How to Dehydrate Fruit Rolls
for Tasty Homemade Fruit Leathers

Looking for a fun, healthy snack that’s both travel-friendly and kid-approved? Learn how to dehydrate fruit rolls (also called fruit leathers or roll-ups) using fresh, canned, or frozen fruit. These chewy strips are naturally sweet, preservative-free, and budget-friendly—making them a tasty alternative to store-bought snacks.

✅ Quick Answer: How do you dehydrate fruit rolls?
Spread puréed fruit about ¼ inch thick on dehydrator sheets, then dry at 135°F–140°F for 4–8 hours until pliable, shiny, and non-sticky. Peel, roll, and store in airtight containers. Properly stored fruit rolls last up to one month at room temperature—or longer when vacuum-sealed.

Once you know the basics, you can mix fruits, adjust sweetness, and experiment with flavors for endless combinations your family will love.

Fruit Roll-Ups on a plate

Fruit rolls are easy to make and cost less than any fruit leathers bought in a store! Plus you know what's in 'em - as we don't add preservatives that you can't pronounce!

Natural Sweeteners & Flavor Hacks for Fruit Rolls

honey for sweetness

Make fruit rolls from fresh fruits or any leftover fruits. Sweeten them if desired by adding cinnamon to an apple and pear mix. Yummy! See more ideas in the FAQ section at the top of the page.

For added sweetness for fruit rolls when using tart fruits: for each quart of purée, add one or two tablespoons of honey or corn syrup—whichever is on hand in your pantry—and taste-test 'til your taste buds are happy!

Note: adding regular sugar to fruit rolls can make them become brittle when in storage. Select a fruit combination for a fruit leather that will appeal to you and your kids!

For example, bananas and pineapples make a tasty combination. How about strawberries with rhubarb, or pineapple and cranberry?

Why Seasonal Fruit Makes Rolls Tastier (and Cheaper)

fresh fruit

It's always best to use fresh fruit for your fruit rolls while it's in season and plentiful—i.e. cheaper.

Don't forget you can also use overripe fruits or those misshapen, bruised fruits, too.

This is a perfect USE for those 'imperfect' fruits! (I'll never tell!)

Can You Use Frozen or Canned Fruit for Fruit Rolls? (Yes—Here’s How)

You can use canned fruits too while dehydrating fruit rolls. Simply drain off the excess liquid first (in a sieve, in the sink) then put the fruit in the blender and away you go.

You can even use frozen fruits, but be aware that these may be a little thinner in consistency after puréeing.

To combat a too-runny consistency, let the frozen fruit come to room temperature first, allowing excess water/juice to drain off naturally (in the sink, in a sieve).

If it's still too runny, add an apple to the mix!

Apple and Pear Fruit Roll Mix in a blender

Step-by-Step: Foolproof Method for Perfect Fruit Leathers

  1. Wash your favorite combination of fresh fruit and trim away any bruised and/or spoiled areas. You can leave the skin on—chop the fruits into 1" chunks to make it easier on your blender and discard the core and seeds. Add a tablespoon or two of water to get the blender moving. (There may be no need to add water if you're using (thawed) frozen fruit or canned fruit).
  2. Place the fruit in your blender. Now is the time to add the sweetener of your choice, if you find it necessary.
  3. After puréeing the fruit, you can lightly wipe the fruit roll sheet with vegetable oil to help prevent sticking. Next: Simply pour the purée onto the food dehydrator's special fruit roll sheets—around 1.5 cups per tray
  4. Turn on your dehydrator and set the temperature between 135°F to 140°F.
    Note the higher temperature for fruit rolls!
  5. When the fruit roll has dried, peel it from the tray and roll it into a tight cylindrical/conical shape. Use a piece of plastic wrap to wrap it up and store it in airtight containers. At room temperature, they'll last a month. In my photo below, you'll see that I vacuum-packed some so they will last even longer!

💡 Tip: Outside the U.S.? Most dehydrating temps here are listed in Fahrenheit — use our quick converter to see the Celsius equivalent for your machine.

  • Drying time: between 4 – 8 hours or until the fruit roll/leather is pliable (or per your food dehydrator's instructions). It should be non-sticky to the touch and a little shiny in appearance—and they do dry much browner, but that is absolutely nothing to worry about!
  • Remember to rotate your food dehydrator trays while dehydrating fruit rolls, for even drying.

How to Blend Fruit Purée So Smooth It Spreads Like Silk

To make the fruit rolls, purée the fruit in your blender and by spreading it thinly onto your food dehydrator's special sheets created just for this purpose.

Best Blenders for Fruit Leather Purées (Top Picks)

Hamilton Beach Power Elite Blender

Hamilton Beach® Power Elite 58148 Table Top Blender

  • Powerful ice crushing with patented Ice Sabre blades
  • 700 Watts peak power
  • Mix, purée, dice, crush ice
  • 4 buttons with 12 blending functions
Ninja BL660 Compact Blender

Ninja® Professional Blender (BL660)

  • Frozen drinks, smoothies, sauces and more
  • 100 Watts motor
  • Chops food as a processor: mince, chop, grind, and blend
  • 72 oz pitcher
KitchenAid Classic blender

KitchenAid® 5-speed with PBA-Free Pitcher

  • Intelli-Speed Motor Control with 'soft start' feature to pull food into the blade then increases to the selected speed setting
  • Pulse and Crush Ice features
  • Stir, chop, mix, purée, or liquefy.
  • 56 oz PBA-free pitcher - silver-colored base
Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender

Hamilton Beach® Wave Crusher Blender

  • Patented Wave-Action system for smooth results without stirring with Ice Sabre blades
  • 14 Blending functions, 700 Watts peak power
  • Mix, purée, dice, crush ice, and more.
  • 40 oz Glass Jar with clean easy-pour lid

As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases. The price you pay does not increase.  Read disclosure here.

Fruit Roll Sheets: DIY vs. Store-Bought (Which Works Better?)

If you're not using (or don't have) the Nesco fruit roll sheets, simply lay a sheet of plastic wrap over the trays to make your own drip-proof sheets!

NOTE: Make SURE to cut out the center hole in the plastic wrap so that the air can circulate if you're using a Nesco dehydrator or similar style dehydrator. (I do highly recommend using the sheets though).

Spreading Secrets: How to Prevent Cracks and Uneven Drying

fruit roll mixture spread out on solid dehydrator sheets

When spreading out the puréed fruit, make sure the center portion of the tray's contents is a little thinner than the outer edges.

The outer edges tend to dry out faster.

NOTE: When using two Nesco dehydrator fruit roll trays, I used two large apples and 4 pears. This is to give you a rough idea of how much fruit to use for two sheets.

I also added extra dehydrator trays in between the two fruit roll trays as Nesco recommends using NO LESS than four trays at a time for proper air circulation.

Read more about NESCO dehydrators here.

The Satisfying Peel: How to Remove Fruit Leather Without Tears

Peeling off the fruit leather from the solid sheet

Carefully lift the leather off the solid sheet. You WILL get better with practice! If you're getting big holes in your fruit leathers while drying, see how to fix it, here.

How to Store Fruit Rolls So They Stay Fresh for Months

Fruit Roll-ups Vacuum-Packed

Make Fruit Leather with No Added Sugar

Here are some tips for making tasty fruit leather with no added sugar:

  • Choose Naturally Sweet Fruit: Go for fruits like mango, pineapple, banana, figs, applesauce, etc, which have enough natural sugars to set up the leather. Berries and tart fruits may need a touch of sweetness, though.
  • Boost Flavor with Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla, almond extract, lemon or orange zest add flavor without sugar. Or try ginger, cardamom, and nutmeg combos.
  • Use Vegetable or Fruit Juice for Liquid: Thin out thicker purées with 100% juices like apple, white grape, pear, or carrot instead of water. Adds sweetness back in.
  • Include Dried Fruits: Chop or purée nutrient-dense dried fruits like raisins, dates, cherries, or apricots into the mix. Work especially well in leathers with some tartness.
  • Sweeten with Alternatives: For a light touch of sweetness, minimal amounts of maple syrup, honey, molasses, or stevia can be used instead of plain sugar.
  • Keep it Thin: Spread fruit purées thinner over dehydrator sheets - less than 1/4 inch. Thinner leathers dry faster. See my TIP about how to spread your fruit mix properly for best drying HERE.

With the right fruit combos and a flavor boost from added spices and herbs, it's easy to achieve enough sweetness in a reduced-sugar fruit leather! Play with proportions as desired by taste-testing before smoothing out your purée on the sheets.

Fruit Roll FAQs: Common Problems Solved

Can I mix fruits together when making fruit leather?

Absolutely! Mixing fruits is a great way to balance tart and sweet flavors. Try strawberry + banana, apple + blueberry, or peach + mango. Just be sure to purée until smooth, taste-test, and adjust with a touch of honey or cinnamon as needed.

How long do dehydrated fruit rolls last?

At room temperature in an airtight container, fruit rolls last about 1 month. For longer storage, vacuum-seal them and keep them in a cool pantry or freezer for up to 1 year.

Why are my fruit rolls cracking or brittle?

Cracking usually happens if the purée is spread too thin or if sugar was added directly. Spread about ¼ inch thick and use honey or applesauce instead of granulated sugar for better results.

Can I make fruit rolls without a dehydrator?

Yes. Use a parchment-lined baking sheet in the oven at the lowest setting (around 170°F) and prop the door open slightly. Drying time may be 6–10 hours.

How do I keep fruit rolls from sticking to the tray?

Lightly coat trays with vegetable oil or use dedicated fruit roll sheets. Plastic wrap can also work in a pinch—just don’t forget to cut out the airflow hole if your dehydrator requires it.

Once you’ve tried your first batch of homemade fruit rolls, you’ll see just how easy and rewarding it is to turn fruit into a portable, family-friendly snack.

If you’d like more ideas for tasty ways to use dehydrated foods, be sure to grab the free 5 Dried Food Recipes You’ll Actually Love PDF below. Inside you’ll find reader favorites like carrot soup, minestrone, split pea soup, spicy beef jerky, and even banana cinnamon rolls—perfect companions to your fruit leathers.

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