Strawberry Fruit Leather

Does anyone remember fruit roll-ups from when they were little? They were considered to be prime in the lunch trading world back in the day at my school. While we rarely got them as kids, I remember thinking of them as a type of candy when they’d show up in my lunch box. I felt the same way about fruit by the foot…they were just so good!

A while ago, our Costco opened (WAHOO!), and I asked you guys what your Costco favorites were. A few of you recommended the fruit leather that they carry there, and I instantly thought about the fruit roll-up days. I just had to give them a try and they were fantastic!

So, when I had a flat of strawberries in the fridge a few weeks ago, I figured I could use up quite a few of them making my own fruit leather. It sounds pretty complicated, but really, it’s simple. All you really need is time here.

Since the fruit was super sweet on its own, I eliminated some of the added sugar, and the results were perfect! I also don’t mind strawberry seeds, so I didn’t put the mixture through a sieve (rebel).

I think I want to try doing this with other fruits as well…it was just so good and I have to admit…it was a pretty fun snack to bring for lunch at the work place. 😛 Hi, I’m 30 and I still love fruit roll-ups (well…a healthier version, but still!).

Strawberry Fruit Leather
Source: Epicurious

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lbs. fresh strawberries
• 1/3 cup sugar

Directions:

1. Blend the strawberries and sugar in a blender, until the mixture is smooth. If you’d prefer no seeds, strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve.
2. Add the mixture to a large, heavy saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then simmer the mixture over medium-low heat. Be sure to stir during the cooking process, until the mixture has thickened and has reduced to 1-1 1/4 cups (about 45 minutes-1 hour).
3. Move an oven rack to the middle rack, and preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone liner.
4. Pour the hot mixture onto the paper or liner, and spread the mixture thinly and as evenly as possible, using a spatula. Dry/bake the mixture in the oven until the puree is drier, but it still a little tacky (about 2-3 hours). Cool the fruit leather on a rack until it’s fully dry.
5. If you made the leather on parchment paper, once the mixture is dry, cut the parchment/leather into strips and roll them up to enjoy. If you used a liner, place parchment paper on top of the leather, peel it away from the silicone liner and roll the fruit leather up to enjoy.