How to Plump Raisins for Baking

The best bakers take a central extra step—soaking raisins before folding them into the batter.

Raisins are fantastic in baked appurtenances similar oatmeal cookies and (of course) your Grandma's famous carrot cake. Because they're so dry, however, raisins tend to blot the liquid from your baked goods, making the final dessert less moist. That'southward almost never a good thing! The all-time bakers take a central extra step—soaking raisins before folding them into the batter.

How to Plump Raisins

Choose the Right Soaking Liquid

Water is the most common soaking liquid, but fruit juices (like pineapple for Aunt Murna'due south Jam Cake), extracts and spirits (similar rum and brandy) can also be used. Another liquid that many take never considered but is a natural choice is eggs. Virtually baked goods telephone call for eggs anyway, so past soaking your fruit in the eggs before mixing them into your batter, yous don't have to worry about adding whatsoever extra liquid.

Pick a Tried-and-True Method

Unlike cooks all have different methods for soaking their dried fruit, each believing their technique yields a more plump production. There are at least 4 ways to reach soaked fruit. Here are the all-time I've heard:

1. Cascade plenty hot h2o over the raisins to cover them and let them sit down for ten-fifteen minutes, and so drain and apply.
2. Add together both your liquid and the raisins to a saucepan and heat the mixture to a boil, so remove from the heat and let sit for x-fifteen minutes before draining and using.
3. Place the raisins in a microwave-safe basin and cover them with liquid; microwave for 2-3 minutes, then soak for ten-fifteen minutes before folding into batter.
4. Cover the raisins with room temperature liquid and soak for 30 minutes. After that time has passed, they're ready to use!

Pro Tip: Soaking longer isn't necessarily better. Raisins will only plump so much, and they'll exercise information technology pretty apace.

Generally speaking, any method will work. You can simply make your choice based on how much time you have and how many dishes you desire to wash! It'southward worth noting that soaking raisins isn't express to broiled appurtenances—plump them for snacks, salad toppings or fifty-fifty a couscous side dish.

Tasty Carrot Block-Inspired Recipes

Taste of Dwelling house

Carrot Cake

My family unit's best carrot cake recipe dates back to my great-grandmother! We broil up a few of these carrot cakes for special occasions to make sure there's enough to go around. You'll love the texture this pretty, moist treat gets from pineapple, coconut and, of class, carrots! —Debbie Terenzini-Wilkerson, Lusby, Maryland Become Recipe

Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies

This cookie's always been a favorite with my kids, and a best-seller at bake sales. If you lot desire to gild the lily, you tin add toasted chopped walnuts or pecans to the frosting. —Linda Ross, Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Carrot Blueberry Cupcakes

Carrots, blueberries, pineapple and zucchini make an interesting and delicious combination in these unique petty treats.—Patricia Kile, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.

Force per unit area-Cooker Carrot Cake Oatmeal

This warm breakfast cereal made in the force per unit area cooker is a bang-up way to add some veggies in the morning and proceed a healthy diet! For extra crunch, I garnish individual servings with ground walnuts or pecans.—Debbie Kain, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Carrot Canvass Cake

We sold pieces of this to-die-for carrot cake at an fine art show. Earlier long, nosotros sold out of all the 10 cakes we had made! —Dottie Cosgrove, South El Monte, California

Carrot Spice Thumbprint Cookies

Carrot cake is a family favorite, and these succulent cookies taste just like it with shredded carrots, dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, cinnamon and cloves. And they're topped with a rich cream cheese frosting. Who could resist? Each cookie is like eating a piece of carrot cake, merely with no fork needed! —Susan Bickta, Kutztown, Pennsylvania

Carrot Honey Loaf

As a busy wellness-care professional person and mom, one of the most meaningful gifts I requite to the people I love is my time and skills in the kitchen. I have been blistering since I was 7 years old and while I notwithstanding am an avid baker, raising iii children, caring for three dogs and working total-time leaves me with little energy! My family appreciates all my efforts and this is a favorite extra "gift" I give people for special events like a housewarming or welcoming a new infant. It is especially practiced toasted with butter. —Krystal Horudko, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Pineapple Carrot Cake

This moist cake with cream cheese frosting is the best I've ever eaten. It's so simple, also, because it uses two jars of baby nutrient instead of fresh carrots that need to exist grated. —Jeanette McKenna, Vero Beach, Florida

Carrot Cake Pancakes

Here'south a way for fans of carrot cake to accept their favorite dessert for breakfast. These delicate, decadent pancakes are drizzled with sugariness and spicy maple syrup that complements the sour cream and nut topping. —Leane Goering, Salem, Indiana

Carrot Dump Block

Because our family unit adores carrot cake, I experimented to find an easy style to arrive so we could enjoy it all the time. This super moist dump cake version makes my family unit smile when information technology suddenly appears on the table. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin

Spiced Carrot Cake

My mom made this cake for my birthday ane twelvemonth considering carrot cake is her favorite. Turns out, it's my favorite, also! Now when I make information technology, I love it with lots of spice. The pumpkin pie spice is a perfect shortcut, but you lot could utilize a custom blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves. —Jaris Dykas, Knoxville, Tennessee

Coconut Carrot Muffins

If y'all like carrot cake, y'all'll probably like these muffins, also. They make a neat treat for an Easter get-together! I utilise canned carrots to salvage some extra fourth dimension in the kitchen. —Brittany Carrington, Tehachapi, California

Grandma's Carrot Cake

My grandma was very special to me. She had a large land kitchen that was full of wonderful aromas whatever time we visited. This was ane of her prized cake recipes, and it continues to exist a favorite from generation to generation. —Denise Strasz, Detroit, Michigan

Wonderful Carrot Block

This healthy carrot block recipe is moist, tender and delicious. Kids will beloved it considering it'south sweet, and you lot'll love it considering information technology's packed with skilful-for-you carrots. —Brenda Rankhorn, New Market place, Alabama

Carrot-Cranberry Spice Cake

I love carrot block and those made with cranberries. Using leftover cranberry sauce, I add together carrots to brand ane marvelous block that's tangy and sugariness. —Elizabeth King, Duluth, Minnesota

Carrot Cake Jam

For a change of pace from berry jams, endeavour this unique option. Spread on a bagel with cream cheese, it tastes well-nigh as expert as real carrot block! —Rachelle Stratton, Rock Springs, Wyoming

Classic Carrot Block

I entered this yummy, moist block in a Colorado Outfitters Clan dessert contest. My carrot cake with pineapple earned outset place! —Cheri Eby, Gunnison, Colorado

Chocolate Carrot Block

Finely shredding the carrots gives this block an actress-nice texture. The walnuts sprinkled on top add together crisis, merely you can leave them off if you prefer. —Pamela Brown, Williamsburg, Michigan

Carrot Cookie Bites

This recipe is a longtime family favorite. The cookies are soft and delicious, and the olfactory property while baking is admittedly irresistible! I'm always being asked for the recipe. —Jeanie Petrik, Greensburg, Kentucky

Maple Carrot Cupcakes

I come from a line of family cooks and take liked to melt and bake since I was immature. Mother and Grandmom were ever in the kitchen cooking up something succulent. These carrot cupcakes were Grandmom'south specialty, and nosotros ever have them at family unit gatherings. —Lisa Ann Panzino DiNunzio, Vineland, New Jersey

Carrot Cake with Pecan Frosting

My husband constantly requests this homey, quondam-fashioned version of carrot cake. The frosting is still tasty even without the pecans. —Adrian Badon, Denham Springs, Louisiana

Carrot Fruitcake

Fifty-fifty those who don't care for fruitcake dear this special holiday dessert. It's a fun way to "dress upwards" that quondam favorite, carrot cake. Endeavor it—your friends and family unit volition agree. —Ann Parden, Chunchula, Alabama

Cranberry-Carrot Layer Cake

This moist cake smothered with rich cream cheese frosting makes whatever dinner festive. Every autumn, I get to a cranberry festival in Wisconsin and load up on fresh cranberries to freeze for yr-round cooking. —Nellie Runne, Rockford, Illinois

Surprise Carrot Cake

A cousin gave me this carrot cake recipe. It's a wonderful potluck pleaser with its "surprise" cream cheese center. My hubby and our two immature children love information technology, too! —Lisa Bowen, Trivial Britian, Ontario

Tropical Carrot Cake

I look frontwards to August because our family reunion ways fun and swell food, similar this classic cake with the special flair information technology gets from pineapple. My slap-up-aunt gave me this recipe, and I ever make information technology for the reunion. —Victoria Casey, Enterprise, Oregon

Steamed Carrot Pudding

This recipe, passed down from my Canadian grandmother, has been in my family for at to the lowest degree 3 generations. It's been a favorite wintertime dessert for us and is always served for Easter and other holiday meals. —Ann Searcey, Kettering, Ohio

Carrot Cake Shortbread

I really love carrot cake and wanted to make a cookie that had the same flavors. These comforting cookies are just the ticket! Cinnamon, maple and vanilla make them perfect for the holidays. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah

Mrs. Thompson'south Carrot Cake

I received this recipe from the mother of a patient I cared for back in 1972 in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was, and is, the best carrot cake I take ever tasted. It's requested for many family unit gatherings and celebrations. —Becky Wachob, Kelly, Wyoming

Old-Fashioned Carrot Block with Cream Cheese Frosting

A pleasingly moist cake, this treat is the one I requested that my mom make each year for my birthday. It'due south dotted with sweet carrots and a hint of cinnamon. The fluffy buttery frosting is scrumptious with chopped walnuts stirred in. One piece of this homemade carrot block is never plenty—amend than all the other carrot cakes recipes I've tried!—Kim Orr, West Grove, Pennsylvania

Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

I honey to serve lighter desserts that will satisfy those with a sugariness molar. I brand these every Christmas Eve, just they're marvelous whatsoever time of the year. —Sara Pleso, Sparta Tennessee.

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