After a busy gardening season, it’s common to freeze leftover fruits like blueberries, raspberries, and apples to enjoy later. However, after the holidays, many of us find ourselves with an abundance of frozen fruits that no longer seem appealing for traditional desserts. If you’re looking to get creative with these frozen fruits, here are six inventive ways to use them up, beyond the usual baking recipes.
1. Refreshing Berry Smoothies
Frozen fruits like cherries, strawberries, blueberries, and peaches are perfect for smoothies. They are not only packed with vitamins but also provide a thick, creamy texture when blended. Add some greens, like kale or spinach, from your winter garden for a nutrient boost. These smoothies are a quick and delicious way to start your day.
2. Seedless Juices from Berries
For berries like raspberries and blackberries, the seeds can be a nuisance, but they’re easy to remove. Simply heat a quart of frozen berries with half a cup of water in a saucepan. Mash the berries and then strain the mixture to remove the seeds. The resulting juice is a flavorful addition to herbal teas, or you can use it as a tangy dressing for salads.
3. Dehydrate for Chewy Snacks
Frozen strawberries, cherries, and blueberries are great candidates for dehydration. The freezing process breaks down the cell walls, allowing them to dry out more easily. You can dry the fruit straight from frozen, or for extra flavor, coat the fruit in sugar and refrigerate it for a day before dehydrating. These chewy snacks are nutritious and can be stored for long-term enjoyment. Keep in mind that dried blueberries and currants may be more tart and seedy than fresh ones.
4. Make Flavored Vinegars
Adding frozen raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries to vinegar creates a delicious homemade fruit vinegar perfect for salad dressings. Simply add your frozen berries to vinegar, let it sit at room temperature for about 5-7 days, then strain out the fruit. You’ll be left with a rich, fruity vinegar that can be bottled and stored for later use.
5. Low-Sugar Refrigerator Preserves
Transform your frozen fruit into quick and easy preserves without all the sugar found in traditional jams. Gently heat the fruit in a saucepan, then add sugar to taste—start with just 2 tablespoons per cup of fruit. To thicken the mixture, dissolve organic cornstarch in water and stir it into the simmering fruit. Once thickened, allow it to cool and store the preserves in the fridge for up to three weeks. It’s a great way to enjoy fruit in a low-sugar, fresh form.
6. Infuse Wines with Frozen Fruit
Frozen fruit can also enhance your favorite wine, turning it into a vibrant, fruity sangria. For a simple DIY sangria, soak frozen berries like strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries in red or white wine overnight. The frozen fruit will release its juices, adding both color and flavor to the wine. Once ready, strain out the fruit and enjoy your homemade sangria.
With these six ideas, you can make the most out of your frozen fruit stash. Whether you want to enjoy refreshing drinks, snacks, or homemade preserves, these methods allow you to enjoy the flavors of summer long into the colder months.