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{***Sorry for the mass amount of photos today…just loved the colors! If you care less about the photos, just scroll down for the recipe!}
Time to go back to being a kid today.
Please tell me you guys grew up eating Fruit Roll Ups??? Like please?!? I certainly did. I loved them, even the brothers loved them. We all loved them…and…well, you get the point.
My all time favorites were Fruit by the Foot. A whole foot of fruity flavor! Also, Gushers. Does anyone remember those?!? You guys, I really wasn’t one for candy of any kind, but for some reason, I really liked Fruit Roll Ups, Gushers and Fruit Snacks. I first gave up on Gushers (the filling started to gross me out), then Fruit Roll Ups and then Fruit Snacks.
I was majorly bummed the day I realized these fruity snacks where just completely sugar and…fake fruit 🙁
Like what?!? You mean they are not a healthy snack? They don’t count as fruit? What the, what?!
So freaking lame.
Anyway, to this day my brothers still squeal with excitement (literally) over Gushers and Fruit by the Foot. Mom would only buy the regular square fruit rolls ups when we were kids because they were always cheaper. But on the rare occasion she would splurge and get the Fruit by the Foot or Gushers we’d eat them all within lthe day (I think that’s another reason she never bought them).
Whoever said being a kid was not the best thing ever was totally lying. Four thoughts to confirm: carelessness, sugar, zero taxes, summer vacations!
Just sayin.
A lot of times mom would hide all the fruit snack-like items saying they were only for school lunches. Of course the brothers (3 above me, 2 below) would find them all, eat them and have no remorse. I would not have done this, but I think by this time I had given up on eating those sugary snacks. Again, I pretty much sucked all the fun out of being a kid. <–Sad, but kind of true now that I think about it. Maybe that’s why I want to go back and just be a normal kid?
So heyyy, you think since I wasn’t the typical kid growing up that I could like take a week and be like ten again?? Hmmm. How would that work? Probably…thinking that’s totally not gonna happen.
Great concept, but unfortunately, that’d be weird… don’t think I could do it.
The good news here is that what I can do is make healthy imitations. YES. My dreams have come true!!
No really.
I actually tried to do this last summer and failed miserably and I now know why. I think I knew it then too, but honestly, I was just too defeated to get up and try again. So I waited a good year and then, I NAILED it. Nice.
The first time around I had two problems. One patience – UGH…story of my life.
The second problem – these fruit rolls ups need at least six hours in a super low temperature oven. This is a MUST! The first time I tried to rush it. DO NOT do this! These cannot be rushed. I recommend either starting these in the morning or starting them just before bed.
OK, and I just have to mention that even though these do require a lot of time in the oven, the prep time and the time involved in actually making them is minimal. Like five minutes people. It really does not get easier. Don’t freak over the cooking time, k?
While I tried to not add ANY form of sugar in making these fruit roll-ups…I don’t actually recommend it. However, I used only healthy honey in the recipe (which isn’t actual SUGAR). I think the honey REALLY helped to give these the right amount of stickiness and chewiness. If you want to make these vegan, brown rice syrup can also be used.
For my flavors, I went with mango-peach, strawberry and strawberry-blackberry swirl, BUT, you can really use any fruit you’d like. They all work, some maybe a little better than others, but with the addition of honey in my recipe, most fruits should work out great. That said, mangos pretty much make a KILLER fruit roll up. Like the perfect texture.
I also feel I should mention that these got double thumbs up from everyone. We all agreed that they are just like the real thing, but better, sweeter and so much healthier.
SCORE!
Oh and umm, isn’t my little model the cutest?? Photographing her + late summer berries, just makes my day.
Double oh, Asher cannot wait to pack the snacks in her lunch box. So you see, they even have the kid seal of approval.
Triple Oh, Asher starts school today! AND…she is actually trying to convince my mom to homeschool her…and… my mom is actually thinking about it! I told my mom one very important thing.
YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR MIND!
I know homeschooling is for some people, but it’s not for my mom (she’s crazy busy for one), and it’s definitely not for Asher. The girl acts like a teenager, she is a social bug and would be bored to death all year.
Fruit Roll Ups...for Back to School!
Servings: 10 Servings
Calories Per Serving: 192 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Mango-Peach Fruit Roll Ups
- 1 1/2 cups diced peaches
- 1 1/2 cups diced mango
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup honey may sub brown rice syrup or honey if vegan
Strawberry-Blackberry Swirl Fruit Roll Ups
- 1 1/2 cups diced strawberries
- 1 1/2 cups blackberries
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice divided
- 4 tablespoons honey divided, may sub brown rice syrup or honey if vegan
General Base To Make Your Own Flavor
- 3 cups diced fresh fruit
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup honey may sub brown rice syrup or honey if vegan
Instructions
Mango-Peach
- Preheat the oven to 150 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a blender, puree all the ingredients until completely smooth and no chunks remain, about 2 minutes. Divide the mixture in 2 and pour onto the prepared baking sheets. Spread the mixture to an 1/8″ thick even layer. It is REALLY important to make sure the mix is all in one even layer. To help with this, I found topping the pan against the count a few times really helpful. Place in oven and bake for 6-8 hours, until center is not tacky anymore. Remove from oven and allow to cool before cutting.
- Cut into strips and roll um up! Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks or freeze.
Strawberry-Blackberry Swirl
- Preheat the oven to 150 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a blender, puree the strawberries, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 1 tablespoon honey until completely smooth and no chunks remain, about 2 minutes. Pour the mixture into a large measuring cup.
- Add the blackberries, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 1 tablespoon honey to the blender and puree until smooth, about 2 minutes.
- Pour half of both the strawberry mix and the blackberry mix onto a pan. Create swirls while spreading the mixture out into an 1/8″ thick even layer. It is REALLY important to make sure the mix is all in one even layer. To help with this, I found topping the pan against the count a few times really helpful. Repeat with the other pan and remaining fruit mixtures. Place in oven and bake for 6-8 hours, until center is not tacky anymore. Remove from oven and allow to cool before cutting.
- Cut into strips and roll um up! Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks or freeze.
Notes
*All fruits produce different results. I found that mangos produced the best results, but strawberries, blackberries and stone fruits will all work! Cooking time will very depending on the fruit. If you are trying out different fruits, you may want to experiment to see what combos work best together or what fruits are best just on their own. *I found the addition of honey to REALLY help with the texture and make the fruit roll ups chewy just like the store bought ones. The honey can be left out, but I do not recommend it. It is REALLY important to make sure the mix is all in one even layer. To help with this, I found topping the pan against the counter a few times really helpful. *Other combos that I think would be awesome: mango, mango-pineapple, strawberry, strawberry-apple, strawberry-grape, apple-fig, blackberry, blackberry-mango, strawberry-plum
Snack time? I do think so.
Hi! I love to make my own fruit roll ups and a tip is not to use the regular parchement paper but the silicon reusable kind! That way it will be smooth as when you put it in the oven and easier to peel off!
Apple and kiwi work like a charm too!
love from Holland!!
These fruit roll ups are beyond amazing! Those vibrant colors almost make me want to go back to school… almost ;).
This recipe reminds me my childhood! Thank you for sharing…
I tried to make homemade fruit leather earlier this summer, and could never get the right thickness! I think I kept trying to make it too thin and it would start to crack. NEED to try this again!
Hello!
I made some today but some parts werereally hard and aone soft. Also some parts got stuck to the parchment paper ?
Hi Connie! was your mixture in an even layer when you put them in the oven? Are your baking sheets uneven (mine are and I ended with one side over cooked and the other side not done and gooey). If they where sticking to the paper, those parts probably where not cooked completely yet.
It is REALLY important to make sure the mix is all in one even layer. To help with this, I found topping the pan against the count a few times really helpful. Also try and use baking sheets that are completely flat. Any of this help you??
Also, how long did you cook them for and are you in a warm or dry climate?
Tieghan!
LOVE this!! No worries about all the photos – they are gorgeously vibrant and I especially love the photos of Asher and of the roll ups hung up outside to dry out. I always have so much trouble trying to cut down my own photos, so when you have as many stunning shots as this, I don’t blame you for posting them all!
I totally know what you mean about school lunch treats – we always had certain muesli bars and biscuits that were ‘only for school lunches’, and because Mum knew how full of artificial sugar roll-ups were, we never got them. BUT now I have this recipe I am so going to make them for my brothers who are still at school – they will love them too I’m sure!
Thank you so much, Claudia!! So happy you enjoyed the post! 🙂
I’ve seen these fruit roll ups many times, but I’ve never been brave to make them – sounds too complicated, haha. You’ve done a really great job! Stunning pictures too!
Thank you so much, ben!!
Omg! The peaches on my mom’s trees have been getting ripe and I’ve been dreaming of fruit leather! My mom would never buy us fruit snacks or fruit roll ups when we were young… I was that strange child too, though, that didn’t like candy, so whatevs. However my mom would buy us “fruit roll ups” from the produce section that were actually fruit leathers like this recipe, and they are so good! Did you ever have those? Homemade is definitely better though, and I JUST bought pineapple and strawberries today, and ran to my moms for peaches. 🙂 I am so excited! Thank you for posting this recipe because we’ve usually made these in dehydrators but I think this method will better, plus I’ll be substituting the sugar for honey this time 🙂
Ahh! So happy to know I was not the only weird child out there! 🙂
Thank you so much, Annie! Hope you had a great day! Oh and strawberry pineapple flavor sounds so good!! Or Pineapple peach! 🙂
They have fruit roll ups at school. I like the smell of it but made the mistake of trying it once. Although I do like those little gummies.
Haha! Thanks Nancy! The gummies are great!
I am obsessed with fruit roll-ups and fruit leathers. These look delicious and the photos are gorgeous. Can’t wait to try making them. Pinned.
Love it when Asher models for you!! She is pretty much the cutest! And I think it’s so sweet she wants your mom to homeschool her. I was homeschooled all my life, and loved it! We had a lot of friends through other venues and I never felt isolated and secluded. But different strokes for different folks, and different personalities need different things. But I really hope Asher gets an opportunity to try out being homeschooled; it’s just the greatest, IMO!!! 🙂
I know, i know!! Me too! 🙂
So happy to know you enjoyed your homeschool experience. Thank you for sharing!!
LOVE. I had no idea you could make these at home!!! They’re gorgeous and sound infinitely healthier and tastier than the ones you get at the grocery store. You’re my hero.
Haha! THANK YOU!!! But seriously, you have to them. You’d love them!!
I have been needing a recipe for fruit rolls ups for a long time. My son loves them, but most of them have tons of sugar. My son will thank you!
Thank you! Hope you both love them!!
I have a bunch of fruit puréed in my freezer. How much purée do you think 1 1\2 cups diced fruit makes?
Can’t wait to try these!
Sarah
Hey Sarah!!
I want to say around 1 cup. Hope you love these!:)
Fruit roll ups were my favorite childhood treat–besides Dunkaroos! I could eat so many–and I loved the tongue tattoo roll ups!
Thanks cassie! Never had dunkaroos!