How to use Dried and Candied Fruit in Your Cooking

We all know that eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

But what about adding dried or candied fruit to your cooking? Dried and candied fruit are versatile and can be used to boost the flavour and nutritional value of your healthy foods and snacks.

In this guide, we will look at how to use dried and candied fruit in your cooking, their nutritional benefits, and how to select the right ones for your specific needs. So fasten your seat belts, and let's explore how to use dried and candied fruit in your cooking!

Benefits of Using Dried and Candied Fruit

One of the best things about cooking is that there are endless ways to add flavour and excitement to your dishes.

While fresh fruits and vegetables are always a good choice, you can add dried or candied fruit to boost your diet. Here are some tips on using dried and candied fruit in your cooking:

• Adding dried fruit to your breakfast is a great way to get some added nutrients and energy first thing in the morning. Dried fruit is delicious in oatmeal or yoghurt because it sweetens and flavours these foods. Add a handful of chopped dried fruit to your oatmeal or yoghurt, and you're good to go.
• Mixing dried fruit with other healthy ingredients to create a tasty snack is another excellent way. Try chopping dried fruit and mixing it with nuts, seeds, and whole-grain cereal. This will give you a crunchy and satisfying snack that will keep you feeling full until your next meal.
• Add dried apricots, figs, or dates to your next batch of cookies or muffins for a sweet and chewy texture. Dried fruit is a great way to add sweetness and moisture to baked goods. It also helps prolong the shelf life of baked goods since the fruit is already dried and doesn't contain any water that can make baked goods go bad.
• Toss diced candied fruit into a salad for a sweet and tangy flavour boost. Candied fruit can add a delicious sweetness to salads. It's also a great way to get extra vitamins and minerals into your diet.
• Make a fruit salad by combining fresh and dried fruits. A fruit salad is a great way to enjoy the taste of fresh and dried fruit all at once. You can use any combination of fruits, including bananas, apples, grapes, cherries, and more.
• If you're looking for a new way to enjoy raisins in your cooking, try using candied fruit instead. Candied raisins add delicious sweetness and crunch to recipes like oatmeal cookies, trail mix, or even rice pudding.
• Adding sweetness to savoury dishes can be a great way to change the flavour profile and add a touch of complexity. One way to do this is by using candied fruit as a seasoning agent. Candied fruit can be found in the spice aisle of most supermarket stores, and it's a great way to add a touch of sweetness and flavour to savoury dishes. Try using it in place of regular sugar in meat rubs or sauces.
• Adding candied fruit to delicious homemade ice cream is another way of adding sweetness and texture to an otherwise boring dessert. Try mixing diced candied fruit into your ice cream for a real treat!
• Cooked-down dried fruit can be used as syrup to top pancakes, waffles, or ice cream. For example, you can cook down a mixture of dried cherries, apricots, and sugar until it becomes a thick syrup. This sweet and tart syrup is the perfect topping for your breakfast favourites.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to using dried and candied fruit in your cooking. For example, add dried cranberries to your next batch of oatmeal cookies or use candied ginger in a spiced cake recipe.

With some imagination, you can add delicious fruit flavour to any dish.

Conclusion

It's widely known that eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is essential to maintaining a healthy life.

But adding dried or candied fruit to your cooking can be a great way to boost the nutritional value of your dishes. Dried and candied fruits are versatile and can be used in a wide variety of dishes and snacks, with endless ways to boost flavour and nutrition!

We hope you've found some great ideas for using dried and candied fruit in your cooking.

Contact us if you're looking for more inspiration or need help putting these ideas into practice. Our experts are happy to help with anything from recipe ideas to advice on using dried and candied fruit in your cooking.