Many of you may remember the store-bought classic strawberry fruit roll-ups in your school lunchbox. With all that added sugar and food dye though it’s not what I would consider a healthy snack. This homemade strawberry fruit leather is an easy (and tastier!) way to get your fruit roll-up fix!
Our family is really enjoying all of the seasonal produce available right now, especially the berries. I always stock up on berries when I can find them from a fresh, local, and organic source, and freeze and preserve them for the whole year. Blueberries and raspberries are some of our favorites, but strawberries are especially good!
Last week, a quart of delicious strawberries was hidden in the back of the fridge. By the time I found them, they had frozen slightly and were very ripe. They weren’t great for eating plain anymore but were still perfectly good. These berries became strawberry vinaigrette dressing and my strawberry fruit leather with (optional) hidden beets.
How to Make Fruit Leather
Fruit leather is a naturally sweet snack made by pureeing and dehydrating fresh fruit. They’re like homemade Fruit Roll-Ups, but without the artificial everything (plus, they taste better!).
These are a kid favorite at our house and a perfect treat for summer. I like that I can pack them for a quick snack that can be kept at room temperature for a few hours. You can make fruit leather with only fruit, but I like sneaking in the beets. The hidden veggies yield a firmer texture and extra nutrients.
The beets also intensify the bright red color. Plus beets have properties that make them great for detoxification and fighting inflammation.
You can make this easy and natural snack in an oven or food dehydrator in just a few hours. The recipe is so simple that kids of any age can help make (and enjoy) their own fruit leather.