Fruit Roll Ups (Homemade strawberry & pineapple fruit leather)

Ms Shi and Mr He

In this recipe, I'll show you how to make delicious strawberry and pineapple fruit roll-ups using either frozen or fresh fruits. One of the unique features of this recipe is that we'll thicken the puree in a frying pan, which helps to evaporate excess moisture and shorten the baking time in half, making the process more energy-efficient and eco-friendly.

4.84 from 6 votes

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 4 20

Total Time 4 30

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 2 sheets

Calories 372 kcal

Equipment

blender
Nonstick pan
spatula
Baking sheet
silicone baking mat (or parchment paper)
oven

Ingredients

Strawberry roll ups

1 lb strawberries (I used frozen strawberries. You can also use fresh ones.)
1 tbsp lemon juice (optional)
3 tbsp sugar (Taste the puree and adjust amount of sugar according to your preference.)

Pineapple roll ups

2 lb pineapple chunks (I peeled and cored a medium-size pineapple, and got about 2lb of pineapple chunks. You can also use 5 cups of frozen/fresh pineapple chunks.)
2 tbsp lemon juice (optional)
3 tbsp sugar (Taste the puree and adjust amount of sugar according to your preference.)

Instructions

Thaw the frozen fruits (strawberries, pineapples, mangoes, raspberries ...) in the refrigerator overnight or until they're completely soft. Skip this thawing step if you are going to use fresh fruits.
Puree the fruits in a blender until smooth. Optionally, add 1 tbsp of lemon juice for every pound of fruits.
Transfer the puree to a nonstick frying pan, add sugar, and set it over medium-high heat. Stir continuously with a spatula for approximately 20 minutes or until the puree thickens and reaches a texture similar to applesauce. (*See Note1 & 2)
Remove the frying pan from the heat. Let cool for 10 to 20 minutes (it will be easier to spread onto the baking sheet if we let it cool for a bit.) Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 170°F (75°C), and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
Transfer the thickened fruit puree onto the parchment-lined baking sheet, spreading it out evenly to create a thin layer (about ⅛ inch thick).
Bake at 170°F for 4 hours, or until the puree has dried and is no longer sticky to the touch. You can bake multiple sheets at the same time.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the fruit leather to cool to room temperature. Peel the fruit leather off from the parchment paper/silicone mat, optionally cut it into strips, and roll the fruit strips up.

Video

Notes

1. Thicken the puree in a frying pan

Thickening the puree in a frying pan over medium-high heat helps to evaporate any excess moisture and shorten the baking time. Although this step is optional, it is highly recommended to include.

By thickening the puree in a frying pan for around 20 minutes, the baking time can be reduced by up to 4 hours, saving both energy and being more environmentally friendly.

Additionally, thickening the puree before spreading it on the baking sheet can make it easier to create an even layer and reduce the likelihood of the fruit roll-ups cracking or sticking to the parchment paper during baking.

When you thicken the puree in a frying pan, it is important to stir the puree constantly with a silicone spatula to prevent burning or splattering.

2. Directly bake the puree

It's totally fine if you want to skip the frying pan thickening step.

Just blend 1 lb strawberries, 1 tbsp of lemon juice, and 3 tbsps of sugar in a blender until smooth, then pour it onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet (9 inches x 12 inches) and bake it at 170°F for 8 hours to achieve similar results.

By directly baking the blended fruit puree on a baking sheet, you will get fruit roll ups with a smoother surface. However, keep in mind that this method will require a longer time and will consume more electricity.

3. Homemade fruit roll ups storage

If you are making fruit roll ups in large batches and planning on storing them in the fridge for a longer time, you can cut the roll-ups into strips while keeping the parchment paper in place. Rolling each fruit leather strip up with the parchment can help prevent them from sticking together, making it easier to separate them when you want to enjoy them.

By rolling homemade fruit roll ups individually with the parchment paper remaining in place, they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month or in the freezer for up to 6 months. If you choose to freeze them, you can thaw them in the refrigerator overnight before consuming them.

Keyword fruit leather, fruit roll ups, strawberry fruit roll ups