We love opening season for fruit because it offers so many ways to enjoy them. First, fruit plucked when ripened is delicious as is. But if you want to take it up a notch, we wanted to share 3 simple ways to transform fruit into a mouthwatering dessert without adding any refined sugars.
SEASON AND BAKE:
• Simply bake it. That’s it!
• Great fruits for this method include: peaches, figs, strawberries, plums, pears, pineapple, and apples.
• Take any fruit that’s larger than a walnut. If desired, cut into large bite-size pieces. Toss with olive oil or warmed butter. Set on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt. Cook at 350F degrees until juices start to emerge, about 10-20 minutes. The sweetness becomes highlighted, and the warmth makes it special.
• Serve with fresh natural yoghurt, cream or enjoy on its own.
Check out Homemade’s Baked Strawberries with Ricotta recipe.
CHOP AND SIMMER:
• Great fruit for this method includes: boysenberries, strawberries, peaches, plums, figs, apples, guava, apricots, cranberries.
• Chose one type of fruit or any combination. Put the fruit into a pot. Berries can go in as is, while fruit with seeds or pits can be halved or chopped to remove the pits and then put into the pot. Turn on the heat to medium-high. Allow the fruit to simmer in its own juices for 10-30 minutes. Stir frequently. Add honey and/or lemon juice to your liking. Delicious as-is.
• Also pairs nicely with yogurt, whole cream, brie, cream cheese, cottage cheese, or whole-grain pancakes.
SLICE AND CRISP:
• Good candidates for this method includes: apples, pears, peaches, berries, nectarines, plums, mango, and bananas.
• Preheat oven to 425F degrees.
• Slice or chop fruit into consistently sized pieces (about 7 cups worth.) If you like, add a few pinches of cinnamon. Toss with 1-2 teaspoons of lemon zest. Layer nicely or dump-and-press into a baking dish (8×8).
• Make a topping – combine whole grains, nut meals and spices and seasonings, with chilled butter; mash with a fork to make it clumpy. Here is an example: 1 cup almond meal, 1 cup rolled oats, 1 T lemon juice, 4 tablespoons of butter, ¼ cup honey, ¼ tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp cinnamon, nutmeg or cardamom. Spoon this topping onto your fruit.
• Bake for 15 minutes at 425F degrees. Turn heat down to 350F and cook for another 30-45 minutes. Serve warm as is, or with a side of ice cream or whole whipped cream.
Experiment and play with any combination of fruit.
Try our fiercely loved Pear, Chocolate & Hazelnut crisp recipe.
With these three techniques, fruit can become a special treat for you and your family, and good for your body and palate. Enjoy! Share your fruit creations on our Facebook page.
