Cherries, Berries, Pineapple, Pears:

15 Easy and Creative Healthy Fruit Recipes

Fruit is “Nature’s Candy”.  It’s all-natural sweet goodness.

It is packed with nutrients like Vitamin C, Potassium, fiber, and even a shot of protein.  It’s gluten-free, plant-based.  Plus, you can splurge on organic for less than the cost of fancy granola bars.

These are some of reasons eating more fruit is Step Three of my “Easy Changes towards a Healthy, Plant-Based Life”.

Of course, the easiest way to enjoy fruit is to just bite into a piece.  But there are lots of easy, creative ways to cook fruit.  You can stuff and bake some apples, grill some pineapple, or poach some pears.

Here are some easy, healthy recipes using fruit:

Simple Fruit Mocktail Salad

Light, crisp, refreshing fruit “mocktail” is a healthy take on the classic canned version of pears, peaches, and cherries. Make this satisfying, easy recipe in the summer when sweet cherries are in season for a healthy, plant-based finish at an outdoor picnic.

Easy Baked Stuffed Apples

Full of warm spices and a hearty raisin oat filling, these Baked Stuffed Apples will satisfy your craving for classic comfort food.  Make a batch of this easy, gluten-free recipe for a dinner party or enjoy for a weeknight dessert.  This is a crowd pleaser for all. 

Spicy Mexican Chocolate Sauce with Pineapple

This vegan Chocolate Sauce recipe gets some Mexican spice with cinnamon and chipotle powder.  Natural sweetness from dates and a side of pineapple make this a healthy, satisfying treat.  It’s gluten-free, oil-free, with no added sugars or syrups: Sophisticated flavor and guilt-free indulgence.

Simple Berry Pear Cardamom Compote

The sweet, bright flavor of cardamom is highlighted with gently cooked pears and berries in this simple summer recipe.  The natural fruit flavors intensify after simmering for a few minutes.

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Gluten-Free Cinnamon Apple Pecan Crumble

Full of warming spices and rich flavor, this gluten-free Apple Crumble recipe will satisfy your craving for sweet comfort food. Vegan, oil-free, and naturally sweetened with dats, you can enjoy this classic dish guilt-free. Great for a dinner party and easy enough for a weeknight dinner, this is a crowd pleaser for all.

Simple Broiled Bananas with Cinnamon and Cocoa Nibs

Broiling bananas brings out their natural sugars and adds a crust reminiscent of campfire marshmallows.  A dusting of cinnamon and a crunch from bittersweet cocoa nibs finishes this easy, healthy, gluten-free, vegan dessert.

Strawberry Mango Chia Jam

Chia seeds look like raspberry seeds but act like a natural thickener in this quick jam. They offer fiber and healthy Omega-3 fats while mango provides all of the natural sweetness you need, without any of the refined sugar that you don’t. Make a batch of this healthy easy, kid-approved recipe for Gluten-Free Oatmeal Raisin Pancakes, Blueberry Buckwheat Pancakes or use in a Chia Pudding Parfait.

Whole Grain Blueberry Oat Muffins: Oil-Free, No Refined Sugar or Syrup

Even the healthiest vegan muffin recipes will often call for sweetness from refined sugar or maple syrup and moisture from oil.  If made only with whole wheat flour, baked goods can be quite dense.  However, these whole grain muffins have natural sweetness from whole dates.  A blend of whole wheat pastry and oat flours creates a light, fluffy texture.  Frozen blueberries add a burst of flavor, but you can also use frozen raspberries, cherries, or even diced bananas.  Finally, a baked good you can enjoy guilt-free.

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5-Minute Chocolate Banana “I-Scream!”

Keep some frozen bananas on hand and you can whip up this creamy, healthy vegan treat any time.  This easy recipe is free of refined sugars and syrups, but brings sweet satisfaction for kids of any age.

3-Ingredient Poached Pears with Vanilla Bean

Three ingredients come together to make an easy, elegant dessert in this healthy recipe.  Slowly poaching the pears in a vanilla broth highlights the beauty of simple plant-based flavors.  Naturally oil-free, vegan.  Enjoy with 4-Ingredient Raw Walnut Brownies, serve over Easy Tropical Purple Sticky Rice, or top with Coconut Chia Crème.

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Broiled Peaches and Plums with Vegan Cinnamon Cashew Cream

Cashews are soaked overnight and pureed with dates and cinnamon for a creamy, dairy-free dessert sauce.  This pairs well with the charred flavor from broiled stone fruit like peaches and plums.  Serve this healthy, plant-based recipe for a light, summer treat.  Make extra vegan cashew cream for using over other baked fruits or even Banana I-Scream!

Chia Berry Almond Parfait

Chia seeds thicken into a pudding, making creating the base for this healthy parfait. Layers of fresh berries and toasted almonds offer natural sweetness and crunchy texture. Make a vegan recipe of this on the weekend for quick and easy dairy-free breakfasts all week. Packed with healthy Omega-3 fat and antioxidants, this makes for a nutritious morning or a mid-day snack.

Mango Cardamom Sweet Brown Rice Pudding

Sweet brown rice is a short grain rice that takes on a creamy texture after simmering for a while, making  it ideal for a satisfying rice pudding.  This healthy, gluten-free recipe is great for a satisfying vegan breakfast and delicious enough for an interesting dessert.  A dash of cardamom and fresh mango take you to a far-off land.

Quick Peach Pecan Spiced Oatmeal

This quick, healthy oatmeal combines the flavors of peach cobbler for a naturally-sweetened, plant-based start to your day.  Oats are a good source of whole grain protein and gluten-free fiber.  This vegan recipe is easy enough for the microwave, an essential for your morning routine.

Easy Healthy Broiled Apples

This vegan, naturally-sweet dessert is as easy as turning on your broiler.  The flame from the broiler caramelizes the apples, creating a flavor reminiscent of campfire marshmallows.  Make this fat-free healthy, simple whether cooking for one or cooking for 20…no campfire required.

Cantaloupe: How to Choose, Seed, and Cut into Chunks in Under 3 Minutes

How do know if a Cantaloupe is ripe?  Chef Katie Simmons shares her tips on smelling and feeling for a ripe melon.  Then she’ll show you how to seed and cut it in under 3 minutes!  This is quick, healthy, delicious snacking.

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Let me Know!

If you give any of these bean recipes a try, let me know!  Leave a comment, or take a picture and tag it @chefkatiesimmons or #plantsule on Instagram. Peace and chickpeas, Chef Katie