweetener to taste. Honey, maple syrup, or powdered sugar-free sweeteners are all great options. Boil the puree to save time. If you want to reduce the oven time, you can cook the fruit on the stovetop first. After pureeing, boil for 5-10 minutes to allow some liquid to evaporate. This step can cut your baking time roughly in half.
Share your recipe picture by tagging @wholesomeyum and hashtag it #wholesomeyum on Instagram, or in our Facebook support group, too – I’d love to see it! Nutrition info is based on using strawberries, and will vary depending on the type of fruit used. *Note: For low carb fruit roll ups, stick to keto fruit, such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries.
