Freeze-dried fruit is a shelf-stable snack perfect for your day-to-day life and crisis situations alike. With a long shelf life and numerous health benefits, it’s essential to your emergency food supply. By keeping freeze-dried fruit on hand, you don’t have to worry about fresh fruits going bad on your kitchen counter, and no fruit is out-of-season. This also means no recipes are off-limits! You’ll always be prepared.
Health Benefits of Freeze-Dried Fruit
Freeze-dried fruit keeps almost all of the benefits of its former fresh state. It can help:
- Improve heart health
- Prevent cell damage
- Stabilize blood sugar
- Increase energy
- Reduce the risk of chronic disease
- Support a healthy digestive system
- Hydrate your body
Plus, freeze-dried fruits are minimally processed with no added sugars so you get all the essential nutrients found in fresh fruit:
- Potassium to help maintain healthy blood pressure (bananas, prunes, peaches, kiwi, grapes)
- Dietary fiber that reduces cholesterol and the risk of heart disease and stroke (apples, mango, dragon fruit)
- Vitamin C, which helps cell growth and repair, promotes teeth and gum health, and aids iron absorption (oranges, pineapple, apple)
- Magnesium which helps your body absorb calcium for strong bones and muscles (bananas, berries, figs, grapefruit)
- Antioxidants that combat free radicals and protect our cells (blueberries, strawberries, Gigi berries)
- B Vitamins that keep your mind sharp (oranges, lemons, bananas, blackberries)
- Water, which supports your digestive system and helps keep your body hydrated, functioning, and energized (pineapple, apples, papaya, watermelon)
Baking with Freeze-Dried Fruit
Freeze-dried fruit can be used in its dehydrated state, crushed into powder, or rehydrated. It has no moisture content or added sugars, so you don’t need to worry about adjusting the recipe. Treat it as a “mix-in” like you would chocolate chips in cookies or fresh blueberries in muffins. One of the easiest ways to incorporate freeze-dried fruit into recipes is to crush it into powder. It makes for smoother smoothies and silky frostings — plus, it adds vibrant color to your treat.
Freeze-Dried Fruit Recipes
While freeze-dried fruit is an easy snack to grab and go, you can do so much more with it. Incorporate it into some of your favorite snacks and desserts!
Using freeze-dried fruit for smoothies or freeze-dried fruit in oatmeal might be a no-brainer, but there are many other recipes worth trying. From fluffy muffins with freeze-dried fruit to a delectable freeze-dried strawberry dessert, we have your sweet tooth covered. Substitute powdered milk, egg powder, or butter powder as needed.
1. Tropical Smoothie
1 banana
½ cup freeze-dried mango, crushed into a powder
½ cup freeze-dried pineapple, crushed into a powder
¾ cups orange juice
½ cup coconut milk yogurt
½–1 tablespoon reconstituted honey powder
Ice (optional)
Add all ingredients except ice to a blender and blend until smooth. Add more or less of each ingredient to reach desired flavor and consistency. Water or reconstituted powdered milk can be substituted for the juice and yogurt. Serve immediately.
2. Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Shake
1 serving 4Patriots Chocolate Survival Shake
1 serving banana chips, crushed into powder
½ cup peanut butter
Milk or water
Ice (optional)
Add all ingredients except ice to a blender and blend until smooth. Add liquid and/or ice and blend until you get the desired consistency. Serve immediately.
3. Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oatmeal
½ cup rolled oats
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
⅔ cup almond milk or powdered milk
⅓ cup plain yogurt
2 teaspoons brown sugar
⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ cup freeze-dried apples, crushed
Combine all ingredients except freeze-dried fruit in a mason jar or other airtight container. No yogurt? Use ¼ cup more milk. Add crushed freeze-dried apples. Seal the lid and refrigerate overnight. Sprinkle with a pinch of cinnamon.
4. Dark Chocolate Granola
1-½ cup rolled oats
½ cup almonds, roughly chopped
¼ cup shredded coconut
2 tablespoons brown sugar
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 tablespoons cocoa
¼ cup yogurt-covered raisins
¼ cup freeze-dried raspberries
¼ cup dark chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Add oats, nuts, coconut, brown sugar, salt, and cocoa powder to a food processor and pulse 2 to 3 times. Transfer to a bowl. Warm the coconut oil and maple syrup in a pot on the stovetop over medium-low heat. Pour this over the oat mix and stir to coat. To make a finer granola, pulse a couple of times in the food processor.
Spread the mixture evenly onto the baking sheet. Bake until crisp and golden brown, about 18 to 20 minutes. Check regularly to prevent burning and stir halfway through. Let cool completely and transfer to an airtight container.
5. Buttermilk Pancakes with Berry Syrup
1 cup maple syrup
½ tablespoon (or more) freeze-dried strawberries or blueberries, crushed into powder
2 servings (6 pancakes) 4Patriots Buttermilk Pancake Mix
Combine maple syrup and freeze-dried berry powder in a saucepan and heat on the stovetop over medium-low heat. Stir to incorporate powder. Taste and add more powder to reach preferred flavor.
Make your buttermilk pancakes per instructions. Top with warm strawberry syrup and serve immediately.
6. Blueberry Muffins
2 cups all-purpose flour
1-½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 stick butter, melted and cooled
¾ cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
¾ cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup freeze-dried blueberries
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a muffin tin with paper liners and spray with cooking spray.
Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl and set aside. In a stand mixer, beat butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. Add the dry ingredient mixture ½ cup at a time, alternately adding the milk and mixing after each addition. Fold in freeze-dried blueberries.
Fill each muffin cup about ¾ full. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Try these muffins with freeze-dried fruit of any kind!
7. Peanut Butter Banana Cookies
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 egg
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup freeze-dried banana chips, crushed
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix all ingredients except banana chips in a stand mixer. Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition.
Drop by tablespoon onto the baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Press down with the tines of a fork to create a crosshatch pattern. Sprinkle each with crushed banana chips. Bake for about 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool for about 5 minutes to let them firm up before serving.
8. Cherry Cowboy Cookies
2-¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 sticks butter, softened
¾ cup brown sugar
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1-½ cups quick oats
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
¼ cup shredded coconut
¼ cup walnuts or pecans, chopped
¼ cup freeze-dried cherries, chopped
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together in a mixing bowl and set aside. Beat softened butter in a stand mixer, then mix in the sugar and vanilla extract. Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. Add the dry ingredient mixture ½ cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Fold in oats, chocolate chips, coconut, nuts, and freeze-dried cherries.
Drop by tablespoon onto the baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
9. Strawberry Cupcakes
Cupcakes:
1-½ cups all purpose flour
1-¾ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup butter, softened
¾ cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ cup milk
3-½ cups freeze-dried strawberries, crushed into powder
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin tin with paper liners and spray with cooking spray.
Mix dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl and set aside. Beat softened butter in a stand mixer, then mix in the sugar and vanilla extract. Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. Add the dry ingredients ½ cup at a time, mixing after each addition. When all is combined into a smooth batter, fold in the strawberry powder with a spatula.
Fill each muffin cup about ¾ full. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. While cupcakes are cooling, make the frosting.
Strawberry Buttercream Frosting:
1-½ sticks butter, softened
1 oz bag freeze-dried strawberries, crushed into powder
2–3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-½ cups powdered sugar
Whip softened butter in a stand mixer using the whisk attachment until fluffy. Add in freeze-dried strawberry powder and beat until incorporated. Beat in vanilla extract. Add in powdered sugar ½ cup at a time, alternating with milk, incorporating into the butter mixture before each addition and occasionally scraping the sides. After all is combined, beat on high for 30 more seconds.
Frost cooled cupcakes. Top with a fresh sliced strawberry for decoration.
10. Mixed Berry Crumble
Filling:
1 cup freeze-dried blueberries
1 cup freeze-dried blackberries
½ Tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Topping:
¾ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup butter, cold and diced
½ cup rolled oats
¼ cup unsalted walnuts or almonds, crushed
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 8×8 inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
Combine flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Add butter pieces and rub into the dry mixture until it resembles coarse sand. Mix in oats and nuts. Set aside. Toss blueberries and blackberries in sugar and lemon juice, and put in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle topping over it evenly.
Bake for about 20 to 30 minutes, until blueberries are bubbling and crumble top is golden brown.
Get the Shelf-Stable Ingredients You Need at 4Patriots
4Patriots makes building your survival food supply easy and delicious. Shop freeze-dried fruit, powdered milk, pancake mix, and other essential ingredients online today.
