Last Updated on April 17, 2024

This homemade Strawberry Mango Fruit Leather only requires 4 ingredients and is the perfect snack for school lunches! These fresh, whole food fruit rollups are easily made with real strawberries and mango, dried in the dehydrator (or optionally the oven). 🍓🥭

This was my first attempt at making homemade fruit roll-ups! Why have I waited so long?! 🤔 Making your own fruit leather at home is so easy and made with real fruit, and no artificial fillers or colors. It may seem intimidating, but I promise it’s simple. You just need a little time and patience, as it takes up to 8 hours to fully dehydrate.

What ingredients you need to make fruit leather

Strawberries 🍓 I used fresh strawberries, you’ll need 3 heaping cups worth.

Mango 🥭 I used frozen mango for ease (it’s already chopped!) but you can feel free to use fresh. If you do use fresh, be mindful that it’s a little juicer than frozen mango, so that may affect the cook time.

Lemon juice 🍋 Adding a tablespoon of lemon juice helps to preserve the color and enhance the flavor. You can use fresh squeezed lemon juice or bottled, but use NOT from concentrate.

Maple syrup 🍁 This is totally optional. If your strawberries aren’t super ripe and sweet you can add a tablespoon of maple syrup.

Do I need a dehydrator?

While I do recommend using a dehydrator, you don’t have to have one to make fruit leather. The Denali Dehydrator is a GREAT dehydrator to make this fruit leather making a breeze though! I found it to do a better job than making it in the oven, the fruit leather seemed a bit more bendable and “moist” compared to drying it out in the oven (I did try both methods). My Denali Dehydrator came with a 12×10” silicone baking sheet that’s the perfect depth (1/4 inch) to make this fruit leather. If your dehydrator doesn’t come with one, just grab a small baking sheet, preferably a 9×13” baking sheet.

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Oven method

The other option is to make the fruit leather in the oven using a baking sheet. Using a Silicone baking mat helps the fruit leather peel off a lot easier, but you can use parchment paper if you don’t have a silicone baking mat. I would spray it with coconut oil beforehand.

How to make homemade fruit rollups (fruit leather)

You can make this fruit leather recipe in a dehydrator (what I did using my Denali Dehydrator) or the oven. Cook time will vary depending on which you choose, the kind of dehydrator you have or your oven, how thick/thin the fruit mixture is, so I’ll briefly touch on how to tell when it’s done and how to avoid overcooking it below.

First, wash and slice the tops of the strawberries. Then add them to a blender with the mango, lemon juice and maple syrup. Blend until smooth, it’ll resemble a smoothie consistency. Then pour the mixture onto the silicone baking tray (that comes with the Denali Dehydrator) or parchment-lined baking sheet. Spread the fruit mixture into an even layer the best you can. This will ensure even cook time for the whole sheet so you don’t end up with some crunchy or gooey spots.

When it’s done, and you can tell it’s done when it’s no longer sticky to touch, and the whole sheet is an even color, gently peel it off the baking tray and slice it. If you used parchment paper, you can just slice through the paper and use that to roll it up! I used a pizza cutter to slice my strips.

Fruit leather tips

🍓 The runnier or the thicker the purée, the longer it will take to dehydrate. It can take anywhere from 8 to 10 hours, maybe even longer. It’s easy to overcook it, so start with a 4 hour timer, then gently touch the top. If it’s sticky and there’s still “wet spots” it’s not ready. Dehydrate in additional 30-60 minute intervals. Remember, it’s ideal to spread it evenly in a 1/4 inch layer.

🥭 If you do make it in the oven, you may notice the color is a little darker than when making it in the dehydrator. I made this recipe both ways and I definitely prefer the dehydrator method, however, I realize that it’s not ideal for people who don’t have the budget or space for a dehydrator, so I include dehydrating it in the oven as an option.

🍓 Don’t expect this to taste like or have the texture of store-bought fruit roll-ups. Remember, there’s no additives to make this fruit leather that melt-in-your-mouth consistency. But it’s still so delicious, I actually prefer it homemade.

🥭 You can “rehydrate” the fruit leather if you overcook it by letting it sit out on your counter uncovered. It’ll soften slightly. It’s still good when it’s crunchy, so don’t throw it away!

🍓 It’s really easy for fruit leather to look, feel, and taste differently. There’s a lot of different variable that could effect how it turns out. If it doesn’t work the first time, try again!

How to store fruit leather

Storage. Roll the fruit leather with strips of parchment paper and keep it stored in an airtight container on your counter. Don’t refrigerate it or it will get too hard. You don’t have to worry about it getting moldy sitting out because I know it won’t last that long lol 😝

Of course my kids are obsessed with this fruit leather, but I found these roll-ups to be a nostalgic treat myself! I have a feeling I’ll be making more, trying all the fruits! 🍉🍇🍒🍑🫐🍍🥝🥭

Let me know what you think about this homemade strawberry mango fruit roll-up recipe down below in the comments section, as well as giving it a five rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ so that others can discover this healthier alternative! Tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest if you make it!