Did you know that you can make Homemade Fruit Roll Ups in your oven? It's true! Make your own strawberry fruit leather (or fruit leather of choice) with two simple ingredients without a dehydrator.
Homemade Fruit Roll Ups
The summer has brought us an abundance of fresh fruit, with strawberries, blueberries, and cherries currently in season. I try to take advantage of the good deals, especially on strawberries, which can go as low as $1 per pound, but often don't know what to do with the fresh fruit we don't eat, other than to freeze it for smoothies.
Recently I came across the idea of making my daughter some homemade snacks, including fruit roll ups. The concept sounded utterly crazy at first, but then I gave it a go and was impressed with the results.
The great thing about homemade fruit roll ups is that they only have as much sugar as you put in them (other than the natural sugar in the fruit) and can be made in a variety of flavors.
My daughter's favorite is strawberry fruit leather because it resembles the classic "Fruit by the Foot" lunchbox snack.
Strawberry Fruit Leather Recipe
Strawberry Fruit Leather Ingredients:
- 3 cups fresh strawberries (or fruit of choice)
- Sugar (optional)
Also needed:
- Baking sheet with a lip
- Food processor or blender
- Plastic wrap or silicone baking mat
- Parchment paper
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE FRUIT ROLL UPS WITHOUT A DEHYDRATOR
1. Preheat oven to 170 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Line a cookie sheet that has a lip with plastic wrap (be sure to overlap your sides).
3. Puree strawberries, or fruit of choice, in a food processor until smooth.
4. Add sugar (or sweetener of choice) to taste.
5. Pour mixture on to prepared cookie sheet about ⅛" thick.
6. Bake for 6-8 hours, until the center is no longer tacky.
7. Lift plastic wrap out of cookie sheet and place on the countertop to cool.
8. Flip over onto parchment paper.
9. Remove plastic wrap.
10. Cut into strips and roll. Store in a Ziploc bag or airtight container in the refrigerator.
Can plastic wrap go in the oven?
Yes! I know it sounds crazy, but the plastic wrap goes in the oven for this recipe and does not melt. The oven temperature for fruit leather should not reach more than 170 degrees F, plastic wrap doesn't start to melt until 220-250 degrees F. If you don't like the idea of using plastic wrap, a silicone baking mat can also be used.
Homemade Fruit Roll Ups without Sugar
Though this fruit leather recipe calls for sugar, it's completely optional. There are natural sugars in fruit and no additional sugar is needed to make homemade fruit roll ups. It's all a matter of taste. I suggest tasting the pureed fruit before pouring it on the baking sheet. From there, add small amounts of sugar until you've achieved the desired flavor.
Homemade Fruit Leather Variations
This recipe uses fresh strawberries to make homemade fruit leather, but almost any fruit can be used to make fruit rolls ups. Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, peaches, mangoes and kiwi are popular choices— You can even puree more than one fruit together to create endless fruit leather combinations. Additionally, honey or maple syrup can be used to sweeten the fruit leather and a squeeze of lemon can enhance the flavor.
How Long will Homemade Fruit Roll Ups Last?
Store homemade fruit leather in Ziploc bags or an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
- 3 cups fresh fruit I used strawberries
- Sugar optional
-
Preheat oven to 170 degrees.
-
Line a cookie sheet that has a lip with plastic wrap (be sure to overlap your sides).
-
Puree fruit in food processor until smooth.
-
Add sugar (or sweetener of choice) to taste.
-
Pour mixture on to prepared cookie sheet about ⅛" thick.
-
Bake for 6-8 hours, until center is no longer tacky.
-
Lift plastic wrap out of cookie sheet and place on the countertop to cool.
-
Flip over onto parchment paper.
-
Remove plastic wrap.
-
Cut into strips and roll. Store in a Ziploc bag in the refrigerator.
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More Back to School Recipes:
- Apple Shaped Cupcakes
- Back to School Rice Krispies Treats
- Banana Sushi
- Double-Decker PB&J
- Copycat Cosmic Brownies
Adriana
170 Celsius or Fahrenheit 🙁 I get confused (in my country we always use ºC)
Erin H.
I think it is Fahrenheit. Usually in america we use this.
Hope I helped you ☺
Cathy West
This is great in a dehydrator too... no need to put any sugar at all - the sweetness in the fruit really comes through when dried.
debbie
I am I reading this correctly that you put plastic wrap in the oven? I think it would melt all over your fruit and ruin it. I would use the parchment paper as my liner or tin foil that has been well sprayed
Jeri
I was thinking the same thing! Really? Plastic wrap in the oven? Maybe because its such a low temp?
Audrey
Plastic in the oven? Yikes! Heated plastic is usually toxic. I am with you - parchment is the way to go.
Stefanie Fauquet
Yes! It won't melt with the low temp 🙂
Farah
I know it says fresh fruit but I have frozen strawberries in the freezer, would I be able to use those?
Shaz
Of course you can! I just whipped up a batch in my Vitamix with oranges, pineapple and frozen strawberries. I also added honey to taste. Made 2 large sheets. The house smells divine.
trina
Im making some now. Been in for a half hr. I used plastic wrap and it appears to b fine. Not melting. But don't let it hang over the sides. That stuff will melt if it touches the metal racks which I did....ooops. mine seems done now. Not tacky to the touch. But it says 6 to 7 hrs so im going for it. I did strawberries and blueberries and used honey for my sweetener. Hope it tastes good
Anonymous
How long can I store in the freezer?
Patricia
Can you bake it while you’re sleeping
Stefanie Fauquet
Personally, I would not leave the oven on while sleeping. You just never know.
Michelle
Hi,
Checking out this recipe, sounds great. Have you tried storing it in the freezer? How did it go? Thanks
Katie Hale
I cannot say that I have stored in the freezer. It is good for 1 month out of the freezer, and up to 1 year in the freezer from what I have seen others recommend.
Victoria
Hi I tried this recipe, but it came out way too thin. How do I avoid this?