Replace store-bought fruit roll-ups permanently with this simple Fruit Roll-Ups recipe. Made without any special equipment and just 3 wholesome ingredients, Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups are a kid-friendly, parent-approved treat that are incredibly easy to make!
Did anyone else grow up enjoying Fruit-by-the-Foot? Or am I dating myself? 😂 It was a brand of a store-bought fruit roll-up that was very sugary and made with very little fruit.
This recipe for fruit roll-ups replaces that brand (and all other store-bought fruit roll-ups and fruit leathers) with a wholesome kid-approved snack that is made real fruit and a lot of it!
Reasons to Love Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups
- Super Easy Prep. This recipe for fruit roll-ups only takes a few minutes of hands-on prep and a bit of patience while the fruit roll-ups set up in the oven.
- Free from Top 8 Allergens. Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups are gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, corn-free, egg-free, and can easily be made vegan-friendly.
- Nothing Artificial. You won't find food coloring, artificial flavors, preservatives, or high fructose corn syrup in these homemade fruit roll-ups.
- Made with Real Fruit. This fruit leather recipe is made with fruit, and lots of it!
- Parent & Kid Approved. While store-bought fruit roll-ups may not be a nutrient-dense choice, this homemade version is a wholesome treat that parents can feel good about serving as part of lunch, and kids will always enjoy eating!
What You Need to Make Fruit Roll-Ups
- Fruit: Any combination of berries, mango, kiwi, or peaches will work to make fruit roll-ups. I would avoid things like bananas or apples that brown easily and would make the color unappealing. However, feel free to add up to 1 cup of applesauce to the mix of fruit.
- Sweetener: Use either honey, maple syrup, or agave syrup. Do not use granulated sugar, as it will not dissolve properly in the fruit and can leave the fruit roll-ups grainy.
- Lemon Juice: The lemon juice will help to preserve the fruit and brighten the flavors.
- Rimmed Baking Sheet: Be sure your baking sheet has a rimmed edge to keep the fruit mixture contained.
- Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mat: You need something to prevent the fruit mixture from sticking to your baking sheet. Use either parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Do NOT use plastic wrap or wax paper! Even at a low temperature, they are not safe to use for this recipe.
- Oven: Instead of using a dehydrator, this recipe uses the oven to dry out the fruit to make the fruit leather.
Recipe Modifications
- Using Frozen Fruit: You can use frozen fruit to make homemade fruit roll-ups. Simply defrost the frozen fruit of your choice in the refrigerator. Once thawed, drain off any excess liquid and then proceed with the recipe as directed.
- Omit the Sugar: You can omit the sweetener altogether if your fruit is really ripe or if you prefer not to add sweeteners.
How to Make Fruit Roll-Ups
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Prepare the Fruit. Place the fruit of choice in a food processor or blender, along with the sweetener of your choice and a bit of lemon juice.
Kristen's Tip: If you have a child with a sensitive digestive system that needs to avoid seeds, use any fruit you like to puree and then run through a fine-mesh strainer to remove seeds, or use peaches, applesauce or mangoes to avoid any small seeds.
- Spread Out Pureed Fruit. Pour the pureed fruit mixture onto a sheet pan lined with oven-safe parchment paper. Using a spatula, spread out the mixture into a very thin, evenly layer. Be sure to leave a ½-inch border along the sides of the pan, to prevent the fruit roll-ups from sticking to the pan.
- Bake Fruit Roll-Ups. Using the lowest setting on your oven, bake the fruit leather until the mixture is no longer sticky to the touch. The timing varies based on the oven and moisture in the fruit, so it is best to begin checking on the fruit roll-ups every 30 minutes after they have baked for 4 hours, keeping in mind it can take up to 8 hours for the fruit to be dried out.
- Cool & Slice. After the fruit is fully dried-out, remove it from the oven and let it cool to room temperature Once cooled, cut the fruit leather into 1-inch strips using kitchen scissors or a pizza cutter. Using the parchment paper roll-up into fruit rolls.
Make It Cute
While you can opt to roll your fruit leather up into roll-ups using simply just parchment paper, you can make it cute by cutting craft paper into strips slightly smaller than the size of the fruit leather. Peel the fruit leather away from the parchment paper and place it onto the cut strip of paper. Roll the fruit leather up into the classic roll-up shape of a fruit roll-up, securing it with a sticker or piece of tape. Then allow your kids (or you) to unwrap the magic and enjoy their special treat!
Storage Instructions
Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups will keep in an airtight container in a dry, cool spot in your pantry for up to 2 weeks. Place a fruit roll-up in a small plastic bag or container to pack in a school lunch or for a snack on the go.
More Favorite Kid-Friendly Recipes
- Veggie Wrap
- Homemade Cheese Crackers
- No-Bake Granola Bars
- Homemade GoGurts
- DIY Butterfly Snack Bags
- Turkey Wrap
- English Muffin Pizza
If you made Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.
Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups
Ingredients
- 3 cups fruit see notes
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup, agave, or honey
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to as low as it will allow you to go. Aim for 150-180℉. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- In a food processor or blender, puree the fruit with the sweetener and lemon juice until perfectly smooth.
- Pour the pureed fruit mixture onto the prepared pan and use an offset spatula to evenly spread the fruit out so that it is about ⅛-inch thickness, without any holes. Also, be sure to leave a ½-inch border around the edges of the pan.
- Place the fruit mixture into the oven and bake for 4-8 hours, until set and no longer sticky to the touch. The cooking time will depend on the fruit's moisture content and the temperature of your oven. After 4 hours in the oven, check every 30 minutes and remove from the oven when the fruit leather is no longer sticky to the touch.
- Once set, remove the pan from the oven and allow it to cool fully at room temperature.
- Cut the cooled fruit leather into 1-inch strips using kitchen scissors or a pizza cutter and peel away from the pan. Roll the fruit leather up with a strip of craft paper or parchment paper, and secure with tape or a sticker.
Equipment Needed
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published in 2017.
Nina
Hi, I really want to make these, but I was wondering if I could use frozen fruit?
Kristen Chidsey
Yes absolutely, just defrost the fruit first..I recommended defrosting in a strainer over a bowl in the refrigerator to remove excess water. If not, drain well and pat dry before making.
Nina
Great, thank you so much!
Donna Volk
My granddaughter is not allowed to have sticky candy or anything else because of fillings in her baby teeth so my question is are these sticky when eating them or no. I would think it wouldn't be as sticky but need to know for sure..thanks so much.
Donna Volk
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Donna! These are still sticky, but not as sticky for sure as regular fruit roll ups. I would probably advise to avoid to be safe though.
Daniel
I baked them for 5 hours at 170 degrees. Turned out more like fruit chips. A bit over cooked. Recommend baking for 4 hours at 170 degrees.
Kristen Chidsey
Great to know Daniel! Each oven is different, so it is best to check often.
Sheila
Can we add spinach or kale to this recipe you think
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Shelia. Yes, just keep in mind it will turn the fruit leather brown and if you use more than 1 loosely packed cup of fresh kale or spinach it can overwhelm the flavor.
Lisa K
Is the lemon juice essential? Our youngest is super sensitive to all forms of citrus (all acidic foods, really, poor kid).
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Lisa, I am sorry your son has issues with citrus. You can omit the lemon juice, it may just make the fruit roll-up more brownish in color.
Lisa K
Thanks!
Jaz of Jaz and the Boys on Facebook
Absolutely love the post. I am sharing to my Facebook Page. This was extremely detailed. Have you considered adding things like spirulina powder or liquid? I am going to give it a try!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks so much for the compliments and the share! And yes, I have not added spirulina powder before (my body does not like the stuff), but have added flax seed with success. I would start with 1-2 tablespoons to not overwhelm taste or texture.
KIMBERLEY
I just made a batch of
cranberry-apple leather with:
1 cup homemade Granny Smith applesauce
2 cups fresh cranberries
Maple syrup to taste
The flavors are amazing!!! 😋
Thank you for this recipe. 😎🙏🏼
Kristen Chidsey
Oh that combination sounds amazing Kimberly. I am so glad you enjoyed!
Paige
I'm so excited to make these! What are some other good combinations of fruit? Also can I freeze these to make them last longer?
Kristen Chidsey
YAY Paige, I know you ware going to love them! There are endless varieties of flavors you can choose when making fruit roll ups. I personally like to use a mixture of berries, but mangoes peaches, or kiwi would work as well. You can even use applesauce in your fruit mixture. I would not recommend using fruit like bananas--because they would brown significantly, but if you try it and it works, let me know!
We have never had any leftover, so I am not sure how they would freeze. They may become brittle.
Stephanie Simmons
These are so easy to make and completely delicious!
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you enjoyed them Stephanie!
Jenn
My little one has never had a store bought roll-up either but I've never tried making homemade ones -- this is a must-try for us for sure! Looks so so amazing!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Jenn! Your kids are sure to enjoy!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate
Ugh! The stuff in the store-bought roll ups sounds disgusting! These are fun to make, and to eat!
Kristen Chidsey
I know Patricia--it is disgusting! But nothing but love for the homemade version.
Erin Dee
I love how easy these are to make at home! They look so much tastier than store-bought!
Kristen Chidsey
So much tastier and HEALTHIER!!
Amanda
I'd definitely feel better about my kids eating these if they were homemade like these are!
Kristen Chidsey
Exactly why you need to make these 🙂
Demeter
Homemade is always so much better! Such a great idea!
Kristen Chidsey
Always better!
Allyson Zea
My kids would LOVE these! I have to try this out!
Kristen Chidsey
I hope you do Allyson! I know your kids would love them for sure!
Katerina @ diethood .com
These are fantastic!! My kids would LOVE them!!
Kristen Chidsey
I am sure they would Katerina 🙂
Krista
I have always wanted to make these! I need to do it! It looks so good!
Kristen Chidsey
I hope you give this recipe a try Krista--so easy!