Snack on sweet, delicious, healthy dried mulberries anytime of the year!
Mulberries are one of my favourite snacks, especially when one can simply go outside and pick them fresh from the tree. We planted our mulberry tree around 6 years ago now, and each year I get so excited when spring comes round, to pick this sweet-tasting fruit from our tree.
There is nothing I love more than to be able to wander outside and collect a whole heap of fresh produce from our garden, it brings me so much joy.
Why I started drying out our mulberries in the first place was a lot of the berries were going to waste because we couldn’t keep up with how many were growing!
By drying out the berries, it preserves them – increasing their shelf-life – and allows us to keep them stored in an airtight container to enjoy all year round. What’s more, by drying fruit at home, you ensure there are no added preservatives like sulfur dioxide, and avoid plastic packaging!
Before we get started in learning how to make dried mulberries, if you like what you’re seeing, subscribe to my email newsletter at the bottom of the page to keep up to date on the latest recipes, DIYs, gardening and health tips I share!!
How to Dry Mulberries with a Dehydrator
How to make dried fruit at home. I collected these mulberries fresh from our tree and simply dried them using a dehydrator. These berries are refined sugar-free, additive-free, sulphur-free and preservative-free! Plus, they’re organically grown! They make the perfect healthy snack for any time of day.
To make:
- Gently and carefully pull the green stem end out from the mulberry, doing this for each of them.
- Wash the mulberries gently in cold water with a little lemon juice (this helps keep their vibrant purple colour during the drying process).
- Spread the mulberries out on dehydrator sheets and dehydrate until dry; around 36-48 hours. They’re ready when they are easily broken.
Dried mulberries can be stored at room temperature or in the fridge for up to 1 year. Keep in an airtight container, away from heat and direct sunlight. They should not go mouldy if they’ve been dried properly.
How to Dry Mulberries without a Dehydrator
Alternatively, if you don’t have a dehydrator, you can oven-dry them.
To do this, bake the berries for around 24-36 hours at 60ËšC (140ËšF) to slowly dehydrate the mulberries without burning them to a crisp. Use a spatula to turn and shuffle the mulberries around the pan approximately every hour to ensure each mulberry dries evenly. Test the dryness of your mulberries by gently shaking the pan side to side. Well-dried mulberries will make a rattling sound against the pan.
Uses for Dried Mulberries
I love using dried mulberries in the following ways:
- Adding them to granola or trail mixes for a sweet snack. Mulberries pair well with nuts, dried berries and coconut.
- Reconstitute dried mulberries by soaking them in water before adding them to baked goods.
- Add them to herbal teas; prepare a tea and add a touch of sweetness by letting the dried mulberries soak at the bottom of the cup.
- Blend into smoothies or juices.
- Use the berries as a topping for yoghurt or chia pudding.
- Stir dried mulberries into muffins and other baked goods.
- My favourite way: Eating dried mulberries as they are, straight out of the container!
*This is not my original recipe, method or concept, rather one I’ve adapted from other recipe developers.*
DIY dried mulberries tutorial
As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor before trying or using any new products. I am not a doctor. All opinions expressed are my own personal thoughts and feelings of the products mentioned. Check with your doctor or health practitioner if you are uncertain about trying out any of the products, recipes or tips mentioned in this post.
Have you dried fruit before? Share your favourite recipe below.
Lots of love,
Vanessa
