334 dried fruit recipes

Buttermilk pecan fruitcake made with dried pears and toasted pecans instead of the usual neon candied fruit. Buttermilk keeps the crumb tender, beaten egg whites give it lift. A gift-worthy Christmas loaf.

Bean and beef soup with navy beans, stewing beef, prunes, and root vegetables, scented with whole cloves. An old-world soup where dried fruit adds unexpected sweet depth to a long, hearty simmer.

No-bake peanut butter treats with oats, powdered sugar, and your choice of raisins, coconut, chocolate chips, or peanuts. Mix, drop, and set. No oven needed.

This is my favorite way of making them, by mixing all kind of dry fruit, seeds, oats with peanut butter and honey. It can be a quick snack, delicious dessert, or even a present in a jar!

Fermented mincemeat made with venison or beef tongue, suet, apples, dried fruit, red wine, cider, and brandy. A six-to-eight-week crock cure transforms the ingredients into the deep, boozy filling of old hunting cabin Christmas pies.

Slow cooker oatmeal porridge cooks low and overnight, so you wake up to a warm, spiced bowl ready to eat. Just water, oats, dried fruit, and a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, and mace. Set it before bed, scoop it in the morning.

Lollipop sugar cookies on sticks, a kid-friendly baking project with paintable egg yolk designs or pressed-in decorations. Fun party cookies that bake in under 10 minutes.

These no-bake energy bars are delicious yet nutritious. They are easy to make, and handy to pick up.

Oats are a great source of soluble fibre and have been shown to help lower cholesterol levels. Cinnamon is well regarded for its ability to balance sugar levels, thus keeping hunger at bay for longer. Adding flaxseeds or chia seeds boosts the omega-3 oils and adds even more fibre to the dish. The dish can be assembled the night before and left in the fridge for the oats to soften. All that is required the next morning is to add hot milk.

Pear and ginger cheesecake bakes a granola crust around a filling of simmered pears, crystallized ginger, and a lightened cottage-and-cream-cheese base. A cozy holiday dessert with less heft than classic cheesecake.

Bircher muesli was first developed by a Swiss physician, Maximilian Bircher-Benner as part of the therapy he prescribed for his patients. Often called simply ‘overnight oats’ Bircher muesli is an ideal breakfast food – it can be assembled the night before, left in the fridge overnight and enjoyed in the morning – there is no cooking required. It's also a perfect combination of plant-based protein, slow-release wholegrain carbohydrates, and essential fats. The version below calls for pears and coconut, but alternative combinations are provided in the notes.

Elegant red wine fruit soup with poached pears, candied orange slices, pineapple, and a crème fraîche finish. A stunning French-inspired dessert layered with star anise, vanilla, and cardamom.

Deep-fried fruit fritters made with apples, pears, and bananas in a light vanilla batter, served with a warm lemon-bourbon sauce. A Creole-inspired dessert.

Chinese toffee-coated apples and bananas with crispy batter and caramel sesame coating. Deep-fried fruit dunked in ice water creates a shatteringly crisp candy shell.