Homemade Fruit Leather

I recently had some berries that were about to go bad. It wasn't quite enough to make jam and too many to eat in one sitting. But it was just the right amount for FRUIT LEATHER!

And with school right around the corner, this is the perfect thing to put in their lunch or have as an after school snack. They are incredibly easy to make.

Start with 4 cups of berries, frozen (thawed) or fresh. For this batch, I used strawberries and blackberries.

Using a food processor or blender add berries, 1 Tbsp. lemon juice and 1/4 cup water (if using fresh berries). Blend until pureed. Should measure about 3 cups of puree.

Pour berry puree into saucepan and add 1/4-1/2 cup of sugar.

Heat over medium heat until thickened, about 20-30 minutes.

Pour mixture through a fine strainer to remove most of the seeds.

You should have about 2 cups of puree after cooking and de-seeding.

Pour berry mixture onto a large, rimmed baking sheet lined with a silcone baking mat (Silpat).

Bake at 170 degrees for 3-3 1/2 hours. When it's done and completely cooled it will be able to be peeled off the mat. Like so...

Transfer to cutting board or counter and cut into 8 equal strips.

They can then be rolled up. Or if you want smaller serving sizes, simply cut strips in half.

Can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

My kiddos LOVE these and I have a feeling I will be making many more throughout the school year.

What do you make that your kids love to snack on?