Homemade fruit leather is not only delicious but also much more affordable than store-bought versions. Here’s a simple way to make your own, even without a dehydrator.
Ingredients
- 4 cups chopped berries (such as strawberries, raspberries, and/or blueberries)
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 175°F.
- Place the berries into a high-speed blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
- Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds and skins. Use a spatula to press and stir the mixture, extracting as much liquid as possible.
- Stir in the honey and vanilla extract (if using) until well combined.
- Spread the berry mixture evenly over a parchment-lined 9×13 baking sheet with a spatula.
- Bake for 10–12 hours, or until the fruit leather easily peels away from the parchment paper and the center is no longer sticky.
- Let it cool, then remove from the parchment paper. Slice into strips, roll up, and store at room temperature. For better storage, wrap each slice with a piece of parchment paper.
Notes
- Using a 9×13 baking sheet is crucial for this recipe to ensure the fruit leather isn’t too thin. If you only have a standard-size cookie sheet, double the recipe.
- Feel free to experiment with different berry combinations as long as the total is 4 cups.
- Vanilla extract is optional, but it adds a lovely flavor to the leather.
- Removing the seeds and skins is optional but makes the texture smoother, which is especially helpful if you or your kids are sensitive to textures.
