Homemade Fruit Roll-ups
When I was little, "Fruit Roll-Ups" had just come on the market...I first saw them on a t.v. commercial in between Scooby-doo and the Brady Bunch, taunting me with their bright colours and the sugar laden, chewy texture...I needed them...I wanted them even more!!
I begged my Mom to get them for me, promising that I would clean my room, dust the furniture, collect more wood than my brother...if only she would let me have those sticky treats! My Mom knew then, what I know now...they were loaded with sugar and artificial colours...she also knew that I was full of empty promises in the chore department too!
These fruit roll-ups are really easy to make...first, you will need a mixture of fresh or frozen fruit ( if using frozen, let fruit thaw and drain off any excess liquid). I had some peaches that I needed to use up, so I peeled and chopped up 7 peaches, added 1/4 cup of thawed cranberries and 1/2 cup of thawed raspberries...I would say in total, there was about 5 cups of chopped fruit.
Add about 2 tbsps. of liquid honey...
...then puree in a blender or food processor...
...until smooth.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (my baking sheet is 20" x 15")...then pour the pureed fruit mixture around the pan, filling in the centre...if you need to split the mixture up into 2 pans, you can do that too.
Using a spatula or the back of a wooden spoon, smooth the fruit out evenly...perhaps make the edges a wee bit thicker as the outside tends to dry out faster.
Place into a very low (pre-heated) temperature oven...175 degrees for about 3-5 hours, rotating the pan periodically. You are really just trying to dry out the fruit, not bake it.
Remove from the oven when it no longer feels sticky to touch..you will notice finger poke holes all over mine...I'm impatient like that! I also had to cut away the edges of my fruit leather...I didn't take my own advice it seems and the edges dried out faster than the centre here.
Using clean kitchen shears or, why not...use your sewing scissors, pruning shears...whatever ya got...cut into strips...
...then roll the fruit into snug little roll-ups!
When ready to eat, peel the parchment paper off and gobble them up like you are 8 years old again, snickering that you really weren't going to do more wood than your brother!
These roll-ups can be made with any combination of fruit that you like...strawberry/kiwi, mixed berry, mango...the choice is yours...they are also a healthy, handy treat for lunch boxes!
Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups
About 5 cups of fresh fruit, chopped ( if using frozen, thaw the fruit, then drain the excess liquid
2 tbsps. of liquid honey
1. Preheat oven to about 175 degrees.
2. Puree fruit and honey in a blender until smooth.
3. Line a baking pan (20" x 15") with parchment paper and pour the fruit onto the pan (you may need to use 2 smaller baking sheets if you don't have a large one).
4. Spread fruit evenly, right out to the corners.
5. Put into your pre-heated 175 degree oven for about 3-5 hours or until the fruit no longer feels sticky when touched....rotate the pan periodically throughout baking.
6. Remove from the oven and cool.
7. Cut fruit into strips and roll 'em up!
* Makes about 8 roll-ups ( mine only made 6 because I had to cut away the edges...I didn't spread the fruit evenly enough and the edges dried out faster than the middle...Store in air tight containers...Enjoy! :)
* NOTE...oven temperatures vary and this recipe may take less time to dehydrate the fruit or longer...keep an eye on your fruit leather!
* if needed, split the mixture up onto 2 smaller baking sheets.