Fruit Roll-Ups
I’ve put off this project thinking it would be more difficult than it was. However, our newspaper printed the easy steps to making your own fruit leather the other day, I decided to give it a try. To purchase 100% fruit leather from the grocery store will run more than $0.50 a piece, but making it yourself is much more affordable.
It’s been getting HOT around here, with temperatures hitting 100 degrees this past weekend, so I knew it would be a good time to try it. I took 14 strawberries from my bag of frozen strawberries. Defrosted them in the microwave, and blended
I sprayed a cookie sheet, rather than line it with wax paper, and this seemed to work better for me. I scooped the strawberry puree and put on cookie sheet. I set the cookie sheet outside in the hottest part of the day, around 10:00. I did try to cover the sheet with plastic wrap to keep the bugs out (which we have a lot of), but I couldn’t keep the wrap from ruining my puree, so I chanced it.
After only 4 hours, at about 2:00, my fruit rolls were not sticky to the touch any more. That is how you know it’s finished, and I scraped them off of my pan with a spatula. They came off quite easily, and no bugs landed on the fruit in the process… hooray!
Two kids liked them, one said he preferred them a little thicker (they were kind of thin, but they were still flexible). I thought they were great. You can add a drop of lemon juice to your fruit to prevent browning, and of course you can experiment with different fruit depending on what your kids like. I was surprised that this many fruit rolls only took 14 strawberries. I thought it would take a lot more fruit. I think it was a success. I would try it again. It would be a great thing to add to a school lunch or bring along for a snack in the car.
Posted: July 21st, 2008 under Fruits and Vegetables, Snacks.
Tags: 100% fruit leather, fruit leather, healthy fruit roll ups, homemade, making your own fruit roll-ups
Comments
Comment from Amy
Time July 21, 2008 at 7:30 am
We didn’t add anything. The newspaper article said they added 1 tsp of sugar, but I didn’t think it needed it. The strawberries were pretty sweet. However, only 2 of them liked it for the record.
Comment from Julie P
Time July 21, 2008 at 8:31 am
I might actually give that a try since I’m trying to stay away from Costco (the 100% fruit leathers there come down to 25 cents each).
Comment from Amber
Time July 21, 2008 at 1:07 pm
That’s it? That’s so easy! What the heck?! I never thought of making them myself!! I might go make some right now!!!!!! THANKS!
Comment from Amber
Time July 21, 2008 at 1:08 pm
PS- how long do you think these would be good for? As in, would they spoil after a day or after a few days?
Comment from Amy
Time July 21, 2008 at 1:12 pm
julie, I’m trying to spend less at costco too. When they keep bugging me to upgrade my membership for the cash back, I say, “i’m trying to spend less, not more here”! Amber, much easier than I thought. I really don’t think they would go bad if you put them in a ziploc bag. They seemed pretty hardy, but my kids eat the food I make too quickly to test it. I’ll make some more, hide them, and let you know. 
Comment from Liz K
Time July 21, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Looks yummy! Do you think it would work in the oven instead of putting it outside? Or would that be too hot? I’m too paranoid about bugs- plus then you could make them in the winter too!
Comment from Amy
Time July 22, 2008 at 4:16 am
I think it would work Liz, but take longer. Maybe just with the light on rather than the actual oven on.
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Time July 23, 2008 at 10:48 am
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Comment from AMber
Time July 28, 2008 at 11:15 am
Ok- I made this with plums and strawberries and it’s been in my hot hot hot attic for 2 days now and is still icky. Any advice? Do certain fruits not work?
Comment from Amy
Time July 29, 2008 at 4:03 am
Amber, I received your comment right before I went grocery shopping, so I bought a few plums to test it out myself. I won’t be home during the day till Thursday, so I have to wait till then. I will certainly let you know. Do you live in a humid state?
Comment from Kelly
Time August 14, 2008 at 11:04 am
Making them with a food dehydrator should work too, I have a friend who does it that way and they taste great!
Pingback from Healthy Food Ideas for Super Healthy Kids » Strawberries
Time April 2, 2010 at 6:43 am
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Comment from Lisa
Time June 10, 2010 at 7:43 am
If you wanted to make a batch and keep them for a while, would you need to refrigerate them? I love all of these wonderful ideas but I only have one 2 year old so I’m always interested in whether I can refrigerate or freeze these wonderful snacks!
Comment from Amy
Time June 10, 2010 at 8:32 am
Good question! I don’t know because we eat them too fast . I would probably just keep in an airtight container for a few days. Beyond that, I think we’ll have to experiment. I’ll let you know if it works for me!
Comment from Emily
Time July 21, 2008 at 7:09 am
So, you didn’t add anything else? Like, sugar, perhaps? And your kids really liked them? Hmmmm…