31 prune butter recipes

The colors the fruits used in the cookies suggest those of the robes worn by the four ordres mendiants, monastic orders that originally lived on charity -- the Augustinians, Carmelites, Dominicans and Franciscans.

Traditional yeast-raised kolachky filled with spiced prune lekvar, folded at the corners so the filling peeks through, then dusted with powdered sugar. An old-world Polish and Czech holiday pastry.

No-bake holiday chocolate cake layered with orange juice-soaked macaroons, bittersweet ganache, chopped prunes, and toasted almonds. Dusted with cocoa and chilled overnight for deep, complex flavor.

The traditional cookie for Purim, hamantashen is Yiddish for "Haman's pockets". They are meant to recall the story of Haman, a wicked Persian prince who wished to destroy the Jews but was foiled by Mordecai and Esther."

Tart de Brymlent is a medieval Lenten tart of salmon baked with spiced apples, pears, and dried fruits in a pastry shell. A genuine old English sweet-savory recipe for history buffs and adventurous cooks.

Irish Christmas cake soaked in whiskey with dried fruits, almonds, candied orange peel, and a marzipan coating. A rich, dense celebration cake that starts with an overnight whiskey fruit soak.

Persian lamb soup simmered with dried fruits (prunes, apricots, peaches), turmeric-browned onions, and a sweet-sour balance of brown sugar and citrus for comforting depth.

Soft chocolate chip cookies made with prune puree instead of butter for moist, fudgy texture. Brown sugar and vanilla create rich flavor at just 145 calories per cookie.

These delicious and nutritious granola bars are ideal for breakfast, snack or anytime when you feel hungry. Very easy to make, and they provide lots of great values to your body.

Cappuccino cupcakes blend espresso into a moist chocolate batter lightened with prune puree as a butter substitute. Topped with whipped cream and cocoa for that cafe-style finish.

Skinny chocolate cupcakes: deep, fudgy cocoa cupcakes made with pureed prunes instead of butter. Weight Watchers-friendly, lightning fast, and surprisingly rich. No one will guess the secret.

Silesian "heaven's kingdom" pork chops braised with prunes, apricots, apples, and pears in their own soaking liquid. A traditional German sweet-savory main served over potato dumplings.

Prune puree: a low-fat baking substitute made from blended pitted prunes with fruit juice and lecithin. Replace butter or oil in brownies, cakes, and muffins with richer, moister results.

Marbled pumpkin cheesecake squares swirl a tangy cream cheese topping into a spiced pumpkin batter built with prune puree instead of butter or oil. Lower-fat fall dessert with cinnamon, ginger and clove.

Fantastic fruit muffins: low-fat whole wheat muffins with oats, pear, cranberry, and golden raisin. Prune puree replaces butter for natural moisture; egg whites keep them light and healthy.