To make dried blueberries, blanch them for 30 seconds and shock them in ice-water to split their skins. Place the blanched berries on food dehydrator trays and dry them at 135°F for 7 to 12 hours. Use homemade or store-bought dried blueberries in sweet or savory recipes.
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How to Make Dried Blueberries to Use in Recipes
It’s easy to dehydrate blueberries using a food dehydrator:
- Choose firm, fresh berries that aren’t over or under-ripe with a strong, blue-black color. Wash them in cold running water.
- Use a colander to drain the water from the berries and remove any stems or leaves.
- Blanch the blueberries in boiling water for 30 seconds to crack the skin and allow air to flow inside the berries during dehydration. Remove them from the boiling water and immediately submerge them in a bowl of ice water to cool.
- Use a clean kitchen cloth or paper towels to pat them dry.
- Arrange the berries on food dehydrator trays in a single layer, spacing them apart to allow for air circulation.
- Set the dehydrator to a temperature between 125°F-135°F or use the fruit setting and let the blueberries dry for 7-12 hours.
- Rotate the dehydrator trays periodically and test the berries for dryness after 6 hours. They will be shriveled in appearance and dry to the touch when fully dried, producing no moisture when squeezed.
- Remove the dried berries from the dehydrator and let them cool to room temperature before transferring them to an airtight container.
- Store fully dried blueberries in labeled containers in a cool, dark, and dry area.
Customizable Dried Blueberry Trail Mix
Make a healthy trail mix with dried blueberries by combining your favorite ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Once the trail mix is ready, store it in a party-size airtight container or portion it into individual snack-size portions for easy, on-the-go snacks.
Start with one cup of dried blueberries and add any of the following to make a delectable trail mix custom-tailored to your tastes:
- 1 cup of nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts, peanuts, cashews, or pistachios)
- 1 cup of seeds (pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds)
- 1 cup of unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1 cup of Chex mix or another dried cereal
- 1/2 cup of dried cherries
- 1/2 cup flax seeds
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup of banana chips
- 1 tsp of ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup of dried marshmallows
- 1 tsp of ground cayenne pepper
- Pinch of Kosher salt
Homemade Dried Blueberry Granola
Who doesn’t love sweet and hearty granola? This easy homemade dried blueberry granola is packed with nutrition and tastes great. Here’s how to make it:
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine 3 cups of rolled oats, 1 cup of chopped nuts, 1/2 cup of seeds, and 1/2 cup of unsweetened coconut flakes.
- In another bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup of honey or maple syrup, 1/4 cup of melted coconut oil, 1 teaspoon each of vanilla extract and ground cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
- Combine the dry and wet ingredients and stir until everything is well-coated.
- Spread the mixture in an even layer onto the baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes until the granola is golden brown and crunchy.
- Remove it from the oven and stir the granola clusters with 1 cup of dried blueberries. Allow it to cool to room temperature and break apart any large clusters.
- Transfer the granola to an airtight container and store it at room temperature for up to two weeks.
Best Dried Blueberry Muffins Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
Description
This recipe for dried blueberry muffins is delicious and easy to make. These fluffy muffins are bursting with blueberry flavor and sweetness.
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 whole eggs
- 7 tablespoons of melted, unsalted butter.
- 1 cup of milk or buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup dried blueberries
- 1 cup sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- As it preheats, sieve your baking flour into a bowl.
- Sift together all of the dry ingredients to combine in a large bowl.
- Place all the wet ingredients in a different bowl and stir them well. Allow the dehydrated blueberries to soak in the wet batter for 10 minutes.
- Gently fold the dry and wet ingredients together using a wooden spoon until just combined.
- Use the melted butter to grease the muffin tin (or use cupcake liners) and divide the batter into 12 even portions. Ensure they are no more than 2/3rds filled to allow for expansion when baking.
- Sprinkle a little sugar on the top of each muffin, if desired.
- Put the muffin tin inside the preheated oven and let the muffins bake for 15-17 minutes.
- To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into a few muffins. If the toothpick emerges clean, the muffins are fully cooked. If there is any wet batter or crumbs clinging to the toothpick, continue baking for a few minutes.
- Once the muffins are fully cooked, remove the tray from the oven and allow the muffins to cool on a cooling rack for 20-30 minutes. Enjoy immediately or store in airtight containers and use within 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 muffin
- Calories: 211kcal
- Sugar: 19g
- Sodium: 447mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 51mg
Creative Recipes Using Dried Blueberries
1. Blueberry Chutney
This recipe combines both sweet and tangy flavors. Substitute fresh blueberries for rehydrated dried blueberries – no one will know the difference!
2. Blueberry Oatmeal Dog Treats
If you enjoy making healthy, wholesome treats for your pup, this recipe is perfect to add carbohydrates to their diet and uses both fresh and dry blueberries!
3. Blueberry Scones
This scone recipe is a quick fix for a delicious family breakfast and is healthier than most recipes.
4. Dried Blueberry Quinoa Salad
This fresh take on a quinoa salad is packed with superfoods and uses dried blueberries for sweetness.
5. Vegetarian Cobb Salad with Dried Blueberries
This vegetarian dish is full of big, bold flavors, including pumpkin seeds and dried blueberries!
Can Dried Blueberries Be Substituted for Fresh in Recipes?
Yes, you can use dried berries in place of fresh blueberries in recipes, though the texture and flavor of the end product may be a bit different. Dried blueberries have a more concentrated flavor and are sweeter than fresh blueberries, so you may need a smaller amount.
Dried blueberries, even when rehydrated, are less juicy than fresh blueberries. If using a temperamental recipe, more liquid may be needed to balance out the moisture loss from the substitution.
How Long Does It Take to Rehydrate Dried Blueberries?
Depending on the size of each blueberry, it takes 10-20 minutes to rehydrate them in hot water.
It is important not to keep blueberries in hot water for too long as it may dilute the flavor. A safer option is to rehydrate blueberries in cold water, but this can take 1-8 hours.
Are Dried Blueberries as Good as Frozen Blueberries?
It depends on personal preference. Dried blueberries and frozen blueberries have different textures, and both are sweeter than fresh blueberries. This occurs because dried blueberries have concentrated sugars, and freezing blueberries breaks down cell walls, releasing stored sugar.
Both fresh and frozen blueberries can be successfully dried, rehydrated, and incorporated into recipes.