How to Make Fruit Leather

A friend of mine let me pick peaches from her tree this past week, so I’ve been busy making Peach Jam and Peach Fruit Leather. I also love making this Easy Peach Cobbler.

Purchasing fruit leather or roll-ups from the store is more expensive than just making it yourself. This homemade fruit leather recipe is very simple and it makes a healthy snack. I made it using peaches, but you can use any fruit of your choice such as raspberries or strawberries. Here’s how to make fruit leather:

FRUIT LEATHER
4 cups peaches, peeled, pitted and puréed
1 Tablespoon honey or sugar (optional)

Directions:
Remove the skins and pits from the peaches, place them in a blender, and purée. I used my Ninja Blender that my husband gave me as a gift, and I love that it purées it and doesn’t leave fruit chunks. Once it’s blended, taste the purée and add honey or sugar if desired.

I made fruit leather using both the dehydrator and oven. My friend picked up my dehydrator at a garage sale for me for $5 years ago! I was excited that she found it for me.

DEHYDRATOR METHOD:

If using a dehydrator, line the dehydrator trays with plastic wrap or parchment. If using plastic wrap be sure to fold it back so it doesn’t flop onto the fruit. Also, be sure that air flow can still get through and that the plastic wrap isn’t cutting off the air flow. I had to cut the plastic wrap around the edges so that the air was able to flow around the edges of my dehydrator. I also tried using the parchment and that worked nicely.

Place about 1 to 1 and 1/2 cups of fruit purée on each tray. Spread with a spatula until it is between 1/8 to 1/4-inch thick. Be sure to spread the purée evenly so that all areas of the fruit leather dry in the same amount of time. Place the trays in the dehydrator 140F for 4-10 hours. The amount of time it takes depends on how thick the puréed fruit was spread. The fruit leather is done when it is slightly sticky to the touch and peels away from the plastic wrap or parchment paper.

Allow the fruit leather to cool to room temperature then peel it off the plastic wrap or parchment and cut it into strips or squares using a knife or pizza cutter. To store, roll the fruit leather in plastic wrap or wax paper and store in an air tight container up to a month.

OVEN METHOD:

If using the oven, line an 11 x 17 baking sheet with plastic wrap or parchment. Be sure the plastic wrap hangs over the sides so it doesn’t flop onto your fruit leather.

Place 3-4 cups of fruit purée on each tray. Spread with a spatula until it is between 1/8 to 1/4-inch thick. Be sure to spread the purée evenly so that all areas of the fruit leather dry in the same amount of time. Bake for 6-8 hours at 145 degrees. You can do two pans at once. Note: The plastic wrap won’t melt because it’s such a low temperature. The fruit leather is done when it is slightly sticky to the touch and peels away from the plastic wrap or parchment paper.

When the fruit leather is finished, pull it out of the oven and allow it to cool until room temperature. Peel the fruit leather off the plastic wrap or parchment and cut it into strips or squares using a knife or pizza cutter. To store, place or roll the fruit leather in plastic wrap or wax paper and store in an air tight container up to a month.

This is a great healthy snack for on the go or to add to your children’s school lunches. My oldest daughter has loved having fruit leather as part of her school lunch or when she gets home from school.