Fruit is never a chore. Nature’s candy ranks up there as one of our favorite things about being people.
However, the same way we won’t just stroll out the front door stark naked, we also don’t have to limit fruit consumption to the way nature intended it.
Would humanity really be humanity unless we found ways to dip everything in chocolate, make it into pizza, or shove a skewer through it? Of course not.
We found 31 amazing ways to make your fruit snacks a little more… fruity.
When dessert puts on its healthy hat.
1. Chocolate kiwi ice pops
On the days when the strawberry/chocolate combo seems a little overdone, you can pull this surprise out of the bag and turn your snack time on its head.
The recipe calls for just three ingredients (kiwi, dark chocolate, and coconut oil), but we love ours with nuts or coconut flakes sprinkled on top.
Easy, delicious, and different.
2. Chocolate-covered fruit
Pick your favorite fruits, dice ’em up, and skewer ’em. Dip them into melted dark chocolate, pop them in the freezer for a few hours, and it’s a job done — you have yourself a cool, sweet treat with minimal work.
3. Vanilla roasted strawberries
This is a Swiss army knife of a sweet option. Get this right and you’ve got a topping for ice cream, oatmeal, and yogurt.
Roasting the strawberries kicks their flavor in the pants and makes it go — plus, it creates a rich syrup that brings an extra zhuzh to whatever the strawberries are sitting atop.
You probably never thought of roasting your strawbs before, but give it a go. It’s a great way to boost their already exceptional taste without adding sugar.
4. Almond butter, banana, and strawberry chia jam sandwich
“We didn’t turn up to a renowned Greatist recipe roundup just to have sandwiches thrown in our faces!”
We know, we know. But hear us out. This one’s a special take on PB&J that pushes all the right buttons.
Swap in almond butter, add some homemade strawberry chia jam, and you have yourself a bomb-ass concoction.
For a quicker recipe, you can also just add some sliced strawberries. The whole-grain bread and strawberries offer a great dose of heart-healthy fiber, the almond butter is rich in protein, and the banana’s packed with potassium.
How can you stay mad at us with all that potassium?
5. One-ingredient banana ice cream
Ice cream doesn’t have to be unhealthy — as long as you define “ice cream” pretty loosely.
Simply peel a few bananas, stick them in the freezer, and let them hang out for a few hours or until they’re solid. Put the frozen ’nanas in the bowl of a food processor and process them until smooth.
Finally, add your choice of mix-ins (if you like). Dark chocolate chips, diced strawberries, and a PB swirl are Greatist favorites.
6. Papaya punch smoothie
Idina Menzel, eat your heart out — this fruit, veggie, ice, and chia smoothie is the real delivery of frozen perfection.
It’s loaded with papaya, a tropical fruit that has tons of flavor and fiber. Papaya is also relatively low in sugar compared to other fruits, with just 11.3 grams per cup.
Papaya’s got a brand new bag.
7. Summer fruit spring rolls
There’s no way you’d expect these flavors from spring rolls. Who knew they could taste this sweet?
This inventive take on the sushi restaurant favorite fills classic rice wraps with fresh fruit for a simple, slightly sweet (and super fun) snack.
8. Strawberry Nutella bruschetta
It’s a recipe that rhymes satisfyingly and tastes even better than it sounds.
Strawberries plus Nutella is a classic combo. Just add a slice of toasted whole-grain bread for a fiber-rich, filling snack. You can also sprinkle some chia seeds, honey, or coconut flakes on top for an added flavor boost!
9. Lemon raspberry cheesecake ice pops
The word “cheesecake” might make this recipe sound like a rich dessert, but it clocks in at half the calories of the classic cheesecake. Plus, you can hold it on a stick, so it might already be beating the original.
In this version, “cheesecake” is actually just the sweetened lemony Greek yogurt mixture that gives these pops a creamy texture.
10. Frozen yogurt bites
This recipe is an awesome way to get creative with some items you probably already have in your kitchen.
Freeze some Greek yogurt with granola, pop whatever fruit you like on top, and boom! It’s a cute breakfast treat for the next morning!
11. Spicy fruit salad
If you’ve ever thought of fruit salad as boring, you have to give this recipe a try (you’re also wrong — sorry).
Sprinkle some lime juice and chili powder on top of your favorite fruity mixture for an added kick in flavor and heat.
Can’t take the heat? You don’t have to get out of the kitchen — just try cinnamon instead.
12. Two-ingredient banana chocolate chip ice cream bites
Two of our favorite foods take center stage in this recipe: bananas and chocolate chips. You can’t go wrong here.
Blend up some frozen bananas in a food processor, and then dump in some chips. That’s it. These guys store for 2 to 3 months in the freezer, so feel free to make a giant batch to dip into whenever you feel the munchies.
13. Frozen grapes
This is so simple it barely qualifies as a recipe — it’s more of a recommendation, because, well, these bang.
Buckle up, because here are the steps:
- Remove grapes from vine.
- Freeze.
- Get snackin’.
This easy, naturally sweetened treat is perfect to keep in the freezer for when that sweet tooth comes calling.
14. Vegan blueberry oat bars
These breakfast-on-the-go bars are a healthier twist on blueberry cobbler.
The blogger uses just blueberries, but feel free to throw in some strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries for a mixed-berry version.
15. Pineapple and blueberry fruit salad
The key to this recipe is what goes on top (like a great hairdo or a zany hat).
Pineapples and blueberries are awesome, but when you add some lime zest, lime juice, honey, and Greek yogurt on top, you get a next-level treat that’s creamy, zingy, and healthy in equal measure.
16. Cherries Jubilee chocolate chia seed pudding
Cherries Jubilee is a classic dessert, but it isn’t exactly the healthiest snack.
This recipe keeps the awesome cherry flavor but adds some healthier substitutes (like cacao) and nutritional bonuses (like chia seeds). Plus, this looks great in a mason jar, so you can seem fancy at all times.
17. Yogurt breakfast parfait with plum compote
This fall-inspired breakfast has an awesome combination of some pretty underrated fruits and nuts.
Plums, blackberries, and hazelnuts shine in the classic parfait-style snack. And if you’re really in the fall mood, try sprinkling some pumpkin pie spice on top (because you know full well it’s pumpkin spice everything season).
18. Fruit sushi (frushi)
Time to play with your food! (Also, “frushi” is an excellent name. You might want to consider it for a pet in the future.)
This is a super fun snack recipe. Put some sliced kiwi, oranges, and raspberries on top of sushi rice for a fancy treat.
Of course, feel free to improvise — sliced strawberries, mango, or apple would also make a tantalizing topper.
19. Melon salad with chili and mint
No matter your age, making spherical chunks of melon is always a baller move (not sorry — that was great) and a lot of fun to boot. It rolls up just like ice cream.
Chili and mint make this a sophisticated, interesting array of flavors — you’ll never think about melon the same way again.
20. Breakfast yogurt pops
Tired of your same old yogurt-and-granola breakfast? Try changing up the shape. Yes, it all ends up in the same place, but shapes are fun and ice pops more so.
This recipe takes the classic combo and freezes it into a (very ’grammable) ice pop.
Just make sure to prep these the night before, since they need to sit in the freezer for at least 4 hours.
21. Blueberry coconut protein balls
Making a ton of these little protein balls is the perfect way to meal-prep some snacks for the week.
The secret ingredient here is lemon. The combo of lemon juice and lemon zest adds a burst of flavor to the blueberry-coconut one-two punch.
Pop one of these in your cakehole for a kick-ass start to the day.
22. Sesame oat square bars with pear compote
Oat bars are a great way to save some time in your week — and these are on the fancier side. Make a bunch on Sunday so you’ll be able to grab them on the go during your busy workweek.
Coconut oil binds all the oats together — there’s not an egg in sight, which makes these bars super-duper vegan-friendly.
The recipe includes a homemade pear compote that will satisfy any fruit lover’s craving.
23. Chewy raspberry apple granola bars
Granola bars are far from boring when you make them at home. You can customize the flavors however you want, and there’s none of the processed ingredients and preservatives you’d find in store-bought options.
This simple version has just seven ingredients like milk, honey, oil, and cinnamon. Raspberries stand out and do jazz hands as the vibrant, delicious star of the show.
Fruits still have a lot of sugar
While fruits are amazing and can boast a huge range of vital vitamins and minerals, they come with a heavy hit of fructose — a natural sugar, but still a sugar.
If you’re on a sugar-restricted diet or have a condition that can impact your blood sugar levels, such as diabetes, it’s best to eat fruit in moderation and be selective about the fruit you eat.
Some fruits are better than others for people with diabetes — we rounded them up here.
A mix of flavors is the mark of enlightened kitchen work, so try to switch up your fruit game entirely and get creative.
24. Grilled fruit pizza
Oh, boy… is pizza not just bae? Well, we’re willing to wager that you haven’t had one with fruit and honey as a topping before. (If you’re one of those who falls on the angrier side of the pineapple-on-pizza debate, this one might not be for you. Or maybe it’ll convert you.)
Just grill up some pizza dough, naan, or tortilla and sprinkle your favorite fruits on top.
25. Strawberry and goat cheese bruschetta
We’d eat goat cheese with pretty much anything, but it’s especially good with fruit. The creamy saltiness offsets the sweetness of many fruits beautifully. But strawberries hold the starring role here.
This bruschetta recipe features the gooey combo with a balsamic glaze on top that really brings out the strawberryishness (definitely a word) of the strawberries.
26. Peach quinoa tabbouleh
Peaches and quinoa might not seem like a match made in heaven, but this sweet and salty Middle Eastern-inspired dish has other ideas.
Honey, mint, and parsley dance around the peach flavors, adding all kinds of busy mouth sensations. Even as a side or a standalone snack, this intriguing tabbouleh stands all on its own.
27. Honey-lemon toast with figs and pistachios
Getting creative with toast is all the rage these days (thanks, avo toast!).
This honey-fig version is the perfect savory way to eat your fruit. With ricotta slathered on the base, stopping your snack at a single slice is the most difficult thing about this recipe.
28. Creamy cheese fruit pizza
Fruity pizza: round two. (Wait, how is there more than one? Where the f*ck are all these fruit pizzas coming from?)
This one features peaches and blackberries, but feel free to make your own version with any fruit-cheese-dough combo.
Get as creative as your brain wants — they broke the seal with pineapples many moons ago. This is just the natural consequence.
29. Mango, avocado, and fresh cilantro salsa
You’ve heard that it takes two to tango — well, it can take two fruits to salsa. And, yes, avocado is a fruit.
This two-fruit salsa (yes, avocado is a fruit) is a way to give sweet flavors a savory twist when it’s served alongside classic tortilla chips.
Avocados are brimming with healthy monounsaturated fat and tons of vitamins, including vitamins E and B6.
30. Fig and prosciutto crostini
Fresh figs — does it get any better?
Well, when you wrap a fresh fig in a slice of salty prosciutto and stick it on top of some toasted bread, you’ll learn that there’s more to the already mighty fig than meets the eye.
31. Melon, prosciutto, and mozzarella skewers
Here’s another awesome salty-sweet combo (because savory doesn’t mean you need to kick all the sweetness out).
Prosciutto and melon is a classic duo. Add fresh mozzarella, put it on a stick, and things get seriously tasty.
Fruit wears many disguises, and almost all of them are delicious (when put together right).
Whether you’re in the mood for sweetness or a broader experience for your taste buds, you don’t need added sugars. You can use the natural sugars in fruits to bolster the flavor of your meal and take advantage of their natural goodness.
Had your fill of pizzas made of fruit? Fine, here are some desserts made from vegetables (and if you think carrot cake is the limit, you are very much mistaken).
