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This time of year tends to lean toward craziness.  With the school year winding down, the calendar is full of activities that have my family on the run most days. I love all the activity of ball games, practices and school programs, but it does become difficult to keep up with the demands of the family, job and house.  It forces me to be a bit more organized, planning meals and making sure I have snacks on hand to grab as we run out the door.
I love using fresh fruit that is in season to make fruit leather (homemade roll-ups anyone?). It requires a bit of time, but I assure you it is worth it. By using strawberries, what is in season right now, gives the leather an extra bit of natural sweetness.  Feel free to substitute with other berries and fruits.
This is an easy snack to have for when you are on the go, or for an extra special lunchbox treat. Why give your kids fake fruit leather with loads of sugar and artificial colors? Whipping these up takes no time and the oven does the rest.Â
My boys love this homemade version of the fake fruit roll-ups. Don’t have fresh fruit? whip them up with frozen fruit after it has defrosted. If you don’t want strawberry seeds, pass the pureed berries through a colander first.
makes about a cookie sheet and a half of fruit leather
Ingredients
- 5 cups strawberries, hulled and halved (or any other fruit)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- Tips:
- Don't pour too thin of a layer or you'll have fruit crisps instead of fruit leather.
- Start checking it after 4 hours. If you leave it in too long again...fruit crisps.
Directions
- Preheat oven to 150 degrees.
- In a medium saucepan, on low heat, cook the strawberries until they are soft and juices are released. Add honey and stir until combined.
- Pour berries into food processor and puree. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Pour berry mixture onto parchment lined pan.
- Put in oven and bake for 4-6 hours, until leather peels away easily from the parchment. Using scissors cut into rectangles and roll them up, parchment and all.
I have always wanted to do this and now I cannot wait to go berry picking. Once they are cooled and cut, how long do they last and how are they best stored? :)
Jen–Store them in an airtight container and they’ll usually last about a week. After that, they are a bit too ‘leathery’.
lovely ! Pinned it !! Looks so yummy. Will try it over the summer when we go berry picking. What other fruits work well ? have you tried others ?
I’ve tried apples, mangoes, strawberry – banana and even spinach (but this last one was done in a food dehydrator)
i tried it but too way longer then six hours
Oven times will vary. It also depends how thick your ‘leather’ is. don’t get discouraged!
Have you frozen these? We were given some fruit leather once that had been frozen. I tried to get the recipe but it was from a friend of a friend and I was never able to connect with her. Would love to make this during the summer and have for lunches this fall.
Janice, I’ve never frozen this recipe. It usually doesn’t last long enough! I imagine that it shouldn’t be a problem. If you try freezing one batch, will you let us know?