16 Ways to Use Frozen Fruit, From Crisps and Crumbles to Cocktails

Fruit is a particularly seasonal food. During the summer, farmstands are bursting at the seams with fresh berries and stone fruit; meanwhile, there’s no shortage of apples and pears in the fall and winter. But what about when you crave peaches or raspberries in the winter or seek apples in June?

That's where frozen fruit comes in. It's one of our freezer standbys; we always have some fruit on hand—it's so convenient. If you, too, want to take advantage of frozen fruit, we're here to help—and we're going way beyond the usual fruit smoothies. Frozen fruit isn’t the perfect substitute for fresh in every context, but here are 16 ways to use it for baked goods, jam, frozen desserts, and more.

How to Eat Frozen Fruit

There are many ways to use frozen fruit in the kitchen. It can be baked, simmered, made into jam, and even mixed into other frozen things like ice cream and sorbet.

Pies, Cobblers, and Crisps

Craving a peach cobbler in the dead of winter? You’re in luck. Frozen fruit, including peaches and all kinds of frozen berries, is a seamless swap in simple baked desserts like pies, cobblers, crumbles, crisps, and crumb bars.

Pancakes and Waffles

Before you preheat the griddle or waffle iron, stir a handful of frozen berries or chopped bananas into the batter. The heat will naturally thaw the fruit as the batter cooks, and it can instantly turn a plain short stack into something special.

Baked Oatmeal

Add a touch of sweetness to a dish of baked oatmeal by scattering some frozen berries over the top. As it bakes, the berries will thaw and turn slightly jammy—all you need to serve it with is a generous drizzle of good maple syrup.

Overnight Oats

When making overnight oats, add some frozen fruit on top. Just reduce the liquid in the recipe by a few tablespoons since the fruit will release some moisture as it thaws overnight.

Muffins

For a standard recipe that yields about one dozen muffins, stir in one cup of frozen fruit just before you scoop the batter into the tins. We actually often recommend making blueberry muffins with frozen fruit instead of fresh. This is because frozen berries hold their structure a little better since they take longer to warm through in the oven. On the downside, remember that they can stain the batter a bit, turning it a touch gray. Cherries and berries (with the exception of larger strawberries) can stay whole in muffing but if you use something like frozen pineapple or bananas, give them a rough chop first.

Baked French Toast

Baked French toast (otherwise known as breakfast-appropriate bread pudding!) is the perfect place to add a few handfuls of frozen blueberries or raspberries. Alternately, layer the slices of bread with wedges of frozen peaches.

Yogurt Parfaits

Layer superfood ingredients like Greek yogurt, chia pudding, nuts, and frozen fruit in mason jars to make a quick grab-and-go breakfast. Assemble the the night before and the fruit will be thawed and ready to enjoy the next morning.

Ice Cream, Sorbet, and Frozen Yogurt

Whether you’re using an ice cream maker or making a no-churn recipe, frozen fruit can be blended into ice cream custard, sorbet, and frozen yogurt. The fruits can also be stirred right into each mixture before it goes into the icebox for a deep freeze.

Popsicles

Blend frozen fruit (we like various berries, mango, and pineapple) with Greek yogurt and honey and freeze the mixture in popsicle molds. These Yogurt and Fruit Pops make a healthy and fun after-school snack for kids and adults alike.

Jam

Any fruit, fresh or frozen, can be turned into jam. This means that you don’t necessarily have to wait for a fruit to be in season to make a delicious spread. You can prolong its life even further by following a canning procedure or freezing the jam for later.

Coulis

A coulis is a sauce made with pureed fruit, and all you need to make a quick one is frozen fruit—anything from raspberries to passion fruit will work—and sugar. Simmer them in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves and the mixture thickens slightly, then purée the sauce until it is smooth. Swirl it into yogurt with granola, drizzle it over slices of cheesecake, or spoon it over scoops of ice cream. It can also be used as a sauce for savory dishes by adding a splash of vinegar—drizzle it over succulent roast pork and chicken.

Smoothies

When you notice your bananas are on their way out, pop them in a freezer-safe bag and store them in the freezer. Frozen bananas are the first thing we reach for with smoothies, and they’re the ultimate way to use up leftover frozen fruit of any kind.

Frozen Cocktails and Mocktails

Frozen drinks, with or without booze, are a welcome refreshment, especially during the warm summer months. Turn frozen strawberries into a traditional daiquiri or use mango and pineapple to make a tropical take on a margarita.

Simple Syrup

Speaking of cocktails, up your game by making a homemade simple syrup flavored with frozen fruit. You don't really need a recipe—just add a handful of frozen fruit to the pot and let it steep for about 15 minutes before straining.

Eton Mess

A classic English pudding, Eton mess is the best quick dessert we know. It's like a cheater's version of Pavlova. To make it with frozen fruit, toss the fruit with a few spoonfuls of sugar and a squeeze of lemon juice and let it thaw and macerate in the refrigerator for a few hours (the sugar will help speed up this process). Layer the fruit and any syrupy sauce it creates with whipped cream and crushed store-bought meringues.

Fruit Curd

Fruit curd isn’t just for lemons. Try it with cranberries, raspberries, and more. Cooking down frozen fruit with sugar first allows us to substitute it for some or all of the citrus juice.