18 Amazing Fruit Leather Dehydrator Recipes (2024)

These easy and delicious fruit leather recipes are some of the best I've tried.Homemade fruit roll-ups are one of my absolute favorite ways to use up any almost-over-ripe fruit you might have on hand!

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As harvest time starts drawing to a close, and with it, food preservation season - I find myself running short on both canning jars and freezer space. So I'm relying more and more heavily on my dehydrator lately, for putting away everything we possibly can for winter.

We've made about a gazillion dried apple rings, oodles of dried peach halves, and tray after tray of dried tomatoes. But it hit me the other day that I have one of those handy fruit leather trays for my dehydrator - and I really aught to be making more use of it.

Dried fruit is great, but especially if you're a toddler, fruit leather is where it's at!

So I started looking up fruit leather recipes, and I got drawn in. Holy cow, there are some great recipes out there! As my "Must Try" list grew, I knew I couldn't keep these to myself.

From perfectly simple classics like strawberry and raspberry, to wowie-kazowie flavor combinations like blackberry-mint-lime and pear-guava, these fruit leather recipes are the cream of the crop.

Check these out...

Strawberry

It's tough to imagine a more perfect way to preserve the flavor of strawberries at the peak of their sun-ripened sweetness, than this easy recipe from Monique, over at Divas Can Cook. Just looking at this picture kind of makes me wish it were June again!

Peach

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This is the recipe I have going in my dehydrator right now, and my house smells like sweet heaven! These peach leather strips have really become one of my favorite ways to enjoy a huge peach harvest!

Apple

Katja, over at Savory Lotus, has FIVE glorious variations of apple leather, and I'm on a mission to try them all. The apple spice is wonderful, but I think I might be most excited about the apple lavender!

Plum

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We grew up with an enthusiastically-productive plum tree in the backyard, and somehow never quite knew what to do with ALL that fruit. This year I'm hoping that dear old tree will bear well enough for me to steal a big basketful from my parents, so I can make up a batch of this beautiful, antioxidant-rich fruit leather!

Pear

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I've been incredibly fortunate the last couple of years to be gifted some pears, and this fruit leather is one of my favorite things to do with them! Even if you don't have pears, you need to click through and check out Carlene's blog anyway, because...those food pictures!

Tangerine Mango

Aside from the amazing flavor combination, one cool thing about this recipe is that tangerines and mangoes seem to consistently go on sale at the same time, in our grocery store anyway. I can't possibly not make a batch of this, next time that happens!

Raspberry

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Our raspberry bushes are just this year starting to come into their own, so I know that next year we should have a hearty crop. I can't wait to use this recipe as a way of putting up some of that wonderful harvest!

Blackberry Mint Lime

I think I can honestly say that I never would have thought of this combination, but you guys - it's amazing. Just. Amazing. I've tried it, and I love it. Put this one on your absolutely MUST-TRY list!

Persimmon

In college, I had a friend from California who's mom would ship her out a box of persimmons every year. That was my first introduction to this wonderful fruit, which has a totally different flavor profile than anything I'd encountered before. Living in small-town Maine, I may have to drive to a bigger city to find a market that carries persimmons, so I can make this - but I have a feeling it would be more than worth the effort!

Wild Blueberry

Just look at the dark, midnight-blue of that wild blueberry fruit leather! So full of antioxidents, and powerfully-beneficial phytochemicals... wild blueberries are nutrition rockstars. They're also one of our family's absolute favorite foods, so this recipe is a winner all around!

Strawberry Nectarine

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Here's another combination I may never have thought of - but I can't wait to try! I MAY have to break down and get some frozen strawberries to try this, since they're out of season now, and I'm just not sure I can wait until next year!

Papaya

Here's the cool thing about this special recipe - the papaya actually gets fermented, which makes it even more nutritionally beneficial. Did you know that fermented papaya has been shown to help combat radiation-induced biological damage? True story. Click through to the recipe to read more - it's absolutely fascinating!

Pear & Guava

Guava is one of those fruits that's not always available here in Maine, but when it is, it's a fun and exotic treat. I'm keeping my eyes peeled to snap up a few, the next time they grace our grocer's shelves, so we can try this!

Raspberry & Gooseberry

Doesn't this sound like an amazing combination? While gooseberries can be hard to come by in some parts of the country, because the bushes harbor white pine blister rust and are extremely restricted, it's usually possible to find them either frozen or canned. Not the same as fresh, I know - but certainly worth a try for those of us in restricted states!

Grape

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Here's another recipe that just leaves me thinking, "I can't believe I never thought of that!" With all the grapes we get from my parents' vines every fall, I've somehow never imagined making fruit leather with them. It's definitely on the agenda this year!

Cranberry

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The kids and I love cranberries so much, we can happily sit and snack on them raw. You can imagine how we feel about them, when they're made up into this tasty fruit leather! It's HEAVENLY. Cranberries are in season right now, so I'm excited to get a big batch of this going!

Cherry

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Tart cherries are another one of those foods that are just SO full of health benefits. From acting as a natural pain killer, to making it easier to sleep, to reducing inflammation - they're pretty amazing. It will be a few years until we have cherry trees big enough to yield much of a harvest, but I'm dreaming of a day in the future when we'll have tart cherries coming out our ears, and be putting away tons of this wonderful fruit leather!

That' my list of what I think are some of the absolute best fruit leather recipes out there! Now that you've seen all these amazing fruit leather ideas, I'm curious...do you have a favorite? Which one makes you want to just get out your dehydrator, and get a batch started right now?

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Anna Chesley

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Anna Chesley is a freelance writer living a homestead lifestyle, with a special love for family travel, old books, vintage skills, and seaside living. In addition to founding Salt In My Coffee, she runs the website, New England Family Life, as well as The 1800's Housewife, a website devoted to re-creating authentic 1800's recipes.

18 Amazing Fruit Leather Dehydrator Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How long to dehydrate fruit leather in dehydrator? ›

Set your dehydrator to 140°F (60°C) and let it do its magic for at least 6 or up to 12 hours. The actual time will depend on the type of fruit you're using and the thickness of your leather. But we've found that 8 to 10 hours is the sweet range for making fruit leather in our dehydrator. Check your fruit occasionally.

Can I use parchment paper in my dehydrator for fruit leather? ›

Line dehydrator with paraflexx sheet, parchment paper, silpat or plastic wrap. NEVER use wax paper! Spread fruit puree on a lined dehydrator tray about ⅛ to ¼ inch (2-5 mm) thick. Use an offset spatula to ensure a nice even layer.

How do you know when fruit leather is done in a dehydrator? ›

Dry fruit leathers at 140° degrees F. It will dry from the outside edge toward the center. Test for dryness by touching the center of the leather. It should not feel moist at all.

Why isn't my fruit leather drying? ›

If the surrounding air is humid, then drying will be slowed down. Avoid drying fruit leather during rainy or humid weather. Increasing the air current speeds up drying by moving the surrounding moist air away from the fruit leather. To speed the drying time, increase the air flow.

Can you leave fruit in the dehydrator too long? ›

Yes, items can be over-dried and as a result are more difficult to rehydrate. There is a balance and experience will provide answers. High indoor humidity, air conditioning or breezes may alter the time needed to dehydrate foods. Ideally, find a dry, warm place away from air vents and windows to set up your dehydrator.

Do you flip fruit in a dehydrator? ›

Slice the fruit evenly (see notes below). Place the slices in a single layer on each tray of the dehydrator. Dehydrate for 4-6 hours, flipping the fruit every 1-2 hours to prevent sticking and promote even drying.

How do you keep fruit from browning when dehydrating? ›

Place cut fruits in a solution of 3¾ teaspoons of powdered ascorbic acid (or crush 20 500-milligram vitamin C tablets) or ½ teaspoon of powdered citric acid in 2 cups of water for 10 minutes before placing on trays to dry. Equal parts of bottled lemon juice and water can be substituted for the above pretreatment.

Can I use aluminum foil in a dehydrator? ›

Wax paper, plastic wrap, and aluminum foil restrict the airflow of your machine and do not work. The food will not be ruined if you use these methods, your machine will not be able to work efficiently, and the dehydrating batch will take longer to dry.

Why does my fruit leather crack? ›

As you roll up your fruit leathers they might break or crack. No worries. That batch just got a little too dry. They're still perfectly good to eat.

Do you wash fruit before dehydrating? ›

Preparing Fruits for Dehydration. Select high-quality, fully ripe fruit, and discard any fruit with decay, bruises or mold. Thoroughly wash and clean fruits to remove dirt. Cut foods into c-inch to ½-inch slices.

Why did my fruit leather burn? ›

If edges are thinner than the middle, your fruit leather will dry unevenly and may burn on the edges.

Is dried fruit leather healthy? ›

A piece of fruit leather is no doubt more nutritious than lots of other snack foods – Twinkies, for instance. But fruit leathers can contain high concentrations of pesticides. That's because the agricultural chemicals are sprayed on the fruit from which they are made.

How long to dry fruit leather in dehydrator? ›

In the Dehydrator

Coat your dehydrator's fruit-leather trays with cooking spray. Add enough puree so that you can spread it evenly about 1/8-inch thick (about 1 cup, depending on the size of your tray). Dehydrate at 140°F until dry to the touch, about 4 hours.

What do you line dehydrator trays with for fruit leather? ›

Line the trays with parchment paper, as sometimes the puree can leak through. We start with the wrap and remove it after a few hours when it has started to dry. I've shared three of our favorites, but the flavor combinations are endless.

Can you over dry fruit leather? ›

You cannot overdry foods you plan on putting into storage. The drier it is, the better it will store. You might over dry fruit leather or jerky a little more than your taste preference is, but you cannot overdry food meant for food storage.

How long does a fruit dehydrator take? ›

Turn your dehydrator on immediately after loading to start the dehydration process. Check the owner's manual for recommended drying times but expect the process to take between eight and 12 hours on average. Check your fruits and vegetables frequently for dryness as you reach the end of the drying time.

How do you get fruit leather out of a dehydrator? ›

When the leathers are dried, they will be a little bit shiny and non-sticky to the touch. Allow them to cool before removing them from the trays. Roll the leather into a tight roll and with a sharp knife, cut into a lengths of your choice.

What temperature do you dry fruit in a dehydrator? ›

Place trays in a preheated dehydrator. Initially, the temperature can be set at 145°F (62°C) when there is surface moisture on the fruit or vegetable. After one hour reduce the temperature to 135 (57°C) to 140°F (60°C) to finish drying.

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