The best thing about fruit is that it’s always ready to be eaten — no prep work or timers required. But while we all love biting into a fresh piece of fruit, it’s also fun to change things up once in a while, especially with the colder weather fast approaching. So turn on your oven, fire up the stove top, and break out your grill once again because we’re sharing some of the most interesting ways to prepare fruit this fall.
Baked
Especially if you’re left with fruit that’s bruised or banged-up, baking is the perfect way to turn otherwise spoiled fruit into a tasty dessert. If your fruit is on the ripe side, you probably won’t have to add more than a small pinch of sugar to it. For underripe fruit (which tends to be less sweet) you may want to dip sliced fruit in water then coat it with a thin layer of sugar. You can also get creative and add cinnamon, thyme, and vanilla to your sugar mixture for an even more unique taste. Then, set your oven to around 350 degrees and you’ll have freshly baked fruit in a matter of minutes!
Grilled
Grills are no longer reserved for just hotdogs and hamburgers. From smaller fruits, like strawberries and cherries, to larger slices of apples and cantaloupe, virtually every fruit can be grilled. For first-time grillers, we suggest fruits that have their own outer skin, since they usually take longer to grill and don’t dry out as quickly.
Steamed
Many people have steamed vegetables in the microwave, but have you ever given fruits a try on the stovetop? It’s easier than you may think and you’ll be left with an entirely different textured fruit. Using a steaming basket, fill the bottom of the pan you’re using to just below the basket. Once the lid is on your pot, your fruits should soften within just a few minutes. For the best results, cut up your fruits into large pieces so that they cook faster and more evenly.
Sauté
If you’ve got fresh fruit and a little bit of butter, you’ve got everything you need for a sautéed fruit side. Using roughly one teaspoon of butter per four cups of fruit, melt the butter in a skillet over low to medium heat. Once it’s melted, add in your sliced fruit and a pinch of cinnamon or sugar. In just a few minutes you’ll be able to add it to the side of a pork or chicken dinner, or even early morning pancakes.
Roasted
Forget chestnuts, this season we’re roasting fruit on an open fire — or at the very least, in a stove. Especially when roasted whole, the flavors you would normally lose to chopping, peeling, and mincing get to stay and add a delicious flavor to your fruit. All you have to do is set your oven to 425 degrees and drizzle olive oil and a pinch of sugar over a pan filled with one thin layer of your favorite fruit. In about 10 minutes you’ll have perfectly prepared roasted fruits that you can lay on top of everything from sliced bread to chicken.
Celebrate the many colors and flavors of fall this season with a handcrafted Fruit Bouquet, the perfect shareable snack, appetizer, or dessert for every occasion!
