An Exotic Treat in the Mail

I received a lovely treat in the mail!

These lovely goodies came from Wholesale Nuts And Dried Fruit, sellers of bulk nut and dried fruit (obviously!).

They look and smell so good, popping with flavor. But what should I make? I toyed with the idea of fruitcake, which I’ve been thinking about ever since I read about Mama Pea’s fruitcake. Dan, however, firmly states he doesn’t like fruitcake, so I thought, well, why not start with small bites and see what he thinks. So here they are…

• 1 pound dried fruit
• 6 ounces chopped nuts
• ¼ cup apple juice*
• ½ pound soft butter
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• ½ cup white sugar
• ⅓ cup brown sugar
• 2⅔ cup flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 large egg

The night before, set the dried fruit to soak in the apple juice. Next morning, blend the butter and sugar, add and mix in the egg. Gradually stir in flour, soda, salt, and ginger. Mix in the fruit and soaking liquid. Mix in the nuts. Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for about 15 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 3 doz.

*Traditional recipes call for brandy, rum, etc., but you can use any fruit juice you choose. Orange is common, but I used apple to keep the flavors of the cherries and mango true.

The verdict? Winner! So good. I think it was the dried, rather than candied, fruit that made these a success.

If you’re looking for a nice variety of dried fruits and nuts, or are looking to do some stocking up or adding some special treats to your prepper pantry, you can check out Wholesale Nuts And Dried Fruit for yourself, just click on that link.