Midbreak dry fruit biscuits feature the delights of Cashew(Kaju), Pista(Pista), and Almond(Badam). Each handmade bite of this delightful treat makes an excellent breakfast or afternoon tea treat!
Four sweet and four savory biscuit doughs were prepared, each enriched with peeled almonds, roasted pistachios, or black olives at a 10% weight-per-flour weight basis and analyzed for moisture, air retention weight (AWR), pH levels, and color characteristics.
Nutritional Benefits
Dried fruits like raisins, figs, banana chips, dates, and prunes not only offer delicious tastes but are packed full of complex carbs, fiber, and essential nutrients that contribute to a balanced diet.
They provide essential antioxidants that protect cells against free radical damage. Furthermore, they help support an immune-system healthy environment as well as providing essential vitamins and minerals.
Dry fruits contain many plant compounds known to support health, such as polyphenols and flavonoids. Studies have demonstrated how these antioxidants can benefit gut health by decreasing oxidative stress and inflammation, providing dietary fiber, Vitamin C, and an abundance of magnesium, potassium, and zinc – among many other things!
Numerous studies have linked eating dried fruit with lower body weight and greater nutrient intake than not eating them at all. Unfortunately, excessive consumption may result in gas, bloating, and diarrhea issues in some individuals.
Dried fruit snacks are an increasingly popular and healthy alternative to processed junk foods, though some varieties can contain high amounts of sugar and calories; it is wise to select low-sugar varieties without added oils or butter for optimal consumption.
Drying fruit involves extracting moisture from fresh fruit in order to extend its shelf life and make it suitable for storage, which can be accomplished either by leaving it exposed to direct sunlight, baking it in an oven, or using a food dehydrator. Dried fruit offers a long shelf life, making it convenient to bring on trips or as office snacks.
Eating dried fruit daily is a simple and tasty way to add extra nutrition and flavor to meals and snacks, including desserts, smoothies, milkshakes, and granola bars. Apricots, prunes, and figs contain iron that’s particularly important for pregnant women, while their soluble fiber helps support the growth of good bacteria in the digestive tract and ease gastrointestinal discomfort.
Enriched with Nutrients
The addition of dried fruit to biscuits can be an effective strategy to enhance their nutritional value and functionality. Dry fruit provides rich sources of fibers and polyphenols with significant functional properties. Substituting jujube flour (JF) or fiber concentrate (JFC) into biscuit formulations at different substitution rates has been shown to significantly increase dietary fiber, ash content, and total phenolic content. However, these materials had low emulsifying capacities; the physical properties of enriched samples did not demonstrate significant variations in weight, thickness, or diameter; their spread ratio (SR) also slightly decreased, consistent with Raymundo et al. and Zouari et al. results.
Hedonic evaluation of biscuits was carried out by an untrained panel composed of 36 volunteers from the higher institute of biotechnology in Sfax, Tunisia. Each sample was assessed on four criteria – taste, greasiness, hardness, and crispness using a five-point scale; physical characteristics were considered at two stages, post-baking and before; moisture and aw were calculated using electronic balances.
Raw dough pH values averaged around seven and varied slightly with ingredients added. After baking, they reached values of 7.5 for the control sample, 7.4 for ALSW, and 7.1 for PLSW samples. Statistics were performed through a one-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s post hoc test to detect possible disparities among groups. Results demonstrated that adding JFC and ALSW improved the hedonic evaluation of biscuits, while adding PISW or PLSW reduced their quality. These changes could be explained by the increased presence of soluble solids, making the samples less elastic and more complicated than their counterparts. Furthermore, adding jujube powders likely increased their hedonic value due to the presence of more phenolic compounds. These phenolic compounds contain antioxidant properties that protect against oxidative damage, with lower hedonic scores for biscuits containing PLSW likely due to being more dense than the other samples; however, this result was incongruent with their appearance morphologically.
Delicious Snacks
For snackers looking for healthy yet delectable options to satisfy their appetite while staying on track with their goals! Here are a few recipes sure to please both tastebuds and goals alike!
Soft cookies bursting with dried figs, raisins, and cranberries make an irresistibly delicious way to start any day or enjoy with coffee or tea. Making the dough is quick and straightforward, and the baking time is short, too – perfect as holiday edible gifts!
This delicious snack will satisfy your sweet tooth while giving you an energy boost. Make it festive by adding peppermint for an extra special touch!
Nuts make for an excellent snack, but they can quickly become tedious. Add flavor to these healthy nuts by sprinkling them with flaky salt, dry seasonings, and fresh herbs to add variety and depth of flavor. This will ensure they continue to remain tasty!
Have trouble choosing what to eat for a snack? Try these bite-size sushi alternatives – they only take minutes to prepare, using ingredients you may already have on hand!
With this clever snack idea, elevate a classic salad by giving it extra texture and flavor with this healthy twist! Consider switching up some of the romaine with more nutritious greens like kale or spinach to increase its nutritional value.
No one will believe this cheesy snack is low in calories! Plus, it makes eating your veggies fun!
Make an impressionful appetizer with this show-stopping dip! A combination of guacamole and hummus, it makes the perfect snack for anyone indecisive over what they should have for lunch – dip your veggies or chips in it and indulge!
These adorable snacks will encourage your family to consume more fruit while also supplying important vitamins. Prep time takes just minutes and is suitable for the entire group!
These delicious snack options will make your next snacking experience healthier and more nutritious, as they contain lower levels of calories and fat than many other options. They’re also great to keep handy as a mid-meal treat!
Easy to Prepare
Dry fruit biscuits are an easy, tasty snack you can enjoy any time of the day – perfect for kids’ lunchboxes as they offer both texture and sweetness without being loaded with too much sugar! Easy to prepare using simple ingredients such as cashew nuts, pistachio nuts, or almonds; an excellent option for those trying to stay on track with healthy eating or those who may be allergic to eggs or dairy products!
To create these cookies, you will need butter, flour, and sugar, along with any dried fruits or nuts you desire. Butter adds richness and depth of flavor; to achieve traditional Indian bakery quality, use homemade desi ghee (clarified butter). While all-purpose flour may work, whole wheat or oat flour adds fiber for more excellent nutrition, while baking soda acts as a leavening agent, helping the cookies rise and remain light and fluffy. Feel free to experiment by adding cinnamon, nutmeg, or even saffron for even more intense flavors!
To bake cookies successfully, you will require a cookie sheet. For maximum efficiency and best results, line it with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat; to prevent sticking the cookies to their sheet surface, dust them lightly with powdered sugar before placing the tray into the oven.
For the dough, combine butter and sugar in a large bowl, using an electric mixer at medium speed for 2 minutes. Slowly add flour and baking soda while mixing. Finally stir in your choice of dried fruit (oats or otherwise). Alternately, shape the dough into long roulades using a lightly floured work surface before refrigerating and rolling them on the lightly floured work surface to prevent too much spreading while baking.
