Seriously Delicious Desserts You Can Make With Fruit
There's no denying that dessert is the best meal of the day, and while there's nothing wrong with dipping potato chips in chocolate and calling it dessert, there's no reason to stop there!
While sure, not all fruits are created equal, it's still definitely something that we all need to include in our diets. And honestly, most of us could probably do with getting more fruits (and vegetables) than we do. Dessert is actually a pretty great way to add some fruit to the day's menu, and while we can probably all agree that fresh is best here, dried and frozen fruits work pretty well in some of our favorite desserts, too.
Bonus? Some of these unique desserts are things that you might not have ever considered making before checking out our recipes, and that's what we're here for! While we love coming up with unique spins on classics, we also love sharing some new (or often-overlooked) ideas. So, whether you like apples and blueberries, strawberries, bananas, or oranges, we have the delicious dessert ideas you're looking for right here!
Strawberry cake
Are there any two words more exciting than "cake" and "strawberry?" We've combined them into our delicious strawberry cake, and there's everything to love about this light and fruity dessert — starting with the fact that if you happen to have forgotten that you have strawberries in the fridge, only to find they're slightly overripe and a little too mushy to eat on their own, that means they're perfect for our recipe. With the perfect ratio of batter to strawberries, this is going to turn out moist but not wet. Add the strawberry glaze, and it's downright perfect.
Mini apple crumbles
Sometimes, it's fun to hand everyone their own little ramekin filled with a personally sized dessert, and that's exactly what you'll do with our mini apple crumbles. We give you the portions for four ramekins (although you can easily increase this to make more) so that everyone will have their own portion of cinnamon-covered apples covered with an oatmeal crumble then topped with a dollop of ice cream. And yes, it's just as delicious as it sounds, and it might just be the perfect treat for a cool autumn afternoon — especially if you've just been out apple-picking.
Cherry pecan bread pudding
Keeping fresh fruit on hand all the time can be a challenge, but dried fruit can be an excellent answer. Pick up some bags of dried cherries, for example, and keep them in the cupboard. That way, when the craving for a fruit-filled dessert strikes, you know you have something on hand to use in our cherry pecan bread pudding. This a great way to use up a loaf of bread that might be a little too old, and it's filled with a sweet-and-salty burst of flavor thanks to the cherries and a caramel drizzle.
Apple galette
What, exactly, is an apple galette? It's essentially a rustic sort of apple pie, and if you can imagine yourself walking through the streets of any Old World city, picture walking past a bakery with apple desserts in the window: Our old-school apple galette would fit right in. The hardest part of the recipe is slicing all the apples, but that's also what makes this perhaps the perfect thing to serve to any apple-loving family. If you love the apples of an apple pie more than the crust, this is the dessert for you!
Chocolate-covered strawberries
While a box of chocolates might be a standard sort of Valentine's Day gift, let's get real here and talk about chocolate-covered strawberries. You might see these delicious treats showing up in stores around February, but they're always ridiculously expensive, right? Check out our recipe for making your own chocolate-covered strawberries, and you'll never buy them again. These are especially brilliant when strawberries are in season, as they'll be so flavorful and full of juice that everyone will agree: There's no better, bite-sized dessert to say "special someone"... even if that someone is you!
Bananas foster
Bananas foster is one of those desserts that just feels old-school, and that's because it is ... it was invented in New Orleans in 1951, and honestly, what other city did you expect to invent a dessert you set on fire? There are fancy terms like "flambé" involved, but it's easier than you expect with help from our bananas foster recipe. If there's anything that goes with bananas and New Orleans, it's rum, and there's some of that in here, too — and as far as we're concerned, the only thing better than a fruity dessert is a fruity, boozy dessert!
Orange julius
Dessert doesn't always require a spoon or fork, and in the case of our Orange Julius recipe, all you'll need is a straw. That's because we've whipped up the perfect icy cold dessert for anyone who loves oranges: While we recommend using orange juice of the fresh-squeezed kind, you can definitely opt for some of the pre-juiced stuff. Add in basic ingredients like milk and vanilla ice cream, and you have a fruity milkshake to the max! (Pro tip: You could even swap out the oranges for a different fruit. Strawberry juice and strawberry ice cream? Yes, please!)
Paleo banana bread
Dessert doesn't have to be unhealthy, and if you're looking for something that's a little more on the guilt-free side, check out this recipe for paleo banana bread. Even if you don't subscribe to the paleo diet (which is based on the diet our ancient ancestors would have subsisted on when they were hunter-gatherers), you'll still find plenty to love about this incredibly easy banana bread. Bonus? Dress it up with a caramel drizzle or scoop of ice cream for dessert, then have a slice for breakfast the next morning!
Rhubarb pie
Rhubarb is definitely one of those ingredients that sounds like something bland that your great-grandmother used to use, but you should definitely give it a chance. For starters, Healthline says it's full of good things like fiber and antioxidants, and it's a key ingredient in our rhubarb pie — along with a literal pile of strawberries. The strawberries play an important part in the concoction, too — rhubarb can bring a strong tartness to the dish. We let the strawberries do the heavy lifting instead of using a ton of sugar, and we think you'll agree that it absolutely works!
Lemon bars
Sometimes, you just want a dessert that's a quick bite of something light and refreshing, and if that sounds like what you're looking for, check out our recipe for these super easy lemon bars. There's everything to love about this one, from the simple crust (with our tips on how to make sure it's not going to fall apart on you!) to the equally easy lemon filling. This isn't just a great dessert for a hot summer day, it's a pretty good one to use if you want to get the kids involved, too!
Black forest cake
There are some occasions that just call for a special cake, whether that's someone's birthday or just a regular old Thursday. If you're looking for something sweet, chocolatey, and delicious, we can help you out with our Black Forest cake. Our scratch-made chocolate cake is so easy, you might never reach for a boxed mix again, and as for the fruit, that comes in the form of layers of cherries. What goes better together than chocolate and cherries? (And FYI, our version of this classic cake is alcohol-free, if that's a concern.)
Clafoutis
Some desserts will get a gasp of delight because they're old favorites, and others will get the same reaction because they're something completely unique. The latter is definitely the case with our clafoutis, which is essentially a fruit-filled dessert that's held together by a simple and rustic batter that will have a pancake-like texture. While we use cherries in our version of this classic French dessert, you can absolutely use other berries, too! Make this just a few times, and it'll be well on the way from being something new to being one of those old family favorites.
Orange chocolate loaf cake
Is it bread, or is it cake? Yes! Our orange chocolate loaf cake might be baked into the shape of a standard loaf of bread, but don't let that fool you: It has all the cake-y goodness of a dessert, and we'll give you some tips on how to make sure you pick the right kind of chocolate for that rich flavor. The orange flavor comes from the zest of several oranges, and we use more of those oranges in the glaze you'll be covering the whole thing with. Dessert for breakfast? With this loaf, absolutely!
Fruit pizza
Want to put together something extra special for pizza night? How about a fruit pizza? Not only is this a tasty dessert that will even have the kids reaching for more fruit, but it's pretty versatile, too. We'll show you how to make a sweet cookie crust and a cream cheese topping that will go with almost any type of fruit you have on hand. We suggest using a berry mix, but if you want to use all strawberries, all berries, or even other fruits like kiwi or nectarines, it'll end up just as good!
Disney Dole Whip
A Disney Dole Whip is, as the name suggests, one of those desserts that's on the must-try list of anyone who's heading to Disney World or Disneyland, especially if you love pineapple. Don't have vacation plans in the immediate future? We have you covered with our copycat Disney Dole Whip recipe, and not only does it taste like the real thing, but you'll only need a few ingredients — whipped cream and cherry optional. Since this one gets whipped up in the blender, you can go from thinking about dessert to having it in around five minutes.
No-bake banana pudding
We do love no-bake desserts, and we especially love this recipe for a no-bake banana pudding. While this might not be the healthiest option when it comes to fruity, after-dinner delights, it does have some of our favorite ingredients in it — like both Cool Whip and whipped cream. Be sure to pick up some banana instant pudding to really get all the banana flavor you're craving along with a few slices of the real thing and some Nilla Wafers for texture. This is a super-simple dessert for any night of the week.
Buttery cherry bars
It has "buttery" right in the name, so you're right in thinking that it's not high on the "healthy" scale. Still, these buttery cherry bars taste so good that it literally won't matter! The browned butter is an important ingredient, as it adds to the richness of the entire dessert. A pastry crust, a sweet, cake-y filling, and every bite that's filled with ooey, gooey, sweet cherries? This one is guaranteed to be a total win, and best of all, it all comes together super quickly, it's great for even busy nights!
Baked apples
There's a reason that apple pie is so popular, and we all know it's the apples, right? How about a dessert that's just made up of the same delicious filling that comes in an apple pie, all in one convenient, all-natural package? Our recipe for baked apples works best with a crisp, crunchy apple because it's the only star of the show. We core them, stuff them, add a dollop of butter, and bake them for a dessert that's all the goodness of apple pie, with none of the crust! (Pro tip: Serve hot, alongside ice cream!)
Hummingbird cake
If you're from the Southern United States, chances are pretty good that you're already familiar with the incredible dessert that is the hummingbird cake. It's a Southern staple that's thought to have been invented in Jamaica, then made popular thanks to a 1978 recipe in Southern Living. The cake was so named because it's super-sweet — just like hummingbirds like their food — and that comes in part from the bananas and pineapple. We'll walk you through making a hummingbird cake from start to finish. Don't forget to add some toasted pecans for a nutty richness.
Fruit cake
Fruit cake ... we know, but wait! We're here to fix fruit cake's bad reputation with our appropriately fruit-filled version of a fruit cake that your family is guaranteed to love! This isn't the fruit cake that gets passed around through the holidays and only gets eaten by that one uncle who's too drunk to know better. This is a fruit cake that's packed full of dried fruit that's been soaked in rum for a day instead of that weird candied fruit. Sounds pretty great, right? It is, especially with some vanilla ice cream on the side.
Lemon meringue pie
Lemon meringue pie might be a pie, but it's so good that it's a perfectly acceptable offering on those occasions that more commonly call for cake. In other words, this is the perfect centerpiece to a lemon-lover's summer birthday! It's got everything on the spectrum from sweet to tart, and while some recipes might take some shortcuts, our lemon meringue pie recipe calls for real lemons. You're going to use the zest and the juice, and trust us when we say it makes all the difference in the world!
Berry cobblers
We can't say enough just how much we love berry cobblers. Pie is great and all, but if you save the crust for last, that's all you're going to walk away tasting. Not so with these desserts, and we'll start with our 3-ingredient berry cobbler. (Legit: Three ingredients!) We have a similar idea for a wonderfully fresh, 3-ingredient peach cobbler, and if you have the time for something a little more complicated, check out our blackberry cobbler recipe. Best of all, that one calls for frozen berries, so you can enjoy it at any time of the year.
Raspberry bars
We've all done it: We've opened a jar of jam, then thrown it back in the fridge and forgotten about it. If this is the case, we definitely have the recipe for you: raspberry bars! Some jars of jam — especially the ones made from fresh fruit, the kind you might pick up at the farmer's market — are too good to go to waste, and these dessert bars are the perfect way to use up almost any kind of fruit jam with a quick, soft dough and the addition of a streusel topping. That's it!
Strawberry shortcake
There's nothing quite like a big bowl of strawberry shortcake on a hot summer evening, and while you might be used to grabbing those little dessert cups at the grocery store and calling it a day, our strawberry shortcake recipe might take that off your shopping list forever. We have a brilliant recipe for a simple buttermilk biscuit that goes perfectly with fresh strawberries, and we also make our own whipped cream. The stuff in the can just doesn't compare, especially for how easy it is to make!
No-bake cheesecakes
Cheesecakes are versatile desserts that can be made in many different ways, but it's no secret that baking them is a bit of a challenge. Fortunately, we have some no-bake options that incorporate fresh fruit for all of the flavor and none of the hassle. This cranberry orange cheesecake is just what the holidays call for, and it's sure to be a hit on any table. There's also this super-fast Jell-O cheesecake for when you need something ASAP, and we've even come up with a no-bake, keto-friendly cheesecake that has lots of flavor but none of the carbs.
Caramelized bananas
If you've ever bought a bunch of bananas with the best of intentions only to watch them start going brown, we're right there with you. Fortunately, we have a great way to use those bananas up in a super creative way: by caramelizing them as a stand-alone dessert or for use on top of your favorite ice cream! (Vanilla might be more common, but how about chocolate?) You'll only need a few ingredients other than bananas, and our caramelized bananas might just change the way you eat ice cream, oatmeal, and anything else you can add some 'nanners to.
Lemon pound cake
Citrus can be tough for some people because of the acidity. Then factor in the lip-puckering flavor of lemons, and how many can just eat them like an apple? The good news for lemon-lovers is that we have two recipes that balance the sourness of the lemon with the sweetness of cake in pretty perfect ways. First, there's our lemon pound cake that's covered with a lemony glaze. Then, we also have a lemon cake that we bake in Bundt form, and it's not going to come out quite as heavy as the pound cake.
Apple pie
It doesn't get much better than a delicious apple pie, and let's be honest: Pies might be one of those things that you rarely make because they just seem like so much work. We have a simple apple pie recipe that might change that. It takes around half an hour to prep and assemble, then 45 minutes in the oven. Sure, it's so filled with cinnamon and sugar that it might not be precisely healthy, but hey, you're getting your apple a day to keep the doctor away, right? No one specified what form it should be in!