Time to start baking or at least thinking of what delicious holiday treats you’re planning on sharing this season. Seems like we just finished this project, right? It’s never too early to start baking as far as I’m concerned. Also it’s never too late because you still have four days. I have my list completed and ingredients have been purchased. Stay tuned for Cookie Week 2020 where each day of the week I’ll post a delicious cookie recipe. So when it comes to ingredients, try Dried Fruits – December Featured Ingredient. I’m still baking, y’all.
Dried Fruits – December Featured Ingredient
You’re probably saying, what kind of dried fruit? The fruitcake kind? Yes, some but not used in that fashion. I’m talking in cookies and bars. Have you really looked at what type of dried fruit is available for baking as well as eating. There is the usual cranberries, cherries, raisins, currants, and apricots. Have you tried mangoes, pineapple, figs, dates, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, mulberries, or apples. Your dried fruitcake mix and citrus peels are delicious in both cookies and cakes. They have to be used in the right recipes as I’ve discovered over the years.
Dried Fruits – December Featured Ingredient
Dates and figs can be cooked, made into a paste and used as a filling for bars. I tend to gravitate toward using dried fruit in a cookie dough that is not too soft. I’m a crisp edge, chewy middle kind of girl. This type of cookie keeps better and sometimes tastes better with age. Anyway, some say dried fruit should be soaked to keep the fruit from robbing the dough of moisture. I find more liquid makes the cookie too soft. You decide as you bake with dried fruit. Try my Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies or Spiced Citron Pecan Nuggets. The fruit ingredient can be changed to your liking in either recipe.
Dried Fruits – December Featured Ingredient
Luckily cranberries work work with any type of nut so use your favorite.Shortbread cookies work well with dried fruits. If you have a shortbread recipe you like, give adding dried fruit a try. It totally changes a recipe into a new variation. Once you start experimenting the possibilities are endless. Use what you like and Happy Baking this holiday season.
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