I thought we had used up all of our nectarines in our recent canning spree, but Scott walked in the backdoor yesterday with another basket full (the last of them). Hmmm, what to do with them? I thought I’d try my hand at fruit leather, or fruit roll ups, again. Nectarines are a perfect candidate for making fruit roll ups because they aren’t as juicy as peaches so they dry faster. Plus I like their tangy flavor.
I had tried making fruit leather in the past and was never very satisfied with my results, but I think I got it right this time. Here’s how I did it:
How to Make Fruit Roll Ups
Pit the nectarines and place in a pot. Turn the heat to medium/high and mash the fruit with a potato masher. You can add sugar at this point if you like, but I chose not to for this batch since the nectarines were pretty ripe already. Bring the fruit to a boil for about 15-20 minutes. Blend (carefully–it’s hot!) with an immersion blender.
Once the fruit reaches a jam like consistency, spread it onto parchment lined cookie sheets.
Place in oven and turn the temperature to the lowest setting. Once the oven reaches temperature, then turn it off. You may have to keep turning the heat on and off for the next two or so hours until the fruit has become tacky to the touch.
Once it’s cooled, roll it up in the parchment paper and slice it into one and a half inch lengths. Store your homemade fruit rollups in an air tight container.
You can use the sun to dry the leather, but you will need a breathable cover such as cheese cloth to spread over it. Or else you’ll get bug and lint covered leather (that’s what happened with a previous batch, not so tasty!). I’ve found that even in our arid climate it takes a few days to dry, which is why I went the easy route and used the oven.
Overall, it was an easy process and I would totally recommend trying it if you are overloaded in fruit.
Update: wanting more? Check out how I made plum fruit roll ups.
Those look delicious. I have a friend who does all of the processing of my garden stuff. Canning, pickling etc. Last year he did a big batch of preserves from some wild grapes. I am sending him this post. Even though we don’t grow fruit, there is a farm stand that’s got some great nectarines going. I must have this!
I recently read an article about strawberry fruit leather and this just confirms that I must make some fruit leather. I may have to use peaches since Texas peaches are in the sweet prime right now! My husband was looking over my shoulder as I was reading the process saying, ‘fruit roll-ups? will you make them for me to take for snacks to work?’ Total confirmation.
Sjones & Elizabeth, you’ll have to let me know how your roll ups turn out. They do make perfect snacks.
Grape preserves sound great. We have three grape vines, but the chickens ate the majority of them this year. Maybe next year we’ll have a surplus.
This looks amazing! Great post, thanks for sharing.
Wow, I didn’t realize they’d dry that quickly in the dryer! I think fruit roll-ups take a day in my electric dehydrator. I may have to try this…
These are gorgeous and so much better for you than the pre-packaged stuff.
I wasn’t able to find your email address on your site, do you think you could email me? I have a question for you. Thanks!
-Ali
Oh those sound so yummy! I’ll have to try these for my son’s lunches.
It sounds so yummy and easy to make. I have an abundance of apples. I wonder if I could do this recipe with apples instead of nectarines.
We do fruit leather now, and my grandmother ALWAYS did it growing up!!! It is wonderful. We don’t even bother to cook it. We use really ripe fruit, peel it, pit it and puree it… voila` that is it… Some fruits my mother adds a touch of lemon juice (for color preservation) and maybe a teaspoon of honey if it is tart. Yours looks amazing!
Lovely recipe. Just tried it out, and the blend of flavour is incredible. Gotta make more! Thanks so much.
Hello from One Crafty Place! I just might try this.
This does look really simple and delicious! One question though; what would happen if you added oil to the fruit mix before putting it in the oven, would that make it not be able to set or something?
Hi Elia, I don’t know what oil would do to it. Always worth a try though. Why do you want to add it?
thanks so much for sharing this! i have been looking for the recipe
Thanks for sharing how you made fruit roll-ups. I made Fig and Blueberry Roll-ups. They were delicious, but a bit sticky. My 5 year old son thought they were great. I used figs from our very productive fig tree. Thanks.
Hi!
I randomly found Your wonderful blog – thanks for sharing Your natural life. About this post. In Estonia (where I’m from) not used fruit roll ups. Its really nice idea save summer sun for winter. But – how do You eat these? Are they just snacks, You take off paper and just eat like the leather is?
Greetins from Estonia!!!
Hi Kristiina – Thank you for your comment. Yes, you do peel it off the paper and eat the fruit leather like a snack. It’s a popular snack for kids to take in their lunchbox but the store bought brands are always full of corn syrup and chemicals.
Such A Great Idea! I Made This && I Loved It.
There’s Alot Of Webs That Show You How To Make HomeMade Fruit Roll-Ups But, This One Is The Best So Far! Good Job!(;
This is AWESOMEE!(: I tried this & I suceeded! My children loves them for a lunch dessert! Once my girl, Lora, Had a party and I made some homemade fruit rollups and all the children gobbled them up! The mothers asked where I got the recipe and I told them its Sonoma Garden & they go on here every time! Thanks, Sonoma Garden!!!!!!
We had a great find this year of a big old apple tree in an ancient cemetery, needless to say we made multiple trips to stock up. I made sheet after sheet of fruit leather with it. I piled peeled/sliced apples along with a few handfuls of berries or another fruit into my crockpot, once it was applesauce consistency I blended it fine and dried it. Worked sooo perfect and I was able to stretch the more expensive fruits by having the apples as the base.
I’m thinking next year I may can the apple mix and make the leather in spurts throughout the year.
These look great. I was trying to think of some travel snacks to make before I go away for a weekend next summer and this seems just the thing to bring out on the trail! Although, out of curiosity… how long do these last before they start to spoil? Assuming there is no added sugar and they are stored in an air tight container, but not the fridge?
I definitely need to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Do you think this could be made with ready made preserves or jam? I have some blackberry jam & plum preserves that I had so much of I am getting tired of eating it as jam. Will it set up?
I certainly think this could be made with jam. Give it a go and let me know how it works out!
How awesome! Came across this on Pinterest and just had to include it in a blog post. Thanks for the how-to and inspiration!
It’s very likely I’m oblivious with my never-a-dull-moment pregnant brain but I didn’t see a quantity/recipe, which is no problem for me but just want to make sure if it matters how much of whatever you add. My typical answer when someone asks how much do I add… just enough;) And about how long did it take in the oven?
You can make these raw as well, with no cooking, for extra nutrition and vitamins. Simply blend the fruit with some soaked dates if it needs sweetening, otherwise just by itself. Place on dehydrator sheets overnight.
Thanks so much for this amazing recipe! We tried it out this weekend and were so thrilled with the results we blogged them: http://17apart.blogspot.com/2011/10/how-to-make-homemade-fruit-leather.html
xoxo,
Tim and Mary
My son is truly looking forward to helping me with this; what a wonderful recipes.
Can these be frozen? Love love love your blog
Yes they can!
Thanks for the information. I am using the blackberries I picked a few days ago. Processed them with my fruit colander, took out all the seeds and what a beautiful fruit to make roll-ups out of. Had a small amount of plums processed, so I added that to the blackberry juice. Added sugar and now I am ready to put in the oven. Will let you know how they turn out. Here in Oregon we have such an abundance of blackberries. Anyone can make this without much to buy. Pennies worth of sugar. Thanks!
What is an immersion blender? I have a magic bullet, would that work? Or, I have the blender attachment that came with my Bosch bread maker?
Just made some fruit leather with our tree’s little golden plums. Thanks so much for this simple and easy recipe!