Erin Elizabeth
In terms of easy and accessible foods, fruits are one of the easiest to get your hungry hands on. Dried fruits are a tasty snack when you don’t have fresh fruit on hand!
They’re packed full of nutrients, and their natural sugar content makes them enticing to both kids and adults with a sweet tooth.
Plus, they’re easy to use as salad toppings or additions to other dishes or transport on a road trip if you’re on the go.
The following dried fruits taste great in a variety of dishes, though it’s worth noting that they all make excellent snack foods on their own merits.
Best Dried Fruits
Keep reading for our list of our favorite dried fruits.
Apricots
Tasty but not overly sweet, apricots are one of the most popular dried fruits.
They’re high in vitamin A and beta carotene, and most grocery stores stock them even outside of regions where they grow.
But their best attribute is their size, as you can pop each dried apricot in your mouth for the perfect bite-size snack.
Prunes
A prune is an alternative name for a dried plum with its pit removed.
Dense and moist, they are convenient to tote in a paper bag and pack loads of flavor in each fruit.
Prunes are rich in vitamins B and K and minerals, and their high dietary fiber content makes them a favorite item for laxative purposes.
Raisins
Much smaller than prunes but similar in texture, raisins are another of the world’s favorite dried fruits.
These tiny treats serve well in just about any form, including as salad toppings, part of a healthy trail mix, or incorporated into a stir fry or other Asian entree.
Combine with your favorite peanut butter and celery for a classic after-school snack.
Cranberries
It’s common to see dried cranberries with a sugar coating, as they aren’t the sweetest fruits out there.
The tart flavor lends itself well to trail mixes with nuts and pretzels, with enough sweetness to contribute in place of chocolate candies.
There’s an acidic appeal to this punchy little fruit, made better by its high vitamin C content.
Figs
A Victorian-era favorite, items like figgy pudding were memorialized in song and made famous by writers like Charles Dickens and the Bronte sisters.
But figs as dried fruits are more than delicious, as they help digestion and blood sugar levels.
There are many varieties on the market, such as Turkish, Mission, and King figs.
Apple
Though apples are plenty accessible in their natural form, the dried version is also tasty and handy for any snacking opportunity.
They seem to get sweeter once they condense into those crunchy crisps.
The perfect size for popping into your mouth one by one, dried apples often have a dusting of cinnamon on top for a lively additional flavor.
Goji Berries
A native of Asia, goji berries are an exotic choice for dried fruits.
The taste is bright and tart, and each berry packs a huge nutritional punch.
Lycium barbarum is the scientific name, though you’ll sometimes see them sold as wolfberries.
Try these interesting dried tidbits, and you might find you’ve got a new favorite snack.
Peaches
Peaches are evocative of lazy summer days in the South.
Unfortunately, you can’t get them fresh year-round, so dried peaches are the next best option.
Dense and meaty, these are a satisfying bite right out of the bag or also combine well with nuts in an on-the-go mix.
Dates
Popular in the Middle East as well as the Western world, dates are deceptively nutritious for the amount of sweetness they offer.
In fact, dried dates become even sweeter once they go through the dehydrating process.
Dates are a great source of calcium, iron, and many vitamins. They also act as a great natural sweetener!
Currants
Currants grow on shrub bushes and come in many different colors, including black, red, pink, and white.
They substitute for many other fruits in dishes, but you can also eat them raw.
Be careful, though, as they’re much more tart than many of their dried fruit counterparts.
Pears
Dried pears are slightly harder to come by than some other fruits, but the advantage is that you can dehydrate them yourself at home in the oven.
One favorite way to enjoy them is by layering cheese on top for a sophisticated twist on a simple snack.
Naturally sweet without added sugar, pears have impressive levels of potassium and fiber.
Learn about different kinds of pears and find a variety to dry yourself!
Dried Fruits
- Apricots
- Prunes
- Raisins
- Cranberries
- Figs
- Apple
- Goji Berries
- Peaches
- Dates
- Currants
- Pears
Final Thoughts
We’re lucky to live in an era where there are so many dried fruits and nuts as snacking options. Check out some popular nuts to pair with these fruits to make your own trail mix!
Enjoy both the taste of each of these items on our list and know that you’re doing good to your body in the process.
