It's time to get fruity for Pride! Or fruitier. You ready?
This year, I'm bringing a fun and easy recipe to the party: rainbow fruit roll snacks. They're colorful, customizable and a guaranteed hit for all ages.
This recipe focuses on creating individual fruit purées that, when layered together, form a stunning rainbow. Feel free to adapt it based on your favorite fruits and what's in season where you live.
Ingredients:
Red: 1 pound strawberries, hulled
Orange: 1 pound mango, peeled and diced
Yellow: 1 pound pineapple, peeled, cored and diced
Green: 1 pound kiwi, peeled and diced
Blue/Purple: 1 pound blueberries
Instructions:
Purée Power: This is where the magic begins! For each fruit, add it to a blender or food processor and blend until completely smooth. You want a silky, lump-free purée. If needed, add a tablespoon or two of water to help the blending process. Don't overdo it, though – you want a thick consistency.
Prep the Canvas: Preheat your oven to the lowest setting possible, ideally around 170°F (77°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This is crucial! The fruit purée will stick to the pan without it.
Rainbow Assembly: Now for the fun part! Using a spoon or spatula, carefully spread a thin layer of the red strawberry purée onto the parchment paper, creating a stripe about 2-3 inches wide. Repeat this process with the orange mango purée, layering it next to the red. Continue with the yellow pineapple, green kiwi, and blue/purple blueberry purée, creating a vibrant rainbow of fruit across the baking sheet. Aim for a uniform thickness of about 1/8 inch across the entire sheet.
Low and Slow Baking: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven. The key here is low and slow. We want to dehydrate the fruit, not bake it. Bake for approximately 4-6 hours, or until the fruit leather is no longer sticky to the touch. The edges should be dry and slightly lifted. The drying time will depend on your oven and the moisture content of the fruit.
Cool and Cut: Once the fruit leather is ready, remove it from the oven and let it cool completely on the baking sheet. Once cooled, carefully peel the parchment paper away from the fruit leather. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the rainbow into strips.
Roll and Enjoy!: Roll each strip up tightly and secure with a small piece of kitchen twine or a decorative sticker with a Pride flag. Your homemade rainbow fruit roll-ups are ready to be the star of your Pride party!
Tips and Tricks for Fruit Roll-Up Success:
Fruit Selection: Choose ripe, flavorful fruits for the best results. Overripe fruit works especially well!
Sweetness Adjustment: If your fruits are tart, you can add a tablespoon or two of honey or maple syrup to each purée. Taste and adjust as needed.
Even Thickness is Key: Ensure your fruit purée layer is evenly spread across the baking sheet for consistent drying.
Storage: Store your rainbow fruit roll-ups in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. (But you know they won't last that long, come on!)
Skip the processed snacks and embrace the vibrant, natural goodness of homemade rainbow fruit roll-ups.