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Dried Powders

Blueberry Powder

Make homemade blueberry powder by cracking the skins, drying the berries and grinding them. Use it to color icing and flavor oatmeal.

By

Sara Noel
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Blueberry powder

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Blueberries cracked, dried and ground into a purple powder for icing, oatmeal and smoothies.
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Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time12 hours
Total Time12 hours 15 minutes
CourseCondiment
CuisineAmerican
Servings4 servings
Calories21
Ingredients Equipment Directions Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup blueberries (or as many as fill your dehydrator)

Equipment

  • dehydrator
  • spice grinder
  • airtight jar

Directions
 

  1. Rinse the blueberries.
  2. Break the skin of each berry in one of these ways: prick with a skewer, blanch briefly in boiling water, freeze for 1 to 2 days, slice, or chop into bits or puree.
  3. Lay on trays covered with silicone mesh or parchment.
  4. Dry at 135°F / 57°C for 12 to 48 hours, depending on how well the skins were broken.
  5. Test: let a few cool; they should feel like raisins.
  6. Condition for about a week: use a container a bit bigger than you need, shake it daily, and put the berries back in the dehydrator if any clump or stick together.
  7. For powder: pulse fully dried berries in a coffee grinder or blender, then blend briefly (blending too long makes clumps).
  8. Sift through a fine-mesh strainer to take out the seeds (they add bitterness).
  9. If needed, dry the powder some more, on coffee filters in the dehydrator or on parchment in a warm oven that is turned off.
  10. Keep airtight, ideally with a moisture absorber.

Notes

Dried berries: about a year airtight. Powder: about six to twelve months in a dark, cool place. Anti-caking: desiccant pack, shake often, or add about 1/4 tsp arrowroot per 1-quart jar (a little more for blueberry). Uses: color icing, frosting, play dough and pasta; flavor yogurt and ice cream; add to muffins and pancakes. Powder is not very sweet. Safety: don’t use berries that may be moldy; discard anything that molds. Avoid metal utensils inside glass jars (micro-cracks).

Nutrition

Serving: 37g | Calories: 21kcal | Carbohydrates: 5.4g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 0.4mg | Potassium: 29mg | Fiber: 0.9g | Sugar: 3.7g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Vitamin C: 3.6mg | Calcium: 2.2mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Nutrition is an estimate per serving from USDA FoodData Central, for 4 servings; blueberries (the first choice counted). Brands and portions vary, so use it only as an approximation.

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