Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups (2024)

Snacks Kid Friendly Lunch March 20, 2024 | By Kristen Chidsey | 55 Comments | *This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

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Replace store-bought fruit roll-ups permanently with this simple Fruit Roll-Ups recipe. Made without any special equipment and just 3 wholesome ingredients, Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups are a kid-friendly, parent-approved treat that are incredibly easy to make!

Did anyone else grow up enjoying Fruit-by-the-Foot? Or am I dating myself? 😂 It was a brand of a store-bought fruit roll-up that was very sugary and made with very little fruit.

This recipe for fruit roll-ups replaces that brand (and all other store-bought fruit roll-ups and fruit leathers) with a wholesome kid-approved snack that is made real fruit and a lot of it!

Reasons to Love Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups

Super Easy Prep.This recipe for fruit roll-ups only takes a few minutes of hands-on prep and a bit of patience while the fruit roll-ups set up in the oven.
Free from Top 8 Allergens.Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups are gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, corn-free, egg-free, and can easily be made vegan-friendly.
Nothing Artificial.You won't find food coloring, artificial flavors, preservatives, or high fructose corn syrup in these homemade fruit roll-ups.
Made with Real Fruit. This fruit leather recipe is made with fruit, and lots of it!
Parent & Kid Approved. While store-bought fruit roll-ups may not be a nutrient-dense choice, this homemade version is a wholesome treat that parents can feel good about serving as part of lunch, and kids will always enjoy eating!

What You Need to Make Fruit Roll-Ups

Fruit: Any combination of berries, mango, kiwi, or peaches will work to make fruit roll-ups. I would avoid things like bananas or apples that brown easily and would make the color unappealing. However, feel free to add up to 1 cup of applesauce to the mix of fruit.
Sweetener:Use either honey, maple syrup, or agave syrup. Do not use granulated sugar, as it will not dissolve properly in the fruit and can leave the fruit roll-ups grainy.
Lemon Juice:The lemon juice will help to preserve the fruit and brighten the flavors.
Rimmed Baking Sheet:Be sure your baking sheet has a rimmed edge to keep the fruit mixture contained.
Parchment Paperor Silicone Baking Mat:You need something to prevent the fruit mixture from sticking to your baking sheet. Use either parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.Do NOT use plastic wrap or wax paper! Even at a low temperature, they are not safe to use for this recipe.
Oven: Instead of using a dehydrator, this recipe uses the oven to dry out the fruit to make the fruit leather.

Recipe Modifications

Using Frozen Fruit: You can use frozen fruit to make homemade fruit roll-ups. Simply defrost the frozen fruit of your choice in the refrigerator. Once thawed, drain off any excess liquid and then proceed with the recipe as directed.
Omit the Sugar: You can omit the sweetener altogether if your fruit is really ripe or if you prefer not to add sweeteners.

How to Make Fruit Roll-Ups

The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Prepare the Fruit. Place the fruit of choice in a food processor or blender, along with the sweetener of your choice and a bit of lemon juice.

Kristen's Tip: If you have a child with a sensitive digestive system that needs to avoid seeds, use any fruit you like to puree and then run through a fine-mesh strainer to remove seeds, or use peaches, applesauce or mangoes to avoid any small seeds.

Spread Out Pureed Fruit. Pour the pureed fruit mixture onto a sheet pan lined with oven-safe parchment paper. Using a spatula, spread out the mixture into a very thin, evenly layer. Be sure to leave a ½-inch border along the sides of the pan, to prevent the fruit roll-ups from sticking to the pan.

Bake Fruit Roll-Ups. Using the lowest setting on your oven, bake the fruit leather until the mixture is no longer sticky to the touch. The timing varies based on the oven and moisture in the fruit, so it is best to begin checking on the fruit roll-ups every 30 minutes after they have baked for 4 hours, keeping in mind it can take up to 8 hours for the fruit to be dried out.
Cool & Slice. After the fruit is fully dried-out, remove it from the oven and let it cool to room temperature Once cooled, cut the fruit leather into 1-inch strips using kitchen scissors or a pizza cutter. Using the parchment paper roll-up into fruit rolls.

Make It Cute

While you can opt to roll your fruit leather up into roll-ups using simply just parchment paper, you can make it cute by cutting craft paper into strips slightly smaller than the size of the fruit leather.Peel the fruit leather away from the parchment paper and place it onto the cut strip of paper. Roll the fruit leather up into the classic roll-up shape of a fruit roll-up, securing it with a sticker or piece of tape. Then allow your kids (or you) to unwrap the magic and enjoy their special treat!

Storage Instructions

Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups will keep in an airtight container in a dry, cool spot in your pantry for up to 2 weeks. Place a fruit roll-up in a small plastic bag or container to pack in a school lunch or for a snack on the go.

More Favorite Kid-Friendly Recipes

Veggie Wrap
Homemade Cheese Crackers
No-Bake Granola Bars
Homemade GoGurts
DIY Butterfly Snack Bags
Turkey Wrap
English Muffin Pizza

If you made Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.

Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups

Made without any special equipment and just 3 wholesome ingredients, Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups are a kid-friendly, parent-approved treat that are incredibly easy to make!

4.96 from 23 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Ingredients

▢ 3 cups fruit see notes
▢ 2 tablespoons maple syrup, agave, or honey
▢ 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Instructions

Preheat your oven to as low as it will allow you to go. Aim for 150-180℉. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
In a food processor or blender, puree the fruit with the sweetener and lemon juice until perfectly smooth.
Pour the pureed fruit mixture onto the prepared pan and use an offset spatula to evenly spread the fruit out so that it is about ⅛-inch thickness, without any holes. Also, be sure to leave a ½-inch border around the edges of the pan.
Place the fruit mixture into the oven and bake for 4-8 hours, until set and no longer sticky to the touch. The cooking time will depend on the fruit's moisture content and the temperature of your oven. After 4 hours in the oven, check every 30 minutes and remove from the oven when the fruit leather is no longer sticky to the touch.
Once set, remove the pan from the oven and allow it to cool fully at room temperature.
Cut the cooled fruit leather into 1-inch strips using kitchen scissors or a pizza cutter and peel away from the pan. Roll the fruit leather up with a strip of craft paper or parchment paper, and secure with tape or a sticker.

Equipment Needed

Notes

Fruit: Use a combination of berries, mango, peaches, or kiwi to make fruit roll-ups. Do not use fruit that browns easily like apples, pears, or bananas. I don't recommend using melon either, as it has high water content. You CAN use up to 1 cup of applesauce, mixed with other varieties of fruit if desired. I used 2 cups of strawberries and 1 cup of blackberries for the pictured fruit roll-ups.

Frozen Fruit: You can use frozen fruit. Defrost the fruit in the refrigerator and then strain well to remove excess moisture. Pat dry and then proceed with the recipe.

Strain the Fruit? If you have a child with a sensitive digestive system that needs to avoid seeds, use any fruit you like to puree and then run through a fine-mesh strainer to remove seeds, or use peaches, applesauce or mangoes to avoid any small seeds.

Storage: Keep homemade fruit-roll ups in a tightly sealed container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Nutrition

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This post was originally published in 2017.

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About Kristen Chidsey

Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.