The weather is warming up! That means the grocery stores are full of plump blackberries, ruby raspberries, juicy peaches, stone fruit, tart cherries, mouthwatering melons, nectarines, and other exquisite summer fruits. Instead of just popping these fresh fruits straight into your mouth, let me show you five great ways to fold, crumble, and even bake these fruits into a healthy luscious dessert full of fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
Let’s get started!
Rainbow Fruit Skewers
Now, this is one of those desserts you can make and eat on the spot. It is a colourful centerpiece that is quick and easy to make especially for summer birthday parties. Plus, you build on skewers. No dirty dishes to clean afterwards. To make this tasty dessert, buy fresh fruits that are in season. Some fresh raspberries or strawberries, mandarin orange slices, pineapple, a large kiwi, blueberries, and some red seedless grapes would do.
Thread the fruits on the wooden skewers starting with the raspberries and strawberries, followed by the orange, pineapple, kiwi, blueberries, and grape. The end product should resemble a bright rainbow display.
Watermelon Pizza Dessert
An easy to make no-carb fruit ‘pizza’. It swaps the classic cookie crust with a healthier watermelon crust and is ready to serve in 5 minutes. A combination of ricotta, cream cheese, honey, vanilla, watermelon, fresh berries, mint, and toasted coconut flakes brings out a colourful ‘pizza’ with a beautifully garnished finish.
The watermelon slice is cut into pizza-like wedges, and then you spread the toppings on top. To garnish this dessert sprinkle a handful of chopped mint, fresh berries, and toasted coconut.
Caramel-Almond Ice Cream Torte
This Torte is a great way to combine vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, and almond slices. It is very precise and easy to make. You serve it frozen. The must-have ingredients are fresh almonds and caramel. If you are throwing a summer party, make it a day before the party. Alternatively, barbeque for a sweet finish.
The secret to making a perfect torte is in how you press the vanilla ice cream. Use a 10-inch springform pan and freeze the ice cream until slightly firm. Next, you pour the warm caramel sauce and almonds on top of the cold vanilla ice cream. These two layers may take between 1 hour to a day to completely freeze into the desired firm shape. If it’s not firm, eating the dessert becomes somewhat messy.
Honeydew Melon, Cucumber, and Lime Popsicles
These famous Korean popsicles take less than ten minutes to assemble. Once you seed and cut the honeydew melon and cucumber into small chunks (the more, the sweeter!), the only remaining ingredients needed to complete the popsicles is lime, caster sugar, corn syrup, or honey for sweetening. For some, a touch of fresh mint is also welcome. Mint always brings out the summer freshness.
Blend or juice all the ingredients. The juice extracted forms the basis of the popsicles. This mixed juice is then poured into glass popsicle moulds or small paper cups before being frozen for up to six hours to set to the desired firmness. There are many types of ice pop sticks that you can insert into the mixture before it gets entirely frozen.
Tip: To remove the popsicles from the moulds without cracking, dip the molds into warm water briefly. These popsicles are a great accompaniment to a heavy summer lunch.
Ice Cream Bombe
How about a cake packed with four flavours? The ice cream bombe gives you just that. It combines strawberry, chocolate chip, pistachio-almond, and the Dutch chocolate ice creams to make the ultimate summer treat. You layer these different ice cream flavors, one after another, in a silicon mixing bowl, freezing them in between. A little spread of white sprinkles on the surface of the frozen layers gives the bombe a festive touch. Silicon bowls will release your frozen foods easily.
Whatever meal you decide to prepare this summer, these mouthwatering fruit desserts are sure to take the spotlight on your dining table. The chilled popsicles and ice cream are ideal sweet tooth desserts. They entice your pallet while cooling you down. Give them a try today.
Image credit: Loustejskal via Flickr
