This post will show you how to use a dehydrator to make fruit leather.
Fruit leathers are tasty and easy to make. Any fruit can be pureed, sweetened (or not), and dehydrated to make a healthy, chewy, high-energy snack.
And sometimes, it can be a real pain in the ass to make your kids eat raw fruits. With fruit leather or rollups, it’s much easier to ensure your kids get all the nutrition they need.
But it’s not easy to make them! And fruit rollups you buy in stores are either full of sugar or pretty expensive (if they are the good stuff),
Fret not! Use a food dehydrator and our Fruit Leather Recipe to make it yourself home. This recipe works well with raspberries, apples, mangoes, blueberries, and strawberries.
DIY Fruit Leathers Using a Dehydrator
With this basic method, you can make any flavor combination you want!
Experiment with the fruit combinations and have fun!
Equipment
- Dehydrator
- Dehydrator Tray Liner
- Offset Spatula
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh fruit (rhubarb, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, ripe bananas, peaches, fruits you like)
- ¼ cup honey or 3 tbsp white sugar
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
How to Make Fruit Leather or Roll Ups with Dehydrator
- If necessary, wash, peel, and remove any stems or pits. Because the fruit’s skin is very healthy, we always utilize it (except for bananas, pineapples, oranges, etc.).
- Blend or process the produce in a blender or food processor with your preferred sweetener until smooth.
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Distribute onto dehydrated trays. Because the sides dry faster, make the puree thicker around the edges – about 1/4″ thicker around the borders and 1/8″ thicker in the center.
- Set the food dehydrator to 140°F and close the cover (60C). Dry for 6-8 hours at 145F/63C. Another option to shorten drying time is to remove the wrap/paper after a few hours.
- The dehydrating period varies according to the fruit and might range from 4 to 12 hours. It is finished when the fruit has become leather and is no longer sticky to the touch. After drying, the leather will be somewhat glossy and non-sticky to the touch. Allow for cooling before removing from the trays.
- Coil the leather into a tight roll and cut it into desired lengths using a sharp knife. Separate into separate servings and wrap in parchment paper. Refrigerate in an airtight container. If you prepare a large amount, you may store it in the refrigerator.
- Pro Tip: We discovered that preheating the mixture in a saucepan before placing it in the dehydrator speeds up the drying time. Pour the mixed mixture into a saucepan and cook over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring regularly.
Cooking Time & Yield
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
- Servings: 4 people
How long do fruit leathers last in ziplocked bags?
Most likely, the fruit leather won’t last long enough in a ziplock bag. If it does, it can stay at room temperature for up to a month.
I have kept them in a ziplock for up to a week, but by then, they are usually bad. I’ve tested them for up to four months (sealed and vacuumed) without any problems.
Fruit Rolls can be kept in the freezer for up to a year if they are tightly wrapped or stored in an airtight container and stored there.
