It’s the season we’ve all been waiting for — the moment when fresh, summer fruit graces our farm stands, when markets are overflowing with berries, stone fruit, and other seasonal sensations. Each of these fruits isn’t just flavorful and colorful — it’s also full of a variety of nutrients, from vitamins to antioxidants. Choose your favorites and munch on them plain, or take advantage of our favorite fresh summer fruit recipes to prepare these gems of the season.
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1. Frozen Strawberry Margarita
This frozen margarita is a great way to use any extra strawberries that you’ve frozen. When frozen at the peak of freshness, strawberries keep all of their fantastic nutritional benefits, including antioxidants and vitamin C. In this recipe, the frozen berries are puréed with lime juice, maple syrup, tequila, and a touch of pomegranate juice.
2. Strawberry Smoothie Bowl
This is one of the easiest summer fruit recipes. This smoothie bowl just needs seven ingredients, including medjool dates, raspberries, almond milk, and, of course, strawberries, unite for a smoothie bowl that’s just as delicious first thing in the morning as for an evening sweet treat.
3. Vegan Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
Fruit crisps are a summer classic, for good reason. They’re so easy to make, and the crisp topping makes a great counterpart for soft stewed or baked fruit. In this case, it’s the traditional combo of strawberries and rhubarb topped with a vegan, gluten-free mix of oats, almond flour, maple syrup, coconut oil, cinnamon, and just a touch of salt.
4. Rhubarb and Strawberry Tart with Chocolate
What could make summer fruit better, if not chocolate? This rhubarb and strawberry tart with a delicious chocolate crust and is just plain delicious with whipped cream or ice cream.
5. Cherry Preserves
If you start to have too many cherries on your hands, consider putting some of them up as preserves. This cherry preserves recipe takes advantage of the subtle almond flavor of the cherry pits for gourmet preserves that pair well with ice cream for a simple, luxurious dessert.
6. Vegan Cherry Pie
Aside from the all-American apple, perhaps no pie is as emblematic as a lattice-topped cherry pie. This vegan version is from hearty spelt flour and coconut oil, and the filling gets all of its sweetness from the natural flavor of cherries and a touch of apple juice concentrate.
7. Black Forest Parfait
Sour cherries are a classic ingredient in black forest cake. If you’re planning on jarring some of your own, use them in these tasty black forest parfaits, which are far easier to assemble and serve than the whole cake. A simple brownie recipe and some freshly whipped cream are all you need to make these fancy-looking desserts a reality.
8. Crispy Duck Breast with Cherry Port Sauce
Cherries aren’t just for dessert. They’re just as delicious in savory dishes, like this crispy duck breast with cherry port sauce. Fresh Bing cherries and a touch of orange honey add just the right amount of sweetness to this rich sauce.
9. Blackberry and Apricot Clafoutis
One of the best summer fruit recipes is this clafoutis, which is typically from cherries, but the eggy, flan-like batter goes well with nearly any fruit, summer fruit in particular. This version of the dessert combines two common bedfellows, blackberries and apricots.
10. Early Branch Peach and Apricot Pesto Pasta
This pasta combines the best of sweet and savory, uniting a fresh, homemade pesto sauce and a stone fruit topping. All you need is a bit of fresh cheese to scatter over the top, and this totally seasonal summer fruit pasta dish is ready to serve.
11. Grilled Peaches with Mascarpone
Peaches are one of the best fruits for grilling, as they hold up well, and their sweetness is prominent by caramelization. In this recipe, pair the peaches with just a dollop of honeyed mascarpone. Nothing could be simpler.
12. No-Bake Peach Crisp
If it’s too hot for baking, this gluten-free version of summertime crisp is absolutely delicious without any oven time at all. The namesake crispiness comes from nuts, and with additional sweetness thanks to dates. A touch of cinnamon is all this healthy peach crisp needs to sing.
13. Gluten-Free Vegan Blueberry Muffins
Everyone loves a good blueberry muffin, and this version is much healthier than the classic recipe. This recipe combines ground flax seeds and brown rice flour with additional sweetness from dates and applesauce. Adding ripe blueberries to the mix is just icing on the cake.
14. Sparkling Blueberry Basil Lemonade
For a delicious, seasonal cocktail or just a refreshing poolside beverage, this sparkling blueberry basil lemonade couldn’t be more perfect. Combine fresh blueberries and basil to put a delicious spin on a classic, homemade lemonade recipe. Finish with sparkling water and a touch of vodka, if you like.
15. Blueberry Jam
When you’ve eaten your fill of fresh blueberries, put up the rest with this blueberry jam recipe. Nothing could be simpler: it’s just blueberries, sugar, pectin, and a touch of lemon juice. Perfect for spreading on toast or stirring into plain yogurt for a sweet treat.
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