Dessert Recipes: Fresh Fruit Finale
The days are getting shorter, and the end is in sight for all the Farmer’s Markets (like the one at Douglas County High School on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.). It’s time to take advantage of the fresh produce while you can, before they pack up for the season. The choice fruits and delectable veggies, home-grown in Colorado for fresh produce fans are the recipe-ingredients needed to create a one-of-a-kind fruit dessert finale to summer.
Low-Calorie Fruit Desserts
You don’t have to skip dessert with these low-calorie fruit treats from Taste of Home. From Berry Shortcakes you can make ahead, chill and serve to Strawberry Lemon Trifle, a Ginger Plum Tart, and Raspberry Tartlets.
And the recipe for Makeover Pizza (all fruit) skimmed some of the guilt from a traditional fruit pizza to create one with about half the calories, fat and cholesterol. They didn’t skimp on the crust so it’s supremely edible, even with the low-fat glaze. .
Slow Cooker Delights
©Con Poulos
Give yourself a break and use your slow cooker for these desserts from the Food Network. Take your pick out of 40+ recipes, from Boozy Cherry-Chocolate Pie, Summer Fruit Crostata with peaches, plums and blueberries or a Cheesecake Galette with plenty of stone fruit to suit your sweet tooth. Or try Brown Sugar Cheesecake topped with wedged ripe peaches.
Cleo Gonske created this Blueberry Grunt in a slow cooker for Taste of Home, with blueberries and dumplings of flour, sugar, butter and baking powder. If grunt is an unfamiliar term, Spruce Eats explains that it’s an easy stewed or baked fruit dish with biscuit dough rolled and put on top of the fruit. “The name of grunt may have come from the noise people made while eating it!” For 28 more fresh fruit dessert ideas – like Bing Cherry-Amaretti Fool, Frosty Watermelon Ice, or Easy Key Lime Pie, visit Taste of Home.
Easy to Make and Eat!
©Charles Schiller
No more slaving away in the kitchen recipes thanks to Woman’s Day where food editors gathered 40 of their favorites! From Mango Sorbet Pie (with a pistachio and crushed Oreo® crust) to Frozen S’mores and Creamy Frozen Raspberry Mousse, these recipes fill the bill when you want something cold – whether it’s icy fruit slush or creamy fruit goodness.
From the Brown Eyed Baker comes this Grape “Salad” recipe – with cream cheese, sour cream, red grapes, vanilla extract, pecans and brown sugar. Don’t let the salad sobriquet fool you – this is no appetizer or side dish – it’s a meal topper without the fuss and muss.
Grill It and Chill It
©Stephen Murello
Not every dessert has to be chilled or baked — grilled fruit is a sweet treat, too, and in addition to peaches — pineapple does well on the grill. Ellie Krieger’s recipe from the Cooking Channel for Grilled Pineapple with Rum Sauce and vanilla ice cream takes 30 minutes to prep and cook. And that brown sugar sauce with rum and ice cream adds to the flavor of this warm/cool combo.
The authors of the DIY Gardening and Better Living channel on YouTube offer up the 10 best grilled fruits, many of which you may be able to guess. While peaches and watermelon are on his list, Thomas Joseph of Everyday Foods would add bananas. Watch his Trick to Perfectly Grilled Fruit video, especially how easy it is to turn grilled watermelon into a “salad” with feta cheese, mint or basil, and sea salt and pepper!
Chuck Hughes on the Cooking Channel, prepares a Berry Pudding with strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and/or blueberries, a loaf of bread – no crusts, and sprinkles a little brown sugar on top for garnish. You’ll find more summer desserts from the Cooking Channel, including Strawberries Balsamic, Grapes in Wine Jelly, and Grilled Banana S’mores.
Fruit Finds in Crystal Valley
Don’t miss the final Farmer’s Markets in Castle Rock and surrounds, just minutes from the master-planned community of Crystal Valley. If you don’t live here yet, explore the new homes surrounded by nature and loads of open space. With 10+ decorated models from Richmond American Homes, Kauffman Homes, Century Communities and D.R. Horton, the ranch and two-story models – are priced from the $400s.
