When fruit is in season, it’s a good idea to freeze a portion of it right away to preserve the flavor. The fruit that’s found in the freezer section of your grocery store was likely frozen soon after it was picked, which means that when you do finally take it out of the freezer, it will be extra flavorful. Here’s a roundup of some of the best ways to use frozen fruit:
Smoothie
The nice thing about smoothies is that you can basically use any fruit you want! Because you’re using frozen fruit, you don’t even need to use ice cubes. To make, pulse together 1 cup of frozen fruit, ½ a banana, and 1 cup milk, almond milk, soymilk, or juice until smooth. If you like yogurt in your smoothies, substitute ½ cup of the milk for ½ cup yogurt of choice. Feel free to also add 1 teaspoon of honey or agave syrup to make it even sweeter. If you like the way nuts taste in your smoothies, add ¼ cup of nuts with the fruit and add a few more tablespoons of milk.
Pie
Pie is another versatile food that tastes great with nearly every fruit! For best results, defrost 3 pounds of frozen fruit in the refrigerator. After the fruit is defrosted, strain out the extra liquid and toss the fruit with 3 tablespoons of flour, ½ cup of sugar, and a pinch of salt. Pour into a pie plate lined with crust, top with another sheet of crust that has been punctured several times with a fork, and bake in the center of an oven that has been preheated to 350 Degrees Fahrenheit until crust is golden brown.
Ice Cream
Another great way to use frozen fruit is to make a quick batch of ice cream! Pulse 10 ounces frozen fruit in a food processor until the fruit is roughly chopped. Slowly add 2/3 cup of heavy whipping cream and blend until smooth. Add ½ cup sugar and blend again until the sugar is well combined. Transfer to a freezer-safe plastic bag and freeze the mixture for at least two hours. Remove from the freezer fifteen minutes before serving. Pulse the ice cream in the food processor until smooth and creamy and serve immediately.
Fruit Cobbler
The nice thing about this fruit cobbler recipe is that it tastes great with any kind of fruit! Defrost about four cups worth of frozen fruit in the refrigerator. Drain out the excess liquid and toss with 2 tablespoons of flour and ½ cup of granulated sugar. Place in a 9 x 9 baking dish. To make the topping, whisk together 1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour and 1 cup of granulated sugar. Slowly whisk in 1 ½ sticks of melted butter. Pour over the fruit and sprinkle with more granulated sugar. Bake in an oven that has been preheated to 350 Degrees Fahrenheit until golden brown. This should take about 45-50 minutes depending on your oven.