Homemade Strawberry Beet Fruit Leather is perfect for a healthy snack. Easy to make in the oven and with no added sugar, this healthy recipes is the perfect snack or lunch idea for kids!
Fruit by the foot
Do you remember Fruit By The Foot?
If any of your childhood spilled into the 90’s like mine did, I’m betting you do. For many people, it was kind of a lunch box staple that has many fond and sticky memories attached to it.
While my parents never made the measuring tape’s worth of dried fruit a regular thing in our house, I do have a foggy memory or two of rolling Fruit By The Foot out in into my mouth and finding it so stinking fun…and so delicious.
NO fruit by the foot
Of course, now as a mom….I can kind of see why my parents didn’t make Fruit By The Foot a frequent flyer in my house. BECAUSE THERE IS BASICALLY NO FRUIT IN IT!
For real, guys. For something that has the word “fruit” in the title, you kind of would think fruit would be the first ingredient…or at least the second…..but it neither! Go check out a box of Fruit By The Foot, your will see that the list of ingredients looks something like this:
Sugar, Maltodextrin, Corn Syrup, Pear Puree Concentrate, Palm Oil. Contains 2% or less of: Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Monoglycerides, Sodium Citrate, Acetylated Monoglycerides, Malic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), Locust Bean Gum, Potassium Citrate, Natural Flavor, Red 40.
Boo! Hiss! Yuck! No thanks.
Strawberry Beet Fruit Leather
However, I can still make this fun, interactive and delicious lunch box staple a regular thing for my daughter…..only it will actually contain FRUIT! And…brace yourselves guys….VEGGIES!
Yep, I have veggie-loaded my own DIY, 100% natural Fruit By The Foot! Let’s meet 3-Ingredient Strawberry Beet Fruit Leather!
The thing about fruit leather that I wish I had know forever ago is that it IS NOT HARD TO MAKE! It does take time, but you don’t even need a fancy dehydrator to make it happen! Just a blender, a baking sheet, a silicone mat, an oven and a really patient child. That’s it!
And if the simplicity of this recipe (in its ingredients and its methodology) doesn’t win you over, then the taste is sure to!
Store-bought, chemical-riddled fruit treats don’t have anything on the delicious sweetness nature gives these strips of fruit leather!
Are you ready? Awesome! Let’s go dry out some fruit!
Recipe Notes
- This recipe is veggie-loaded, 100% natural Fruit By The Foot!
- It requires only 3 ingredients!
- You only need a blender, a baking sheet, a silicone mat and an oven to make this strawberry beet fruit leather.
Other healthy snack recipes you are going to enjoy…
- Parmesan Kale Chips
- The Best Lunch Box Gear for kids
- No-Bake Chocolate Avocado Bites
- 20 Paleo Snacks for Kids
Loving this strawberry beet fruit leather and hungry for more?
Sign up so that my newsletter is delivered straight to your inbox. And be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all kinds of veggie-loaded living ideas!
Homemade Strawberry Beet Fruit Leather
Ingredients
- 10 ounces strawberries (fresh or defrosted frozen)
- 1/2 beet, small cooked and peeled
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
Instructions
- In a food processor or blender, combine all ingredients. Puree until completely smooth and set aside.
- Preheat your oven and heat to 170°F and position your oven rack in the middle of your oven.
- Line two small or one large baking sheet with silicone baking mats. If you do not have baking mats, you can use lightly greased parchment paper, but I didn’t find it to work as well as baking mats.
- Pour the fruit/veggie puree into the center of each lined baking sheet. Using a spatula, spread the puree thinly over the baking sheet util ti has about 1/8" thickness. It is important to spread it as evenly as possible to make sure that the fruit dehydrates at an even rate. Gently tap the baking sheet on the counter to help fruit/veg puree to evenly distribute.
- Place baking sheets into the oven on the same rack and cook until the fruit looks dry and is firm to the touch. Usually 5-6 hours depending on how thin the puree is spread. If you are using more than one baking sheet and can't fit them on the same rack, rotate the sheets at the 2-3 hour mark so that they dry at an even rate.
- Once the fruit is leathery yet tacky to the touch, turn off the oven and allow the fruit leather to cool down to room temperature IN the oven.
- Once cool, top the fruit leather with a sheet of parchment paper and flip baking sheet over onto the counter. Carefully and slowly lift the fruit leather off of the baking mat.
- Roll the fruit leather in the parchment paper. Using kitchen sheers, cut the fruit leather into about 1 inch segments. Secure with string if preferred.
- Store in an air-tight container in fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Notes
- This recipe is veggie-loaded, 100% natural Fruit By The Foot!
- It requires only 3 ingredients!
- You only need a blender, a baking sheet, a silicone mat and an oven to make this strawberry beet fruit leather.
Nutrition
The nutritional information is provided as an estimate only and may vary based on the product type, servings and other factors. If you are following a diet, please consult with a professional nutritionist or your doctor. Stay healthy!
Comments
This sounds amazing! Do you think you could sub most fruits?
Thanks!!
The strawberries, yes. The applesauce is a key element!
Amazing recipe – easy to make and so much fun to enjoy! 🙂
Just checking—is it really 1/2 beet? Half of one single beet? Thanks!
yep! I wanted to balance the earthy flavor of beets with berries in this recipe
Out of curiosity, how would throwing a few scoops of unflavored collagen peptides effect the stickiness?
Made this today after looking for some veggie loaded kid friendly food. I was very hopeful but mine did not turn out the right consistency. The recipe states to adjust the oven racks, but not where to place the pans (or even if we are to rotate them?). I put both my pans on the top shelf, checked them after 2.5hrs and my finger smeared into the mixture so I moved both pans to the lower oven rack. I checked again at the 3hr 50min mark and mine were TOO crispy. I would try these again but make them thicker to begin with (probably only use one pan) and watch them more closely in the oven. Never fear, we still ate it… crumbly pieces and all (in one sitting!)
Hi Jo Anne! Well, I am so glad you enjoyed these despite some hiccups. You are totally correct that I left out some helpful info (my apologizes!). I made these a little while ago and refined the method a bit more. I’ve updated the recipe to hopefully make your next go a bit easier.