Making Your Own Fresh Fruit Rollups

Fruit roll-ups, also known as fruit leathers for their appearance and texture, are made from dehydrated fruit sauce. They are a concentrated source of energy and flavor. The quickest way to make a fruit roll is to pour 2 cups of unsweetened canned applesauce onto a cookie sheet lined with plastic wrap or nonstick foil, such as Release®. Do not use waxed paper or regular foil because the leather will stick. You can also make a puree from fresh, frozen, or drained canned fruit. Very juicy fruits such as berries can be thickened with applesauce. Adding 2 teaspoons lemon juice or 1/8 teaspoon ascorbic acid to each 2 cups of light colored fruit prevents darkening of the fruit. Because of the concentration of natural sugars during drying, additional sweeteners are not needed. If you desire a sweeter product, add ¼ to 1/2 cup corn syrup, honey or sugar for each 2 cups of fruit. Sugar is the least desirable choice because it will crystallize over time. Spread the puree evenly about ¼ inch thick onto prepared trays. Depending upon the fruit used, its moisture content, size, and type of dryer; the leather may take anywhere from 6 hours to several days to dry. Ideal drying temperature is 140°F. Fruit leathers can also be dried in an oven if you can set the oven as low as 150°F. Test for dryness by touching the center of the leather; no indentation should be evident and no "wet" spots should show. While still warm, peel from the sheet and roll; allow to cool and re-wrap the roll in plastic wrap. Store up to 1 month at room temperature and up to one year if frozen.<