These fun Fruit Leather Books are a simple and tasty treat to make for back-to-school, a teacher's gift, a book club meeting, or a graduation party. Each chewy little book-shaped treat is easy to make and tastes great.
How cute are these edible books? Each little book is made with 2-ingredient modeling chocolate made with white chocolate and honey and store-bought fruit leather.
I used cherry, raspberry, strawberry, and apricot fruit leather. The fresh fruit flavor blended harmoniously with the honey-scented, creamy vanilla, flavor of the modeling chocolate. Plus the fruit leather made the books like real leather-bound books.
Whether you are looking for a unique teacher's gift, a fun back-to-school snack, a book club meeting treat, or a graduation party dessert, these books will get an A+.
Let's make some Fruit Leather Books.
Ingredients
white candy melts or white chocolate - You can use wafers, bars, or chips.
honey or corn syrup - Either works well to make the white modeling chocolate pages for inside the books.
assorted fruit leather bars - I used Stretch Island Cherry, strawberry, apricot, and raspberry fruit leather. Try to find fruit leather that is very fresh for the best results. The leather needs to be pliable enough to fold in half without breaking. When you open the package, they will be sticky on one side which works great for this project.
powdered sugar - Used to dust your work surface so the molding chocolate won't stick.
Supplies
rolling pin
ruler
pizza wheel or knife
Instructions
Before you begin: If you haven't made modeling chocolate before or haven't melted chocolate, you should read my chocolate-making tutorial. All brands of white chocolate or white candy melts have varying amounts of cocoa butter or oil, so this recipe is just a guide. You may need to add more honey or corn syrup if the modeling chocolate feels too dry.
Melt the white candy melts.
Melt the white candy melts or white chocolate in the microwave or in a double boiler.
If using the microwave, heat on high for 30 seconds, then stir. Heat for 20 seconds, then stir vigorously. If needed, heat for 10-second increments, stirring after each until melted.
To use a double boiler, fill a saucepan with 1 inch of water and set a snug-fitting bowl over top so the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Pour the white chocolate into the bowl. Heat over low heat, stirring often until about 75% of the chocolate has melted. Remove it from the heat and stir until melted.
Allow the chocolate to cool to about 91 degrees Fahrenheit, stirring often.
If you don't have a thermometer, test the temperature of the melted chocolate by putting a drop on your lip. It should feel cool. If it's hot, let it cool longer, stirring often to make sure the chocolate at the edges of the bowl does not harden.
If you add the honey when the chocolate is too hot, the cocoa butter or oil will rise to the surface and you will have a greasy mess. If this happens, read my How To Fix Greasy Modeling Chocolate troubleshooting post.
Blend the honey and white chocolate together.
Pour in the honey. Stir until well incorporated.
The mixture will become thick very quickly, so scrape the bottom of the bowl to incorporate all of the melted chocolate.
Pour the modeling chocolate out onto a countertop, preferably marble or granite. Knead until glossy and smooth.
My hands tend to be rather warm, so I use a plastic bench scraper to help me knead the modeling chocolate so that I don't overheat it as this can bring out the oils in the chocolate.
Cut the modeling chocolate into rectangles.
Lightly dust your work surface and a rolling pin with powdered sugar.
Roll out the modeling chocolate to about ⅜" thickness.
Use a ruler and pizza wheel or knife to cut 1 ⅞" x 1 ½" rectangles. Re-roll the modeling chocolate as needed to create 12 rectangles.
Make the books.
Unwrap your fruit leather bars and set them, sticky side up, on a cutting board. Use a pizza wheel or knife to cut off the thicker rounded edges. S
et one rectangle of white modeling chocolate on the right side of each fruit leather strip. Fold the left side of the fruit leather strip over and press down firmly.
The apricot fruit leather was not sticky enough to hold the books together, so I added a bit of honey. These books held together for a while but did eventually open. The cherry, raspberry, and strawberry fruit leathers were more pliable and sticky and they held the white chocolate pages without needing any honey.
To ensure the books would stick together, I covered them with some plastic wrap and set a baking sheet on top then added a heavy can to weigh it down. I left the books under this weight for over an hour.
None of the books made with the cherry, raspberry, or strawberry leathers came apart even after a few days.
Storage
Store in an airtight container for up to a week. Do not refrigerate or the fruit leather will harden and dry out.
Variation
You can use Fruit Rolls instead of the fruit leather. These books are smaller and thinner but are super cute too.
Assemble the books.
- cut your white modeling chocolate into rectangles that are the same width as the Fruit Rolls
- cut the Fruit Rolls so that they are a tiny bit longer than the white chocolate fudge rectangles
- set one Fruit Roll piece down
- set one white chocolate fudge rectangle on top
- set another Fruit Roll piece on top of the fudge
- press down to make it all stick together
- repeat
- use a black food coloring marker to draw 5-7 dots along one long edge of the top piece of Fruit Roll
- draw short straight lines from the dots to the closest edge of the Fruit Roll
- if desired, add the names of class subjects, doodles, or your child's name to each notebook
NOTE:
If your books won't stick together, dab some sweetened condensed milk, corn syrup, or honey on the white chocolate fudge pieces before attaching the Fruit Roll pieces.
Depending on how thick you roll out the wh
Related Recipes
If you are looking for more fun Back to School or Teacher Appreciation Gift ideas be sure to check out all these other amazing food craft and recipe ideas on my School & Teacher Treats Page. You might also enjoy making School Book Sandwiches or Rice Krispie Treat Books.
Recipe
Make cute little edible books using assorted fruit leather and white modeling chocolate. These bite-sized treats are perfect for teacher's gifts, book club meetings, graduation parties, and more.
- 8 ounces white chocolate or white candy melts
- ¼ cup honey
- 12 assorted fruit leather bars (cherry, strawberry, and raspberry)
- powdered sugar to dust work surface
-
Melt the white chocolate in the microwave on high heat for 15-30 second bursts of high power stirring after each until melted.
-
Allow the chocolate to cool to about 91 degrees Fahrenheit, stirring often.
-
Pour in the honey and stir until well incorporated. The mixture will become thick very quickly, so scrape the bottom of the bowl to incorporate all of the melted chocolate.
-
Pour the white modeling chocolate out onto a counter top, preferably marble or granite.
-
Knead until glossy and smooth using a plastic bench scraper or spatula.
-
Lightly dust your work surface and a rolling pin with powdered sugar.
-
Roll out the modeling chocolate to about ⅜" thickness.
-
Use a ruler and pizza wheel or knife to cut out twelve 1 ⅞" x 1 ½" rectangles.
-
Unwrap your fruit leather bars and set them, sticky side up, on a cutting board.
-
Use a pizza wheel or knife to cut off the thicker rounded edges.
-
Set one rectangle of white modeling chocolate on the right side of each fruit leather strip. Fold the left side of the fruit leather strip over and press down firmly.
-
To ensure the books stick together, cover them with a piece of plastic wrap. Set a baking tray on top of the books and then set a heavy can or book on top.
-
Let the weight sit on the books for at least an hour. This will ensure the fruit leather covers stay stuck to the white modeling chocolate pages.
Tips for making modeling chocolate.
If you don't have a thermometer, test the temperature of the melted chocolate by putting a drop on your lip. It should feel cool. If it's hot, let it cool longer, stirring often to make sure the chocolate at the edges of the bowl does not harden.
If you add the honey when the white chocolate is too hot, the cocoa butter or oil will rise to the surface and you will have a greasy mess. If it becomes greasy, set it aside and let it cool for 20-40 minutes. Then, knead it on a cool surface (granite, marble, or a metal baking tray) until the grease is soaked up into the modeling chocolate.
Storage
Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to a week.
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Anonymous says
What if I use dark chocolate? Will the recipe change? Please tell me. Thanks alot!!!!!!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
You can certainly use dark chocolate, but the flavor will be completely different. Dark chocolate is more solid than white chocolate, so start out with 3 tablespoons of the honey. If the modeling chocolate feels dry, you can add more honey. Just knead it in, I suggest wearing food handling gloves to do this as the honey will be very sticky.
Margo says
These are so darling! My kids would love these!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Thank you so much for the feature, Adelina!
Adelina Priddis says
This is so fun! From a book loving family, I'm definitely going to have to make these for our next get together
Diane Balch says
I'm a former English teacher how could I not love these. Please share this on my foodie friday party today.
Seaweed and Raine says
Fantastic! I have never heard of modeling chocolate before - but I love the honey idea. My kids aren't quite in school yet (next year) but as a former teacher, I think these would even be brilliant at an end of year party. I'm bookmarking this for next year! Thanks. 🙂
Lisa @ Flour Me With Love says
Oh my are these cute! I'll have to see if I can find some fruit leather at the store. Thanks so much for sharing at Mix it up Monday 🙂
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Thanks Lisa. I shop at Krogers and they carry the fruit leather in the health food section. I also buy them at my local health food store and know Whole Foods carries them.
Crystal Marcos says
These would make a perfect gift wrapped with a book! Also like the idea of using cheese and meat for a fun snack!
ButterYum says
Again, so very cute!!! My girls would get such a kick out of these. My sister too (she loves all things tiny).
🙂
ButterYum
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
HI Jal,
I'm so glad you were able to use my troubleshooting information to fix your greasy modeling chocolate. I'd love to see your pictures, you can send them to my e-mail and I'll post them here.
beth@hungryhappenings.com
Jal says
Sorry, I just sent a message re: Chocolate books addressed to Beverly - it should read Beth. My apologies.
Jal says
Dear Beverly,
We made these books today (New Year's day) and it eventually turned out fabulous. Not having a thermometer, we added the honey a bit too soon, and as you suspected the oil oozed out. Referring to your troubleshooting section, we persevered and it turned out really good. Many thanks. In fact, we have taken some pictures and would love to share them with you but we don't know where and how to post it on your site? Do let us know. Once again, our hat's off to you and your innovative idea!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Hi Lisa, I think they would make great snacks for a Harry Potter themed party.
Lisa Pomares says
I actually saw these and immediately thought of harry potter. perhaps they would work for a harry potter themed party.
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Thanks Beverly.
Miss Cuisine - thanks for posting a link on your website!
Miss cuisine says
A pretty good recipe. I am impressed with the results, congratulations. I put forward on my French blog with a link to this article.
Beverly says
Super fun - love your blog! New follower - can't wait to make these books!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
I've had a lot of comments and pins (on Pinterest) about using cheese. Some will use it with the fruit leather, but it you want to use meat as the book cover as Kathy the Cook did, just spread some mayo or mustard on the cheese to help the meat cover stick. This would make a great first day of school snach.
Beth @ Hungry Happenings
Kathy the Cook says
I did something similar years ago, but a savory instead of sweet. I used cheese and thick sliced deli meats. But for the life of me I cant' remember how I got it to stick together! I don't remember if I used toothpicks or if I put something between the cheese and meat.
I wouldn't have thought of the chocolate and fruit leather. Brilliant!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Hi Eve,
Fruit leather is made from actual pureed fruit which is cooked and dried then cut into rectangles. Although Fruit Winders and Fruit by the Foot are made from fruit, real fruit leathers are thicker, have more natural looking colors, and actually look a bit like leather. If you have health food stores in your area, you may want to check there. For years that is the only place I could find them. Now we have them in our grocery stores, but they are usually found in the health food section of the store. You can also make homemade fruit leather. I found quite a few recipes on-line. Some require you have a dehydrator, others simply use your oven. Hope you can find something to make this recipe work for you. Good luck.
Beth @ Hungry Happenings