Here’s a recipe for a simple, wholesome, homemade apple fruit leather that’s perfect for lunch boxes and snacks for kids.

Lately, I’ve been on a bit of a tear making fruit leathers. First it was strawberry (check out my Strawberry Fruit Leathers), then I tried peach and blackberry. They’ve all been big hits with my kids. I love that I can make these healthy fruit roll-ups in the oven, no dehydrator necessary. And I love that I can control what goes in them.

Get my complete guide to making homemade fruit leather (no dehydrator necessary!)

Here’s what in Strawberry Fruit Roll-Ups: Pears from Concentrate, Corn Syrup, Dried Corn Syrup, Sugar, Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Acetylated Mono & Diglycerides, Pectin, Malic Acid, Natural Flavor, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Color (Red 40, Yellows 5&6 , Blue 1)

(Are you looking for the word “strawberry”? I was too.)

You might also like: Homemade Strawberry Fruit Leather

With apple season in full swing, it was time to try apple fruit leather too. After some experimenting, I think I got it just right.

How to Make Apple Fruit Leather

Wash, peel, and chop 4 cups of apples (about 4 medium apples). I used a variety of apples I had on hand.

Place apples in a saucepan and add 1/2 cup of water. Bring to a simmer then cover and cook about 10 minutes or until soft.

Add 1-2 tablespoons sugar (to taste) and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Mash. Cook 2-3 more minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally.

Pour mixture into blender and process until smooth. Pour onto a baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat (such as a Silpat baking mat) and spread into a thin layer with a spatula. Once it’s spread, bang the baking sheet on the counter a few times to make sure the mixture is even.

Bake at 170 degrees F (or as low as your oven will go) for 2-3 hours or until it’s tacky but doesn’t stick to your finger (check it every 20-3- minutes). Cut into strips. You can either place them on waxed or parchment paper or roll them up as is. Store in an air-tight container.

You might also like: Easy Slow Cooker Applesauce

How to Store Homemade Fruit Leather

Place homemade fruit leather in an airtight container or zip-top bag. According to the National Center for Home Preservation, homemade fruit leather will last one month at room temperature. You can also tightly wrap rolls of homemade fruit leather and freeze them for up to a year.

Is Homemade Fruit Leather Healthy?

Your child is getting real pureed fruit, which is a huge improvement over the boxed kind! But because fruit leather clings to teeth just like sticky candy, it’s ideal if your child can brush soon afterwards (or at least rinse with water or munch on some apples or carrots to naturally wash away the residue).

Get all my recipes for healthy fruit roll ups:

Homemade Wild Blueberry Fruit Leather

Homemade Peach Fruit Leather

Homemade Grape Fruit Leather

Homemade Strawberry Fruit Leather

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