June marks the start of summer fruit season in BC, with the first of the local strawberries making their appearance around the beginning of the month. Nothing compares to the flavour of a fresh, sun-ripened berry, but when you've had your fill of the fresh ones, why not preserve some for later? These easy Homemade Fruit Roll-ups are a fun way to capture some of that summer sweetness; they can be made with a variety of berries and fruit, require no added sugar, and last up to a year in the freezer!
Homemade Fruit Roll-ups
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh berries or fruit
- 2 tbsp sugar - optional depending on sweetness of fruit
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Method
- Preheat oven to 170 F or as low as it will go. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat.
- Clean the fruit and remove any stems, pits or cores. Chop the fruit into smaller pieces.
- Process the fruit in a blender or food processor until very smooth.
- Transfer to a saucepan and stir in sugar (if using) and lemon juice. Simmer gently for 20 minutes on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.
- Pour mixture onto the lined baking sheet and smooth with a spatula until even. It should be between 1/4" and 1/8" thick, but be careful not to spread it too thin or the fruit will crack instead of roll.
- Bake for 4-6 hours or until the mixture is no longer sticky to the touch.
- Let cool completely. Gently remove from mat, cut into desired size and roll. If you used parchment paper, you can cut and roll it up as is. Store in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to one month, or in the freezer for up to one year.
Notes
- Try combining different types of fruit to make interesting flavour and colour combinations.
- Add spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla or some citrus peel to amp up the natural fruit flavour.
- Substitute sugar for other sweeteners such as honey, agave or maple syrup.
