Dried Fruit

Dried fruit is a great addition to cookies. It adds sweetness, texture, visual appeal and flavor.

Where would the oatmeal raisin cookie be without raisins?

Not that there's anything wrong with a plain oatmeal cookie but the raisins kick it up a notch, as Emeril would say.

There are more fruits than just raisins available to the cookie baker. They all contribute equally as well.

What Is Dried Fruit?

It's simply fresh fruit with most of the moisture removed.

Fruit drying began as an ancient method of preserving.

So why is it still around today when we can get fresh fruit year around?

Just because it tastes so great! Not the same as the fresh fruit but great in its on right.

It tastes sweeter because the water has been removed, thus concentrating the fruit's flavor.

In some cases I think the dried version is even tastier than the fresh.

Dates are one of my favorites and I don't think I've ever seen a fresh date.

Candied fruit is dried fruit that has a coating of sugar syrup and sometimes granulated sugar.

All Organic

Commercially prepared fruit may contain sulfur dioxide. The sulfur is added so that the fruit so it will maintain its color.

Sulfur can trigger asthma in some individuals.

Organic fruit is made without sulfur. It's usually not as visually appealing but it has a flavor much more like the original fruit.

You'll probably have to visit a health food store to find organic fruit or do as I do and order it online.

The online stores have a much larger variety and to me the quality is better.

How To Plump Dried Fruit

Many recipes direct you to steep your fruit in boiling water prior to using it in your favorite recipe.

If your grocery store dried fruits are dry and tough then this might be necessary.

However the fruits I order online have always been moist and soft so I don't plump them regardless of what the recipe says.

Here's how to plump dried fruit:

Measure out the fruit that your recipe calls for and place it in a bowl. Heat a pot of water until it just starts to simmer and pour some over the fruit just until it's covered.

Let it sit there for about 10 minutes or until it's soft and then drain it and pat it dry with paper towels or a kitchen towel.

Make sure it's thoroughly dry before you use it in your recipe because excess moisture could ruin your cookies.

You can get started using dried fruit in cookies with some of the recipes listed here if you like.

But to me the fun of cookie baking is experimenting.

Throw some fruit of your choice in your favorite cookie recipe and see how it comes out.

Cookies With Dried Fruit:

Date Bar Recipe | Granola Bar Recipe | Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Recipe | Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bar Recipe | Dried Fruit

You Might Need:

• Atlas Deluxe Cookie Press

• Kitchen Supply Aluminum Half Size Sheet Pan 18-inch by 13-inch

• Calphalon 12-by-17-Inch Rectangular Nonstick Cooling Rack

• Silpat 11-5/8-by-16-1/2-Inch Nonstick Silicone Baking Mat