TODD COLEMAN
Recipes

Desserts Made with Frozen Fruit

Whether you freeze it yourself at the height of its season or simply pick up a bag from the grocery store, frozen fruit works wonderfully as a substitute for fresh in all kinds of pies, tarts, cakes, and crisps. Here are 15 treats featuring summer fruits that you can make and enjoy even in the depths of winter.

Baked Ricotta with Orange Blossom Cherry Sauce
Baked Ricotta with Orange Blossom Cherry Sauce

Frozen cherries and orange blossom water make a deliciously sweet topping for creamy baked ricotta.

Strawberry Mousse
Strawberry Mousse

Strawberries and cream combine in a simple, bright mousse that can be eaten chilled or made a day ahead and frozen. Get the recipe for Strawberry Mousse »

Blueberry Slump
Blueberry Slump

A sticky biscuit dough is dropped onto blueberries in this classic New England dessert, which is called a “slump,” “grunt,” or “cobbler,” depending on who you’re asking.

Peach Melba Pie

This summery pie can be made any time of year by substituting frozen, thawed raspberries and peaches for fresh fruit.

Hungarian Sour Cherry Cake
Hungarian Sour Cherry Cake

Sweet and tangy, this Hungarian cake pairs perfectly with coffee. Frozen and thawed cherries can be used whenever fresh sour cherries are not in season.

Stone Fruit Pie

This recipe was developed by Border Grill chef Mary Sue Milliken, who says “At my restaurant, I use pastry flour for pie crusts, but I commonly find myself without at home, so here I’ve substituted all-purpose flour and cornstarch to achieve the same crispy tenderness. I love freezing fruit at its peak—sliced, sugared, and juicy, with tapioca added—so that a blast of summer is at my fingertips in the dead of winter.” If it’s winter and you haven’t frozen your own stone fruits, you can buy the pre-frozen, bagged versions readily available at most groceries. See the recipe for Stone Fruit Pie »

Blackberry Slump

A cousin of the cobbler, this dessert is served at the Four Swallows restaurant on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Frozen, thawed blackberries work well when fresh berries aren’t in season.

Almond-Cream Tartlets
Almond-Cream Tartlets

Almond-Cream Tartlets

Huckleberry Crisps

Frozen blueberries are a fine substitute for fresh huckleberries in an easy baked crisp. Serve with crème fraîche or vanilla ice cream.

Blueberry-Cherry Cobbler

Fluffy biscuits top warm, baked fruit in a quick cobbler flavored with cinnamon and almond extract. **See the Recipe for Blueberry-Cherry Cobbler »**

Rice Pudding

Less sweet than many other rice puddings, this Swedish version includes a fresh berry sauce that can be made with either fresh or frozen raspberries. See the recipe for Rice Pudding »

Cherries Jubilee
Cherries Jubilee

Cherries Jubilee is typically flambéed tableside, both for presentation and to ensure the sauce is piping hot when poured over vanilla ice cream.

Meggyleves (Hungarian Chilled Cherry Soup)

Frozen bing cherries can substitute fresh sour cherries in a Hungarian dish that’s dessert disguised as a soup. See the recipe for Hungarian Chilled Cherry Soup »

Ginger Peach Pie

A touch of spicy ginger and cinnamon add warmth and depth to sweet peaches. Frozen and thawed peaches can be substituted for fresh peaches; you may need to adjust the amount of sugar, depending on their sweetness. **See the Recipe for Ginger Peach Pie »**

Raspberry Charlotte

A lighter-than-air filling made from fresh or frozen raspberries and whipped cream takes center stage in a classic French bistro dessert. See the recipe for Raspberry Charlotte »

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