Skip the boxed fruit roll-ups and make your own with this recipe for Strawberry Fruit Leather that uses real fresh fruit and honey.
My next door neighbor and I used to swap food.
It started with a loaf of Oatmeal Yogurt Bread I brought them when they first moved in. Then she made us some homemade cookies. I gave her a jar of granola, she returned the jar full of from-scratch lentil soup. She loved to bake and try new recipes as much as I did. Sometimes she’d send one of her little girls over with a paper plate full of cupcakes. Or we’d meet in her driveway and share a new ice pop recipe with our kids.
When she told me last summer that they were moving to another state, I cried. Then I cried at their going away party. And I cried when we said goodbye. I didn’t just cry because they were some of the best neighbors we’d ever had, but also because I loved our swaps. I loved knowing that when I found a great new recipe, she’d be just as excited about it as I would be. That made life just a little bit sweeter.
This strawberry fruit leather recipe is just the kind of thing I’d share with her and her girls. If she were here, I’d have texted her from my kitchen: “Third batch of fruit leathers. Got the sweetness just right. Sending Sam over with some now!”
Here’s how I made them: Puree strawberries and lemon juice in a blender or food processor. Pour into a deep saucepan (mixture will bubble while cooking so be sure to use a deep one) and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Toward the end of the cooking time, stir in honey.
Spread mixture on a baking sheet lined with a Silpat or similar baking mat and bang pan on the counter to evenly distribute mixture. Bake at 170 degrees for 2-4 hours, checking on it frequently, until leather is tacky but doesn’t stick to your finger (the center will be the last section to set). Slice with a knife or pizza cutter.
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Strawberry Fruit Leather
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh strawberries
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- Puree strawberries and lemon juice in a blender or food processor and pour into saucepan (it will bubble quite a bit while cooking, so use a deep saucepan).
- Cook on the stove over medium heat about 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Toward the end of cooking, stir in honey.
- Pour onto a baking sheet lined with a Silpat or similar baking mat.
- Spread into a thin layer (but not thin enough that you can see through it).
- Bake at 170 degrees for 2-4 hours, until you touch the center and it's tacky but doesn't stick to your fingers. Slice with a knife or pizza cutter.
- Place strips of fruit leather on wax paper and roll. Store in airtight container.
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These look awesome! Can’t wait to try!
Love a great recipe for a substitute of a much beloved processed treat. Looks easy too. I’ve been meaning to give fruit leather a go but haven’t yet. Thank you!
I’ve been wanting to make this but didn’t have a recipe so this is great timing – thanks!
Amelia, Jennifer, and Beth–let me know how it goes for you!
Love this! I will have to try it.
Sally, I had tears in my eyes reading this. This WAS me and my neibor then I moved away!! Ive missed her so for the 6 months Ive been gone. Guess its good we can share recipes and bites with our virtual friends!
Serena–glad to hear there are other neighbors out there with that same kind of friendship. Bet she misses you a lot too! And yes, our virtual friends are pretty nice too, and not quite so many calories involved… 😉
Love this! I bet it would be so amazing with fresh farmer’s market strawberries! Add it to the list of why I REALLY need to buy a silipat 🙂
I use my Silpat a lot–so it’s definitely worth it!
I tried these and can tell they would be delicious when properly cooked. However, my oven (gas) doesn’t go below 275. If I try to set it any lower, it shuts off. And at 275, the outside edges of the fruit leather burn while the center goes uncooked. Any tips on how to adjust the recipe so it will work in a hotter oven?
Amy–I did a quick Google search and came up with this: http://howsweeteritis.blogspot.com/2011/05/homemade-fruit-leather.html
She says you can cook it for just 30 minutes in a 275 degree oven, then shut off the oven and keep it in there (with oven door closed obviously) for 8-10 hours. Her recipe uses slightly less fruit (2 cups vs. 3) FYI, so it may be thinner. If you try it, let me know how it goes!
Thanks so much! I’ll give that a try.
Thanks ……Strawberry
Sally, I had tears in my eyes reading this. This WAS me and my neibor then I moved away!! Ive missed her so for the 6 months Ive been gone. Guess its good we can share recipes and bites with our virtual friends! strawberry
How high should the stove be at when cooking the purée? Medium-high?
Medium to medium-high. Just make sure to stir it constantly so it doesn’t scorch or burn.
Is it possible to make this with a sugar substitute? My 10 year old daughter has a significant weight issue and high insulin levels so I have to really control her sugar intake. I think this would be a great snack for her but I would like to use Swerve or Stevia etc. Thanks for your help.
Hi Carrie–I’m assuming you could use a sugar substitute, though keep in mind that it would still have a high sugar content because of the natural sugar in strawberries. Dried fruit in general has a higher carb/sugar content because it’s a concentrated source.
Can you use frozen fruit?
I would think you could but I have not tried that.
How long will these last in the air tight container?
Two or three days. More than that and I’d eat them or move them to the fridge. 🙂