Make Your Own Fruit Leather for an Easy Snack

By Chelsea Foy

Jun 2, 2021

195 min activity

Making fruit leather is a healthy and tasty snack that is also a great family cooking activity! And what’s more, it’s the perfect snack to take on the go! Take a tip from Nature Cat and head out on a hike or outdoor adventure to explore — just be sure to bring along some fruit leather for an energizing snack. You can even bring along some extra to share with a friend.

Making fruit leather can also be an introduction to the idea that Earth’s food resources are precious. Talk to your child about all of the steps involved to plant a seed and grow it into something that you buy at the store and then eat at your kitchen table. It’s a first step towards understanding why wasting food wastes a lot more than just the food.

Ingredients and Materials

The recipe takes about 15 minutes to prepare. Baking time varies depending on how thick the mixture is spread on the baking sheet. The fruit should be totally dried before baking is finished.

Directions

Before you begin the recipe, have your child look with you to see which fruit in your refrigerator might be getting overripe. Explain that this is a great way to extend the life of your fruit. By cooking and dehydrating it, we remove the water — and water is what makes mold more likely to grow (just like Nature Cat discovers!). Because moldy fruit isn’t good to eat, this is one way to make the most of our food resources and preserve fruit that’s getting very ripe.

Line the baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.

Stem and wash one quart of ripe strawberries (or your preferred fruit).

Place strawberries in a blender along with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.

Puree the mixture until it’s smooth. It should be liquid enough to pour, and just thick enough to spread with a spoon. If it’s too watery, just blend in a few more pieces of fruit. Ask your child to share what differences they notice in the fruit after it’s been blended. Does it look, smell, taste, or feel any different?

Pour the mixture onto the parchment paper and spread evenly using the back of a spoon.

Bake at 170 for three hours. To test if your fruit leather is ready, gently pull back a corner. If it peels up cleanly, it’s ready to remove from the oven. Take a moment to discuss with your child how the fruit has changed this time! Ask questions like “How is the fruit different now?” Or “What do you think happened in the oven?” Explain how heat makes water evaporate more quickly, which helps the fruit dehydrate.

Slice into strips, roll into spirals, and store in an airtight container.

Enjoy your all-natural snack! Experiment with other flavors and help your child make their favorite! This is a great first step as a family to begin thinking of other ways to reduce food waste. Encourage your child to help brainstorm more ideas as well.