When you think about cans of freeze-dried fruit, you probably picture 'em tucked into an emergency pantry, sitting on a shelf and eagerly awaiting the day they are finally pried open.
While its super long shelf life is certainly one of its strengths, you don't have to wait until disaster strikes to debut your freeze-dried fruit! After all, there's no time like the present, eh?
Both fresh and frozen fruits bring a boatload of flavor to baked goods, but they also bring an excess of moisture that can make cookies soggy, frosting runny, and doughs and batters not quite right.
Swapping fresh and frozen fruits for freeze-dried fruits eliminates that excess moisture, yet provides the same flavor you'd expect otherwise! And just think of the versatility: you can fold the fruits into a delicious dough, break 'em into tiny bites, or grind 'em into a gritty powder.
There's no need to save every strawberry slice for your future survival. Find out why freeze-dried fruit is entitled to a place in your everyday pantry, plus a couple simple recipes to try right away!
Perks of Preserved Fruits
Freeze-dried fruit brings more to the mixing bowl than mere longevity. It offers all sorts of advantages when it comes to everyday kitchen creations!
- It keeps moisture under control. Stir your favorite fruits into frostings, cookies, and cakes galore, all without the liquids and juices from fresh or frozen fruits.
- It creates a more concentrated taste. With the water removed from each freeze-dried fruit, all that remains is flavor!
- It adds color to your confections. Abandon those artificial food dyes! Sprinkle a couple o' ground-up freeze-dried fruits into your icings, batters, and beyond to incorporate a touch of natural color.
- It cuts back on your cutting time. Forget about washing, peeling, or chopping up fruits. Freeze-dried fruits are ready right when you need 'em!
- It can take on other textures. Fold 'em, break 'em, crush 'em, or grind 'em. The list goes on and on!
Once you get around to crackin' open those cans, just remember that fresh or frozen fruit and freeze-dried fruit do not necessarily match up when measured. Keep this in mind if the consistency of a first-time recipe seems off.
And be sure to seal any unused fruit in an airtight container! Exposure to oxygen or moisture can quickly trade that freeze-dried crunch for a soft and sticky mess.
Bake It Happen: Freeze-Dried Fruits Meet Sweet Treats
Collect your cans of freeze-dried fruits! These simple recipes for sweet treats are just begging to be baked.
Strawberry White Chocolate Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup Emergency Essentials Butter Powder [reconstituted]
- 3/4 cup Emergency Essentials White Sugar
- Emergency Essentials Whole Egg Powder equivalent to 1 egg [reconstituted]
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups Emergency Essentials White Flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon Emergency Essentials Iodized Salt
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 cup lightly crushed Emergency Essentials Freeze-Dried Strawberry Slices
Directions:
Cream the reconstituted butter and sugar, then mix in the reconstituted egg and vanilla. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt before gently folding in the chocolate chips and strawberries. Drop spoonfuls onto a lined baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 9 to 11 minutes.
Blueberry Lemon Cupcakes
Ingredients:
- 12 prepared vanilla cupcakes
- 1/2 cup Emergency Essentials Butter Powder [reconstituted]
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup Emergency Essentials Freeze-Dried Blueberries, ground into powder
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1–2 tablespoons Emergency Essentials Dry Milk [reconstituted]
Directions:
Beat the reconstituted butter until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar, blueberry powder, and lemon zest. Add the reconstituted milk as needed until the frosting reaches a spreadable consistency, then frost the cooled cupcakes.
Sometimes, Preparedness Is Sweet!
Freeze-dried fruits –– and all foods stored for the long term, for that matter –– should serve you before, during, and after an emergency.
Baking with freeze-dried fruit is a sweet and satisfying way to rotate your supply, practice using the preserved food you store, and taste fruity flavors the second a craving strikes!
So, what's stopping you? You've got the fruits, the reasons, and the recipes. Now, it's time for dessert!
Check in with The Essentials Blog each week for expert education, tips, and resources to make your shift to self-reliance as smooth as possible!