Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Strawberry Fruit Leather Recipe

 How to make strawberry fruit leather in dehydrator or in the oven. This is an easy recipe that your family will love. Make homemade strawberry fruit leather to preserve this summer fruit.


When my kids were little, they loved Fruit Roll Ups. They were a sometimes treat that I usually reserved for special events or when I really, really needed to keep them well behaved. 


You know, like when they are in a wedding.


Yes, folks, I totally bribed my kids to behave in a wedding with fruit snacks and strawberry fruit roll ups. It cost me a few boxes, but no one lost the ring and the flower girl dispensed flower petals like a pro.





Store bought fruit snacks and fruit roll ups are full of ingredients I don't want my family eating. They have corn syrup, palm oil, carrageenan, and food dyes, among other things.


My kids really loved them, so I learned how to make strawberry fruit leather. I used to make it in the oven, but I've since upgraded to a food dehydrator to make it.

How to Make Strawberry Fruit Leather Recipe


Making homemade strawberry fruit leather is actually fairly easy. You'll need fresh strawberries, a sweetener, and an oven or food dehydrator.


I prefer the dehydrator for my strawberry fruit roll ups. It's easy to use and uses less electricity than an oven. However, you can make this a few times and then decided if you want to invest in one.


For more dehydrating recipes, check out these posts:



Keep track of your recipes with my printable recipe binder kit.


Is Homemade Fruit Leather Good for You?


Yes, this strawberry fruit leather recipe is healthy. It has fresh strawberries, lemon juice, and a sweetener. You can use raw honey for a natural sweetener to make strawberry fruit leather no sugar.


There are no preservatives, dyes, or other additives in these strawberry fruit roll ups.





What is Fruit Leather Made From?


A homemade strawberry fruit leather is made from fresh strawberries. I also used lemon juice to preserve the color, but it is optional.


I don't use a sweetener in my apple fruit leather, but a strawberry fruit leather recipe can get sour. I add some raw honey if the berries aren't very sweet.


Can You Use Jam to Make Fruit Leather?


Yes, you can use jam to make fruit leather.  I recommend using a low sugar jam recipe  to make strawberry fruit roll ups because a high sugar content can make your homemade fruit leather sticky.


Try this low sugar blueberry jam, low sugar apple cider jelly, or low sugar apple and mint jelly.


How Do You Thicken Fruit Leather?


You can add mashed bananas or some applesauce to thicken the strawberry puree. This will help it dry faster.


Bananas and applesauce will also naturally sweeten this strawberry fruit leather in dehydrator, so omit the honey or sweetener.


How Do You Make Fruit Leather Less Sticky?


Sugar and other sweeteners can make this strawberry fruit leather recipe sticky. To reduce the stickiness, use less sweetener to make strawberry fruit leather no sugar.


How Do You Soften Fruit Leather?


Dry strawberry fruit leather gets hard. For softer fruit leather, make sure you spread the fruit puree in an even layer. Also make sure it's not too thin or that you cook it too long.


Homemade strawberry fruit leather won't have the same texture as the stuff in the store. The stuff in the box has additives that make it softer, so don't expect a natural strawberry fruit leather recipe to be the same.





Why is My Fruit Leather Cracking?


When you learn how to make strawberry fruit leather, it's easy to over cook it. If you overcook fruit leather, it can get hard and crack.


It's still edible, but it will be hard. It's perfectly fine to eat.


Can You Rehydrate Fruit Leather?


Yes, you can rehydrate this strawberry fruit leather recipe. If you overcook it and it gets dry and brittle, then you have a few options.


First, you can let the fruit leather sit on the counter if it's humid. It will absorb some moisture from the air and soften.


Do not spray it with water. This will soften fruit leather, but it will create wet spots that can be prone to mold if you leave the leather sit out.


If it's very dry, another option is to grind it up for fruit powder. This works best for non sticky fruit leather, like a strawberry fruit leather recipe or one made from other berries.


Lastly, you can also pour boiling water over the fruit leather. This will create a sort of sauce that you can eat.


How Do You Know When Fruit Leather is Done?


As you learn how to make strawberry fruit leather, you'll learn how to test for doneness. Your strawberry fruit leather recipe is done when it is an even color. You shouldn't see any darker wet spots.


When you touch the strawberry fruit leather no sugar, you shouldn't see an indentation. It will feel a little bit sticky, but it won't feel wet.





How Do You Keep Fruit Leather From Sticking?


After you make your homemade strawberry fruit leather in dehydrator, roll it in parchment paper.  It won't stick to parchment paper like it does on plastic wrap.


How Do You Get Fruit Leather Off Wax Paper?


If you use wax paper instead of parchment paper, your strawberry fruit roll ups can stick.  Simply wet the wax paper and remove it from the fruit leather while it's still wet.


Make sure your strawberry fruit leather is completely dry before storing.  


Can I Use Parchment Paper in My Dehydrator for Fruit Leather?


Yes, you can absolutely use parchment paper.  In fact, parchment paper is the best for learning how to make strawberry fruit leather.


Parchment paper is coated in silicone.  It's non stick and resistant to heat at a higher temperature than wax paper.  


How to Make Strawberry Fruit Leather in the Oven


To learn how to make strawberry fruit leather in the oven, follow the same directions.  Heat your oven to 170 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for three to four hours.  


Keep an eye on your homemade strawberry fruit leather because cooking times can vary between ovens and between batches depending on thickness.





How Long Does Homemade Fruit Leather Last?


This strawberry fruit leather recipe is so delicious, it won't last long.  You can safely store homemade strawberry fruit roll ups on the counter in an airtight container for one month.  


You can also store it up to a year in the freezer.  Place it in a freezer bag.


Should I Refrigerate Fruit Leather?


I recommend storing your strawberry fruit leather recipe in the fridge.  While it can be stored on the counter, if there's any water left in it, it can get moldy.


To ease my mind, I keep mine in the fridge.  It will be fresh for about 6 months.


How Long Will Vacuum Sealed Fruit Leather Last?


Vacuumed sealed fruit leather will last for one year.  Store in a cool and dark place for best results.


Homemade Strawberry Fruit Leather Tips


Follow these tips when you learn how to make strawberry fruit leather:


  • The better your strawberries, the better your fruit leather will be.  I recommend using home grown berries or getting them fresh from the farm.
  • You can freeze strawberries and then use them to make homemade strawberry fruit leather later. 
  • Add lemon juice to keep the berries from browning.
  • When you spread your fruit on the dehydrator, spread it evenly in a 1/4 inch thick layer.
  • Line your dehydrator with parchment paper so the fruit leather doesn't stick.
  • Sweetener is optional.  You can add sugar, raw honey, agave, or your sweetener of choice to make strawberry fruit leather no sugar.
  • Add sweetener to taste, but remember that your strawberry fruit leather recipe will get sweeter when it's dehydrated.
  • You can add other fruits to the berries.  Just use the same amount of fruit.




Strawberry Fruit Leather Recipe Ingredients


To make strawberry fruit leather in dehydrator or oven, you will need:


  • Fresh or frozen strawberries
  • Lemon juice - Fresh lemon juice is best, but you can also use bottled juice
  • Sugar, raw honey, or agave


How to Make Strawberry Fruit Leather


Step #1


Wash berries and remove the stems.  Add berries, lemon juice, and sweetener to a food processor or blender.  Blend until smooth.


Step #2


Pour the strawberry puree into a medium sized saucepan.  Heat over medium for about 10 minutes.  Stir it frequently.  This helps remove moisture so the berries don't need to be dehydrated as long.


Step #3


To dehydrate in the oven, place parchment paper or a silicone mat on a baking tray.  Then spread a thin later about 1/4 inch thick of puree onto the pan.  Bake at 170 degrees F for about 3 to 4 hours.


To dehydrate in a food dehydrator, line the trays with parchment paper.  Pour the strawberry puree in a 1/4 inch even layer and dehydrate for 3 to 4 hours.


Step #4


Let the strawberry fruit leather cool completely. Then cut into strips and wrap in parchment paper.  Store in an airtight container or in the fridge for 1 month or in the freezer up to a year.


Now you know how to make strawberry fruit leather in dehydrator or in the oven.  


How to Make Strawberry Fruit Leather was originally published at Koti Beth.


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