This homemade fruit leather can be easily made in a dehydrator

Fruit Leather Recipe Using a Dehydrator

Dehydrated fruit leather can be prepared in as quick as 10 minutes then just let it dry in a dehydrator or oven till ready.

It’s an easy homemade snack that’s great for hiking, lunch boxes or road trips.

Fruit roll ups are also one of my kids’ favorite sweet treats, but store-bought ones are loaded with sugar. 

This recipe provides a healthier version that’s vibrant with natural colors, sweetness, and chew!

I keep it handy for when I have excess fruit laying around that’s about to be too ripe to eat on its own. 

Below are 3 classic fruit leather flavors, but really your options are endless.

I made this recipe to be adaptable to just about any fruit, so be adventurous!

Alternative ingredients include…

Fruit Options: 

  • Strawberry
  • Raspberry
  • Plum
  • Mango
  • Blackberry
  • Cranberry
  • Orange
  • Pear

Acid Options: 

  • Lemon juice
  • Lime juice
  • Grapefruit juice

Sugar Options: 

  • Maple syrup
  • Honey
  • Pomegranate
  • Molasses
  • Agave syrup
  • Coconut sugar

Flavoring Options: 

  • Vanilla extract
  • Almond extract
  • Cinnamon
  • Ginger
  • Nutmeg

 Follow this quick and simple step-by-step guide below to achieve the ultimate fruit leather!

How to Make Fruit Leather in Your Dehydrator

Servings

  • 12 strips

Equipment

  • Blender / Food Processor
  • Dehydrator
  • Sieve

Recipe Time

  • Prep: 15 minutes
  • Cook: 8 hours (dehydrating)

Ingredients

For blueberry fruit leather:

  • 1lb blueberries
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp honey

For apple fruit leather:

  • 1lb apple (cored and chopped)
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup

For peach fruit leather:

  • 1lb peach (roughly chopped)
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp molasses

Directions

  1. Place the fruit, sweetener, lemon juice and flavoring into a blender or food processor and blitz until smooth.
  2. Taste the puree and adjust with additional sugar or acid to taste.
  3. Pass the fruit puree through a sieve to ensure it is smooth.
  4. Once smooth pour the puree onto 2 dehydrator trays and spread evenly to a thin sheet.
  5. Place in the dehydrator for approximately 8 hours at 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Occasionally check the fruit leather until it’s reached your desired consistency.
  6. When finished, peel the fruit leather away from the dehydrator tray.
  7. Place each sheet of fruit leather onto a chopping board and slice with a knife into six even strips. 
  8. Roll up each strip and enjoy immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Here’s how to make it in the oven (in case you don’t have a dehydrator yet but realllly want some fruit leather!):

Once smooth pour the puree onto a flat oven tray lined with parchment paper and spread evenly to a thin sheet.

Place in the oven for approximately 8 hours at 60 degrees celsius, occasionally check the fruit leather to reach the desired consistency.

The leather is ready when the texture is smooth, pliable, and formed into a cohesive sheet. 

Let me know which version of homemade dehydrated fruit leather was your favorite in the comments below!

9 thoughts on “Fruit Leather Recipe Using a Dehydrator”

  1. I made fruit leather on my round 4-tray dehydrator and after about 20 minutes it turned itself off. I suspect it overheated due to lack of circulation. I had lined each of the 4 trays with parchment paper and poured the fruit leather on them, stacked them and turned it on.
    I ended up doing 2 sheets in the oven but had already ordered 4 of the commercial silicone mats made specifically for these round dehydrators. Will I be able to safely use them?

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top