Crushed Freeze‑dried Strawberries Add Color And Crunch To Desserts — No Chopping Required

The taste of a fresh, juicy strawberry is incomparable. When these delicious berries aren't in season, you might think you're out of luck, but thanks to the technology of freeze-drying, you can still enjoy your favorite tastes and glean much of the same nutrients in a crunchy and more compact format. You should always keep freeze-dried fruit in your pantry for snacking, cooking, baking, and more. And crushed freeze-dried strawberries are a perfect complement to elevate a number of different desserts.

A simple addition of crushed freeze-dried strawberries can take any sweet treat to new heights. With a bright and colorful pinkish-red hue, a pleasing crispiness, and plenty of familiar strawberry flavor, this ingredient is easy to use and has a variety of culinary applications. One of the biggest advantages of working with freeze-dried fruit is the fact that they do not retain any moisture, meaning they have a longer shelf life and can be included in different dishes without the risk of altering the overall texture with excess moisture.

You can crush freeze-dried strawberries into varying levels of coarseness or fineness depending on your needs. For example, the sweet way to boost the flavor of strawberry cake involves using crushed freeze-dried strawberries to act as a flavorful powder to mix into the batter. With more coarsely crushed freeze-dried strawberries, they can act as a decorative sprinkle atop cakes, pies, puddings, and other sweets.

Just about any dessert you can think of will be enhanced by the addition of crushed freeze-dried strawberries. The desserts don't have to be specifically strawberry-forward either. In fact, the use of freeze-dried strawberries can add just a hint or more of berry flavor. Try sprinkling crushed freeze-dried strawberries on top of frosted vanilla cupcakes, mixing them into the filling of a chocolate cake, or baking them into a batch of oatmeal raisin cookies for extra fruit flavor and nutritional value.

Whether you're working with a store-bought version or baking them from scratch, you can also give cinnamon rolls a satisfying crunch with freeze-dried fruits such as strawberries and more. Crushed up freeze-dried strawberries also make a fun topping for ice cream sundaes alongside chopped peanuts and other sweet and crunchy ingredients. Similarly, if you're making your own hand-dipped chocolate-covered ice cream pops or popsicles, finish them off with a topping of freeze-dried strawberries.

Try mixing freeze-dried strawberries into puddings or on top of Midwestern-style canned fruit and Jell-O salads. For a healthy sweet treat, use crushed freeze-dried strawberries on top of a Greek yogurt parfait. This could be in addition to or in place of fresh fruit, depending on what's in season. Any way you choose to use these crunchy and wholesome fruits, they will make a delicious dessert even better.