Home Recipes Ingredients Fruits
Hazel WheatonUpdated: May 17, 2023
We've found the perfect way to get seasonal fruit, like pears and peaches, or more exotic options, like pineapples and mandarin oranges, into your meals at any time of year. Just head to your pantry, grab a can of fruit and try one of these recipes.
Ambrosia Salad
Go to Recipe
Because it’s so simple to make, this tropical fruit medley is great as a last-minute menu addition. Plus, this ambrosia salad requires just five ingredients. —Judi Bringegar, Liberty, North Carolina
Take a look at these healthy canned fruit recipes, too.
Mini Cherry Cheesecakes
Go to Recipe
These little cheesecakes make a fun dessert that's just right for cooks who don't have a lot of time for fussy recipes. Plus, you get to eat a whole mini cheesecake yourself! —Kay Keller, Morenci, Michigan
Pina Colada Cookies
Go to Recipe
Citrus Cornmeal Cake
Go to Recipe
Cornmeal adds a rustic quality to this delicate dessert flavored with citrus and almond. It makes a great holiday party hostess gift and is sure to be a staple in your recipe collection. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California
Orange-Pistachio Quinoa Salad
Go to Recipe
Add this fresh and healthy quinoa recipe to your holiday spread. Its citrusy, nutty taste is simply delicious. —Jean Greenfield, San Anselmo, California
Pineapple Upside-Down Bundt Cake
Go to Recipe
This upside-down pineapple Bundt cake, which is a variation on the classic confection, couldn’t be easier because it starts with a cake mix. —Pat Remour, East Moline, Illinois
Million Dollar Cake
Go to Recipe
Pineapple and mandarin oranges give this easy cake a refreshing, tropical twist. With cake mix and pudding mix as ingredients, it is a breeze to put together when you’re short on prep time. Plus, it needs to chill before serving, so it’s a perfect make-ahead dessert for potlucks and parties! —Rashanda Cobbins, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Fennel Salad with Orange-Balsamic Vinaigrette
Go to Recipe
A sweet balsamic vinaigrette always pulls everything together in a delicious harmony of flavors. Raspberries are one of my very favorite fruits, so I’m always eager to find a new use for them. —Susan Gauthier, Falmouth, Maine
Homemade Cherry Crisp
Go to Recipe
Our family loves this pretty, tasty dessert. It uses convenient pie filling, so you can make it in no time—and it takes mere minutes to heat in the microwave. —Laurie Todd, Columbus, Mississippi
Peach Sugar Cookie Crumble
Go to Recipe
This sugar cookie crumble is like peach crisp with a sugar cookie topping. Since it uses canned peaches, you don’t have to save this recipe just for peach season. It’s delicious with ice cream. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
Grandmother's Orange Salad
Go to Recipe
This orange salad dessert is slightly sweet and tangy, too. It adds beautiful color to any meal and appeals to all ages! —Ann Eastman, Santa Monica, California
Sheet-Pan Pineapple Chicken Fajitas
Go to Recipe
For our fajitas, I combine chicken and pineapple for a different flavor. These fajitas are more on the sweet side, but my family loves them! —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
Frog Eye Salad
Go to Recipe
This frog eye salad recipe gets its name from the tiny acini di pepe pasta that looks like frog eyes when folded in with fruit and a creamy dressing.As much or as little Cool Whip can be added to taste, and if I have some mandarin oranges or maraschino cherries, I add a few to the top. My friends say this side dish is good enough to be a dessert! —Elaine Bailey, Bloomfield, Indiana
Pineapple Pretzel Fluff
Go to Recipe
I often bring this salad to potlucks, and everyone goes crazy for the sweet and crunchy combination. Be sure to add the pretzel mixture right before serving to keep it crispy. —Beth Olby, Ashland, Wisconsin
Cranberry Bog Bars
Go to Recipe
Sweet and chewy, these fun bars combine the flavors of oats, cranberries, brown sugar and pecans. I like to sprinkle the squares with confectioners’ sugar before serving. —Sally Wakefield, Gans, Pennsylvania
Pineapple Upside-Down Dump Cake
Go to Recipe
This dump cake recipe is wonderful topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. It works well with gluten-free and sugar-free cake mixes too. —Karin Gatewood, Dallas, Texas
Sesame Chicken Slaw Salad
Go to Recipe
I tasted many types of Asian chicken salad in California. When I moved back to Georgia, I wanted more. Here’s a gingery-sweet recipe using wonton strips. —Michelle Mulrain, Evans, Georgia
Peach Bavarian
Go to Recipe
Fruit molds are my specialty. This one, with its refreshing peach taste, makes a colorful salad or dessert. —Adeline Piscitelli, Sayreville, New Jersey
Cherry-Peach Dumplings
Go to Recipe
You can make this fruity dessert on your stovetop, but to really impress your guests, simmer it in an electric skillet right at the dinner table. There’s no more convenient way to enjoy the fruits of the season. —Patricia Frerk, Syracuse, New York
Banana Split Supreme
Go to Recipe
Transform the classic flavor of a banana split into a whole new recipe! This is a cool, creamy treat with no last-minute fuss since you just pull it from the freezer. It always gets praise from our big family. —Marye Franzen, Gothenburg, Nebraska
Cranberry Crumble Coffee Cake
Go to Recipe
People are delighted to find the ruby cranberry sauce swirled inside this tempting coffee cake. With the crumble topping, moist cake and tangy filling, it won't last long! —Jeani Robinson, Weirton, West Virginia
Creamy Pina Colada Pie
Go to Recipe
This is a family favorite and super easy to make. Some like the consistency of this pina colada pie right out of the freezer and others prefer a softer pie—either way it’s delicious! —Jenny Hales, Arcadia, Oklahoma
Peachy Baby Back Ribs
Go to Recipe
It's easy to get a smoky outdoor barbecue flavor from your slow cooker. Trust me, I've fooled many people on more than one occasion with these ribs. —Mary Louise Lever, Rome, Georgia
Creamy Pineapple Fluff Salad
Go to Recipe
Guests of all ages will gravitate to this traditional “fluff” salad, chock-full of pineapple, marshmallows and cherry bits. —Janice Hensley, Owingsville, Kentucky
Hawaiian Sunset Cake
Go to Recipe
This three-layer sunset cake is pretty enough for company, but it’s so simple to make that you’ll find yourself baking it often. A boxed mix keeps it convenient while the fruity filling makes it a crowd-pleaser. —Kara De la Vega, Suisun City, California
Teriyaki Meatballs
Go to Recipe
This appetizer of teriyaki pineapple meatballs changed so many times due to my family’s suggestions that it eventually became a main course. I think the homemade sauce sets these meatballs apart. —Evette Nowicki, Oak Harbor, Washington
Pear Tart
Go to Recipe
My sister-in-law brought this pretty pastry to dinner one night, and we all went back for seconds. It is truly scrumptious. —Kathryn Rogers, Suisun City, California
Curried Chicken Salad with Pineapple and Grapes
Go to Recipe
A few quick additions—including a lovely dash of curry—and you’ve turned last night’s cooked chicken into a delightful salad that’s perfect for lunch. —Linda Bevill, Monticello, Arkansas
Classic Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Go to Recipe
A classic recipe like this never goes out of style! It’s delicious with the traditional pineapple, but try it with peaches or a combination of cranberries and orange. —Bernardine Melton, Paola, Kansas
Pear Bundt Cake
Go to Recipe
Next time you make cake from a mix, try my easy and delicious recipe. The pears and syrup add sweet flavor and prevent the cake from drying out. And since there's no oil added to the batter, this tender fall-perfect cake is surprisingly low in fat. —Veronica Ross, Columbia Heights, Minnesota
Frozen Cherry Salad
Go to Recipe
Pretty slices of this refreshing salad are dotted with colorful cherries for a festive look. The flavor is pleasant and not overly sweet like some frozen cherry recipes. Prepared in advance and frozen, it’s a treat that fits into many different menus. I serve it throughout the year. —Gail Sykora, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
Big Kahuna Pizza
Go to Recipe
A prebaked pizza crust and refrigerated barbecued pork make this tasty supper idea super fast and super easy. Cut into bite-sized pieces, and it can double as a great last-minute appetizer, too! —Joni Hilton, Rocklin, California
Cranberry Peach Cobbler
Go to Recipe
This cobbler is a little nontraditional but it will soon be at the front of your recipe list. Serve it warm with French vanilla ice cream. —Grace Sandvigen, Rochester, New York
Teriyaki Pork Tacos
Go to Recipe
Flour tortillas take an Asian-style twist when filled with flavorful teriyaki pork strips, mandarin oranges, lettuce and crispy french-fried onions. —Jodi Nobile, Scotia, New York
Pineapple Cheesecake
Go to Recipe
A co-worker shared the recipe for this easy elegant pineapple cheesecake years ago, and our family has enjoyed it many times since. —Phoebe Carre, Mullica Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Bars
Go to Recipe
Whip up a pan of these festive bars in just 20 minutes with staple ingredients and cherry pie filling. Between the easy preparation and the pretty colors, they're destined to become a holiday classic. —Jane Kamp, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Sweet-and-Sour Popcorn Chicken
Go to Recipe
This sweet and sour chicken dish is one you’ll find yourself returning to again and again. Pre-cooked, frozen popcorn chicken simmered in a thick, homemade sweet-and-sour sauce is the secret to this fast and fabulous recipe. And what a great way to dress up frozen chicken nuggets! —Amy Corlew-Sherlock, Lapeer, Michigan
Pistachio Mallow Salad
Go to Recipe
This fluffy salad is a real treat since it's creamy but not overly sweet. It's easy to mix up, and the flavor gets better the longer it stands. It's perfect for St. Patrick's Day, served in a green bowl. —Pattie Ann Forssberg, Logan, Kansas
Frozen Waldorf Salad
Go to Recipe
While I was growing up on a farm in western Kansas, we always had lots of hungry men around during harvesttime. This salad is one we served often since it was easy to increase and we could prepare it ahead of time.
Hawaiian Kielbasa Sandwiches
Go to Recipe
If you are looking for a different way to use kielbasa, the sweet and mildly spicy flavor of these sandwiches is a nice change.—Judy Dames, Bridgeville, Pennsylvania
Molded Strawberry Salad
Go to Recipe
This refreshing salad has two layers – a pretty pink bottom that includes sour cream, and a ruby red top with strawberries and pineapple. For years, Mom has included this salad in meals she prepares for our family.
-Gloria Grant, Sterling, Illinois
Creamy Frozen Fruit Cups
Go to Recipe
I love to prepare these cool, fluffy fruit cups to give a refreshing boost to many meals. They've been well received at family gatherings and summer barbecues. There's no last-minute fuss since you make them well in advance. —Karen Hatcher, St. Amant, Louisiana
Polynesian Meatballs
Go to Recipe
With pretty bits of pineapple, these meatballs are sure to attract attention—and the sweet-tart sauce brings people back for seconds. —Carol Wakley, North East, Pennsylvania
Teriyaki Pineapple Drumsticks
Go to Recipe
We have a large family and throw big parties, so I look for ways to free my husband from the grill. Roasted drumsticks keep everyone happy. —Erica Allen, Tuckerton, New Jersey
Pineapple Coconut Upside-Down Cake
Go to Recipe
This recipe is one of my favorites! The tropical flavors remind me of being on vacation with my family in the Caribbean—I have so many fun memories. —Stephanie Pichelli, Toronto, Ontario
Old-Fashioned Fruit Compote
Go to Recipe
A perfect partner for your Christmas goose, this warm and fruity side dish can simmer while you prepare the rest of your menu, or make it a day ahead and reheat before serving. —Shirley A. Glaab, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Banana Split Fluff
Go to Recipe
This pretty pink mixture, rich with yummy fruit and nuts, is sure to disappear in a hurry. It’s a sweet and speedy treat that can be served as a dessert or salad. —Anne Powers, Munford, Alabama
Pina Colada Zucchini Bread
Go to Recipe
At my husband’s urging, I entered this recipe at the Pennsylvania Farm Show—and won first place! You’ll love the cakelike texture and tropical flavors. —Sharon Rydbom, Tipton, Pennsylvania
Originally Published: March 17, 2020
Hazel Wheaton
Hazel is a writer and editor who has worked in the publishing industry for over 25 years in the fields of travel, jewelry arts and food. As the editor of the Taste of Home Christmas Annual (among other titles), she's in the holiday spirit all year round. An enthusiastic baker, she's known for her cookies, cakes and other baked goods. And she still wishes she could cook like her mother.