30 desserts to make the most of in-season fruit this winter

Crisp apples and pears, zesty oranges, and citrus fruits are just some of the joys of winter harvest that make for some of the best desserts.

Jul 03, 2019

Maple pear tart

A rustic tart made for a cool Autumn’s day.

Pear, sage and almond upside-down tray cake

Admire the intricate layers of this cake from above.

Apple, pear and hazelnut deep-dish pie

"You can top the apple pie with a standard pie crust, but the pretty lattice topping adds rustic charm." – Katie Quinn Davies

Almond cake with poached pears and caramel praline

This dessert lends itself to all seasons: serve it with pears in autumn, quince in winter, poached rhubarb in spring and strawberries in summer.

Alistair Wise's fig and pear cider 'novel'

"The name ‘novel’ comes from my gran; this was her go-to dessert. It made it into my mum’s recipe book and now it’s mine. It was always Dad’s favourite when Mum used whatever seasonal fruit she could find to whip into a quick pudding. It looks disconcerting as a split batter poured over the fruit, but once baked, it has a crisp crust and sauce at the bottom, as well as tender fruit," – Alistair Wise

Fresh ideas

Mandarin and passionfruit shortbread swirls

(5)

Serves 16

"Country bakeries will always have a buttery piped shortbread next to the rows of lamingtons and jammy tarts. These are light-as-air shortbreads with the refreshing tropical zing of passionfruit and zesty mandarin in the dough and glaze.'" – Natalie Paull. Recipe note: You’ll need a piping bag fitted with a 2cm star nozzle.

View recipe

Mandarin and passionfruit shortbread swirls

(5)

Serves 16

View recipe

Mandarins

Amorette mandarins are seedless, easy to peel and have a nice balance of sweetness and tang.

Spiced pear and coconut frangipane pudding

Give the classic bread and butter pudding a rest this weekend and treat yourself to this warming and punchy pudding with an Asian twist.

Pear, maple syrup and brown butter pies with cinnamon spelt crust

Nothing says afternoon tea quite like these pies filled with warming spice and comforting maple syrup. This is an edited extract from The Pie Project by Phoebe Woods & Kirsten Jenkins, published by Hardie Grant Books, RRP $29.99.

Pear and walnut tart with coffee caramel sauce

Nothing will wow your guests quite like the sight of this tasty tart for dessert. Serve with lashings of coffee caramel sauce for a truly decadent dessert.

Pear and honey caramel cobbler

This sweet, gooey cobbler is perfect for cosying up on a winter's night. You'll need a a 19cm x 29cm 3L baking dish or similar for this recipe.

Pear and hazelnut torta Caprese

Be creative and use leftover fruit from the basket and nuts from your pantry to create this classic Italian torta.

Neapolitan tart with poached pear

Pastiera napoletana with poached pear

Pastiera Napoletana is a Neapolitan tart made with cooked wheat and ricotta, that's often served at Easter. You'll need to start this recipe 3 hours ahead.

Matt Preston's golden almond, pear and raspberry cake

Served warm, this cake is a decadent, but it stays moist for ages, making it equally as tasty cold or at room temperature.

Lemon poppyseed cake

“Poppy seeds are ubiquitous in Austria. They are sprinkled on pastries, ground to make sweet fillings, and tossed through savoury dishes for a lovely crunch” – Michael and Pippa James.