Just because we're stuck on Earth doesn't mean you can't enjoy space food at home and send your taste buds into orbit!
Our freeze-dried fruits are a delicious snack just as they are. But did you know they are also an incredibly versatile ingredient in fruity desserts and breakfasts? There are dozens of ways to level up your favorite morning meals and sweet treats with your family by incorporating Astronaut Foods freeze-dried fruit! Here are a few of our favorites:
Breakfast Ideas
Yogurt Topping: As a general rule of thumb, if you can put granola on it, you can put freeze-dried fruit on it! Freeze-dried fruit is a delicious addition to any yogurt or smoothie bowl.
Oatmeal Mix-In: We love adding freeze-dried fruit to our cereal or oatmeal bowls- bonus points if the oatmeal is freeze-dried as well! It adds delicious sweetness and texture and allows you to get creative with your flavors!
Pancakes: You’ve had banana pancakes, but how about freeze-dried banana pancakes? You can add pieces of fruit into your batter for a fun texture, or use finely ground fruit, as is done in this recipe from Dance Around the Kitchen.
Baking with Freeze-Dried Fruit
Freeze-dried fruit is a great ingredient to have in your baking arsenal. Because all of the liquid in freeze-dried fruit has been removed, it’s an excellent way to add a fruity flavor without adding extra moisture- and altering the composition- of baked goods.
Here are some of our favorite ways to bake with freeze-dried fruit:
Cake: Fruity cakes are perfect for summertime, but it can be difficult to incorporate fruit into cake batter without changing the texture of your cake. Finely ground freeze-dried fruit mixed into your dry ingredients provides a delicious, consistent fruit flavor without changing the texture of your cake. Check out this Strawberry Cake recipe from Sugar Geek Recipes or this Freeze-Dried Banana Chocolate Chip Cake from VFD for inspiration.
Cookies: Freeze-dried fruit provides the same texture benefit for cookies, but you also have the option to incorporate pieces of freeze-dried fruit for a crunchy burst of flavor. Check out these Strawberries and Cream Cookies from Baker by Nature.
Icing: Top your cakes and cookies with fruity buttercream frosting- just mix finely ground freeze-dried fruit into your favorite store-bought or homemade icing! Here is one of our favorites from Sally’s Baking Recipes.
Rice Crispy Treats: Take this easy-to-make, one-pot treat to the next level with freeze-dried fruit! All you have to do is mix finely ground freeze-dried fruit into your melted butter and marshmallow mixture, and voila! The perfect twist on a classic dessert. For step-by-step instructions, check out this recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod.
Frozen Freeze-Dried Treats
There’s a tongue twister. Although we have a delicious array of freeze-dried ice cream sandwiches available, we get it- sometimes you just want something cold, especially on a hot summer day. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to incorporate freeze-dried fruit into frozen desserts.
Ice Cream: Craving peach ice cream, but only have vanilla in your freezer? No problem. Just blend freeze-dried peaches into the vanilla ice cream you already have! There are a few ways to get creative with this one: you can blend any assortment of your favorite fruits and choose whether you want your ice cream to be smooth, or textured with pieces of crunchy freeze-dried fruit. Or, if you’re really feeling crafty, try this homemade freeze-dried fruit ice cream recipe from Baking Sense.
Frozen Yogurt Fruit Bark: For a healthier alternative to fruity ice cream, try making frozen yogurt bark! Just line a baking sheet with parchment paper, spread on your favorite yogurt, and add your favorite freeze-dried fruits and other toppings, like nuts, granola, nut butter, or chocolate chips. Freeze for a few hours, and then break into snack-sized pieces and enjoy!
You can also use melted chocolate instead of yogurt. Check out this Strawberry Chocolate Bark from Love in my Oven for some ideas.
These are just a few of our favorite freeze-dried fruit breakfast and dessert options you can surprise the family with, but the possibilities are endless…Think cheesecake, sweet breads, fruit truffles, you name it! If you try any yourself, be sure to share photos and let us know how it goes. We’re always looking for new ideas!
