Summertime is winding down and a wide variety of delicious fruits are abundant now. It’s a great time to make fruit roll-ups to capture the deliciousness of summer as we transition to fall. Fruit roll-ups are a yummy, fun, healthy snack for kids and adults. This snack is also perfect for a school lunch or an easy after-school snack.
What is the main ingredient in Fruit Roll-Ups?
There is only one ingredient necessary – your favorite fruit. Some of my favorites are strawberry, raspberry, and apple. You can also use a combination of your favorite fruits. You can add a little honey if the fruit is more tart than you would like. Additionally spices like cinnamon, cardamom, or cloves can add additional flavor to your roll-ups.
Are Fruit Roll-Ups healthy?
Yes! Since the main ingredient is fruit roll-ups are extremely healthy and a great way to easily incorporate more fruit into your diet. Many store-bought fruit leathers contain sugar and artificial colors so making your own fruit roll-ups is a great way to avoid harmful added ingredients.
How long do homemade fruit roll-ups last?
At room temperature, they will last for at least one month. In the fridge, several months, or up to a year in the freezer so you can always have some roll-ups on hand!
How do you make fruit roll-ups?
It is super quick to whip these up and then let your oven or dehydrator do the rest of the work. All you need is a fruit, maybe a little honey, a sheet pan, and parchment paper or a silicone mat. If using a dehydrator, make sure you have a fruit roll sheet or paraflex liner, depending on what type of dehydrator you have.
Don’t forget that fruit leather can also be made with frozen fruit. Just let the fruit defrost before blending it up. So these treats can be made all year long!
Ingredients:
1 - 2 pounds of your favorite fruit or a combination of fruits
1-2 T honey (optional)
Instructions:
Wash the fruit
Remove the pit if needed. Fruit like freestone peaches or apricots have pits that are super easy to remove – no knife necessary!
Place in blender. If the fruit is too tart for your taste, you can add a little honey to sweeten.
Puree until smooth.
Pour fruit mixture onto the parchment-lined baking sheet (if using the oven) or the fruit roll sheet/paraflex liner if using a dehydrator. Spread the mixture out evenly (about 1/8 inch thick), leaving some room from the edges of the pan.
In the oven: set to the lowest setting and bake for 5-10 hours or longer, depending on your oven and the thickness of the fruit leather. In a dehydrator, the fruit leather should be dry in 4-6 hours. Test in the middle – it’ll dry from the edges in. It should feel dry and solid.
After it has cooled, cut into strips (parchment and all), roll up, and store in an airtight container.
And that’s it! The fruit retains its nutrient content because it has been processed at such a low temperature. You will have a delicious, fun, nutritious snack for the whole family. Try it and enjoy it!