How To Grow Thyme From Cuttings & Seed
Thyme is super easy to grow from cuttings and seeds both in pots indoors and outside in a little herb garden for a constant supply of fresh herbs.
And in this post I will share everything you need to know to help your thyme thrive including how to water, prune and harvest thyme PLUS the best companion plants for thyme in vegetable gardens and flower beds.
Table of Contents
Growing Thyme From Cuttings
The quickest and easiest way to grow thyme for your herb garden is from cuttings in water. Thyme will not grow as quickly from cuttings as mint or oregano but you will still have a small plant with roots in 2 to 3 weeks, so it is quicker than growing thyme from seed.
All you need to do to grow thyme from cuttings in water is :
- Take a few 3-5 inch cuttings from a thyme growing neighbour.
- Cut just below a point where leaves are sprouting (a leaf node).
- Avoid any very woody or very young weak stems.
- Remove the lower leaves.
- Put cuttings in a jar of water.
- Keep in a sunny warm spot.
- After 1-2 weeks roots will start to appear from old leaf nodes.
- After 3 weeks roots will be long & strong enough to be planted.
You can now transplant your thyme into containers or an outdoor herb garden.
Growing Thyme Indoors
Thyme is very easy to grow indoors as it is one of the smaller herbs. It also likes warmth so will flourish indoors when too cold for it outdoors.
To grow thyme indoors successfully:
- Start thyme from cuttings.
- Transfer to small pot of soil with stones at bottom so drains well.
- Place in a sunny spot.
- Will flourish as long as temperature between 16c / 60 f and 32 c / 90 f.
- Only water when soil is dry.
- Prune all over in early spring and a third of the plant after flowering.
- Divide plants every few years so don't over grow pot.
Growing Thyme From Seed
Thyme is easy to grow from seed but it isn't quick. Thyme seeds can take a month to germinate and only germinate reliably above 21c/70f. You will also need to wait until the second year after sowing to actually harvest your thyme!
So you will need to be patient growing thyme from seed. But the great advantage of growing thyme from seed is you can grow the varieties you actually love cooking with. (See Buying Thyme Seeds & Plants below for ideas).
If you do want to grow thyme from seed rather than cuttings :
- Start sowing indoors from late winter to early spring.
- Scatter a few seeds per small pot, cover very lightly with soil.
- Water scarcely.
- Plant out when temperature is consistently above 16c/60f in late spring and early summer.
What Soil Does Thyme Like
Thyme, like oregano, lavender and rosemary, is very happy in poor soil. You can grow thyme in any potting compost you have but it is best to mix in a good helping of grit, sand and pebbles to improve drainage.
Some gardeners recommend a regular seaweed feed for thyme grown in containers. But in my experience nitrogen feeds produce :
- Loss of flavour.
- Thin leggy plants
- Too much soft growth which is vulnerable to bugs.
I recommend instead replacing the top inch of soil every year with a mix of:
- 50% potting soil
- 25% gardeners grit
- 25% sand.
This will ensure key minerals work their way down to the roots all year long. If your thyme leaves do yellow - and aren't a yellow variety - you may need to repot with the mix above to restore nitrogen and magnesium.
How To Water Thyme
Thyme needs very little water and is drought resistant. Thyme will only need watering outdoors if grown in containers. If you are growing thyme indoors or in containers outdoors only water scarcely when the soil is dry.
Don't plant thyme with other herbs that need plenty of water. e.g. mint, parsley & chives. It prefers other drought resistant herbs such as rosemary.
If you are growing thyme in a wetter climate, you may, unusually, want to give it some rain cover, so it doesn't get too wet. Soggy thyme plants can be vulnerable to blight and root rot.
When To Plant Thyme Outdoors
Thyme loves sunshine and warmth so only plant thyme seeds outdoors when the temperature is above 21c/70f. Transplant thyme seedlings outdoors when the temperature is consistently above 16c/60f in late spring and early summer.
Growing Thyme In Containers
Thyme grows well in containers and pots both indoors and outside. Key tips when growing thyme in pots are:
- Choose clay pots that retain heat.
- Ensure container drains well.
- Add stone or grit to bottom so thyme roots don't sit in water.
- Raise container on a few bricks for even better drainage.
- Divide thyme plants in containers if they out grow the pot.
Thyme plants - unlike rosemary - are best kept small and thyme plants will thrive in small 5 inch (13-17cm) pots. If you plant your cuttings in 4 or 5 small pots you can use your thyme as a helpful companion plant in the vegetable garden to repel bugs.
As discussed above I would avoid feeding thyme plants in pots and just refresh top soil layer when needed.
What Does Thyme Grow Well With
Companion Plants
Thyme can be a very useful companion plant in the vegetable, fruit and flower garden as thymol repels a variety of garden pests :
- Cabbage & Collards : cabbage white caterpillars
- Roses : aphids
- Strawberries : slugs & snails
- Tomatoes : whitefly & hornworms
- Aubergine : flea beetles
- Potatoes : potato beetle
- Cucumbers : cucumber beetle
Thyme flowers can also help to attract pollinators to :
- Blueberries
- Chilli & bell peppers
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Zucchini.
You can intercrop small thyme plants from cuttings with strawberries and blueberries or as ground cover beneath roses or surround beds with thyme pots or a thyme hedge.
In A Herb Garden
Thyme is a must in any herb garden with its delicious flavouring and multiple health benefits. But that doesn't mean you can shove thyme in a herb garden with lots of other herbs and expect it to thrive, it won't!!
The two key things to remember growing thyme in a herb garden are it:
- Loves hot, sunny, near drought conditions with very little water.
- Is easily suffocated by bigger bullies or faster growing herbs.
The easiest way to grow thyme in a herb garden is in a container where it can do its own thing but if you do want to grow thyme in a herb bed:
- Do NOT plant thyme with water loving herbs such as mint.
- Do NOT plant thyme with large herbs e.g. rosemary or rapidly growing herbs e.g. sage.
- DO plant thyme with other drought resistant herbs that don't grow too big or too quickly such as oregano, lavender and marjoram.
How To Prune Thyme
It's easy to forget to prune thyme or just not bother as it's not a big plant. But don't forget. Thyme does need pruning from its second year onwards.
Once the danger of frost is past prune thyme as follows:
- Cut right back very woody stems with no new growth on them.
- Cut right back any very long thin, spindly, woody stems.
- Cut back non branching stems to just above the first pair of leaves.
- Trim new growth all over to the first pair of leaves.
Prune one third of the plant again - cutting to the first pair of leaves - after flowering if you haven't harvested the thyme for drying or preserving.
Pruning so heavily will seem rather drastic but it will stimulate much healthier, thicker growth rather than lots of weedy, twisted stems.
How To Harvest Thyme
From the second year after planting, you can happily harvest thyme as and when you need it. Remember to cut to just above the first pair of leaves on a stem to stimulate stronger rather than thin spindly growth.
If you're harvesting thyme for drying or preserving, you want to harvest when the thyme's flavour is at its strongest, which you will typically find is :
- At the beginning of summer
- Just before flowering
- In the morning.
Thyme Pests & Diseases
Thyme plants are typically pretty hardy and resilient and can actually handle as we've seen harsh treatment when you are pruning. When thyme does struggle wit pests and disease it is usually due to unnecessary feeding, over watering and poor pruning.
Common Pests
The pests you might see on unhealthy thyme plants are :
- Spider mites
- Aphids
- Thrips
- Whiteflies
Spider Mites
Tiny arachnids that thrive in dry conditions. They leave fine webbing and cause yellow stippling (dots) on the leaves.
Aphids
Small, pear-shaped insects that cluster on new growth to suck sap. They can cause leaves to curl and leave behind a sticky "honeydew."
Thrips
Slender insects that "rasp" the leaf surface, creating silvery streaks or small black spots of excrement.
Whiteflies
Tiny white moth-like insects that hide on the undersides of leaves. Like aphids, they suck sap and weaken the plant.
Common Diseases
Almost all the diseases thyme suffers from are down to over watering. If you've got a very wet spring or summer it may actually be worth bringing thyme plant indoors. Four diseases to watch out for in wet conditions are :
- Root Rot (Phytophthora)
- Botrytis (Gray Mold)
- Powdery Mildew
- Rust
Root Rot
The #1 killer of thyme. Caused by overwatering or poor drainage, it turns the roots mushy and the foliage yellow or brown.
Botrytis
A fungus that appears in humid, crowded conditions. It looks like a fuzzy gray growth on stems and leaves, eventually leading to decay.
Powdery Mildew
A white, flour-like dusting on the leaves. It rarely kills the plant but stunts growth and ruins the harvest.
Rust
Appears as small, reddish-orange pustules on the undersides of leaves. It's a fungal issue often caused by poor air circulation.
Buying Thyme Seeds & Plants
If you want to buy thyme seeds and plants to get a beautiful range of thyme flavours for the kitchen look out for these varieties.
- Common thyme : thymus vulgaris - pretty pink flowers.
- Archers gold thyme : thymus pulegioides - lilac flowers, lovely lemon scent and flavour.
- Wooly or wild thyme : thymus polytrichus - pink, purple & white flowers - very attractive to bees. Bright slightly floral flavour.
- Lemon thyme : thymus citriodorus - lovely powerful lemon fragrance, yellow edged leaves.
- Jekka thyme : thymus jekka - great clean, classic thyme taste, pink & white flowers.
- Snowdrift thyme : thymus serpyllum - very pretty white flowers. Delicate, slightly sweet, sometimes faintly citrusy or honeyed flavour.
Health Benefits Of Thyme
Once your thyme plants are thriving you can use your fresh herbs in all sorts of natural remedies as thyme as both a natural antibiotic and antihistamine.
Thyme can be used to ease everything from minor tummy bugs to mouth infections but really comes into its own in soothing sore throat tea.
I do hope you have success growing thyme from either cuttings or seeds and that your plants whether inside or outdoors really thrive so you can enjoy fresh herbs all year round.
For more simple tips do check out my other herb growing posts and follow my gardening board on Pinterest.
Original image source : rawpixel.com
Willow Catkin Plant Lifecycle Activity
Simple Self Care Routine
Many of us these days are in serious need of a new self care routine. We feel overwhelmed with so many things we need to do and deep worries about finance, health, family and home.
But many of the self-care checklists or the ideas for self-care days we see are false friends. They don't nurture those gaping gaps in our lives or give us the self-care essentials we need in our everyday lifestyle to be able to care for ourselves and those we love.
So I have for you here an incredibly simple but powerful daily self-care routine based on 7 essential self-care habits that help us thrive physically and mentally even when life is tough.
Self Care Essentials
Daylight Dosing
Many of us are chronically short on one simple thing with huge impact on our :
- Happiness
- Energy
- Sleep (& baby sleep)
- Digestion
- Resistance to illness
- Vulnerability to auto immune disease
- And more!!
That simple thing most of us are missing is daylight. It doesn't just top us up with immune boosting vitamin D but actually triggers AND balances :
- Mood boosting serotonin
- Steady cortisol levels
- Digestive enzymes
- T-cell regulation
- Gut microbioeme
- Skin microbioeme (it controls dandruff!)
- And even baby calming hormones.
Real daylight on our eyes first thing in the morning also controls our body clock and the release of the melatonin we need in the evening to sleep well.
So self-care starts with getting enough daylight every single day.
Get More Daylight
Aim for an hour of daylight minimum and ideally at least two everyday. And when you're feeling stretched thin use all the little opportunities you can to slow down outdoors :
- Eat breakfast on your doorstep
- Stroll in the park
- And stop at a bench to read a novel
- Or catch up with a friend
- Eat lunch alfresco
- Nap in the garden
- Hang out on the porch to watch the world go by ...
Avoid Sugar
It is so easy to indulge ourselves with something sweet when feeling low but it is absolutely not self-care. Sugar is perhaps the single biggest trigger - matched only by iron deficiency - for :
- Energy crashes
- Mood swings
- Brain fog
- Headaches
And sugar is tied to more than 30 chronic conditions including IBS, Acne, UTI, candida, PCOS and more!
So for real self-care strip sugar from your diet and replace it with good quality fat and protein.
Walk The Mile
Serotonin - the happy hormone which oozes calm and stability - is a self-care essential but many of us go short. This is partly because of daylight deficiency but also because we're buzzing around full of the stress hormone cortisol which actually suppresses serotonin.
Caffeine and sugar spike cortisol but so does intensive exercise. Serotonin thrives in calm, steady movement and especially loves walking.
So make walking a mile - two if you can - a non-negotiable part of your self care routine and get the serotonin flowing.
Let Go Of A Little
Many of us are drowning in stress inducing clutter and have become border line hoarders. We get locked in anxiety at the thought of decluttering anything "in case we need it".
To break the cycle make the Just 10 Things declutter method part of your self-care routine. You take just 5 minutes daily to declutter 10 items. Every day you let go of a little you ease that paralysing anxiety and in a year you can clear out over 3,000 things!
Swallow A Frog
We all procrastinate and put off stuff we don't want to face up to, hoping if we hide it away at the back of our brain it will disappear. But it doesn't, it festers and makes our anxiety far far worse.
We're often told to swallow the frog to get it out of the way but it is much easier to get into the daily self-care habit of swallowing the tadpole and facing up to one tiny job we don't want to do before it has a chance to grow.
So every day tackle one tiny thing you have been hiding from and avoiding.
Connect For Real
It is the irony of the age that we have so many ways to communicate but so often feel horribly lonely. Most of our actual face-to-face or voice-to-voice communication happens at work or at school and that means it is not really ours, it belongs to someone else.
So we need to make deliberate intentional time every day for face-to-face, voice-to-voice, skin-to-skin communication that belongs to us :
- Real phone calls
- Sit down family meals
- Talking to people at the store
- Coffee with friends
- A quick drink with neighbours
- Snuggling up to watch TV
- Doing chores together etc etc ..
It won't be stress free, there will be fights but they will be real fights, our fights not artificial arguments driven and exploited by an algorithm!
Lay One Small Brick
It is very easy these days to feel alienated by an overriding sense we are stuck in second gear on a road to nowhere with no chance to build anything for ourselves. But even when we are horribly low we can.
We need first to identify what we personally actually want to build. Our goals could be :
- Meeting a partner
- Starting a family
- Building a saving fund
- Learning a life skill
- Developing a side hustle
- Creating art
- Growing your own food
- Finding a home
- Kicking off a start-up ...
Once we know what we are building we just need to make sure we lay at least one small brick in its foundations every single day. Laying that brick might be nothing more than 5 minutes scribbling some notes, drawing a diagram, sending an e-mail or making a call.
But sticking to that daily habit we will little by little build something and it will be our thing of which we can be proud.
OK, so now we've deep dived into the 7 key self-care habits we need to follow in our daily routine, let's bring them together in a simple self-care checklist.
Self Care Checklist
The hidden power of this self-care checklist, is that it doesn't involve carving out time for yet more things on our to-do list. We simply weave these essentials into everyday life :
- Get at least 1-2 hours daylight.
- Avoid added sugar.
- Walk a mile.
- Declutter just 10 things.
- Do one tiny job you're avoiding.
- Connect for real with real people.
- Little by little build something of which you can be proud.
I do hope this simple routine helps you build these self-care essentials into your everyday life even when it is hectic, stressed and downright hard. They truly are powerful habits for boosting resilience and bringing long term joy.
But if you are really struggling to manage your load right now do read the extra care check below ...
Extra Care Check
Low mood, poor energy, extreme fatigue, anger, anxiety and an overwhelming sense of being overloaded can all be big flashing signs of deficiency in these 4 key nutrients :
If you are struggling and haven't had these nutritional deficiencies checked in a blood test recently it really is worth seeing a doctor or pharmacist to get them done. Tackling any deficiencies is an essential foundation for your self care going forward.
For more simple advice do check out my other healthy living posts and follow me on Pinterest.
Natural Air Fresheners
Natural air fresheners can neutralise the real causes of bad smells in our home rather than simply smother them with dodgy fake fragrances.
And many of these natural odour eaters are already sitting in our cupboards ready to tackle the nasty stinks from pets and sneakers to toilets and towels that are making our homes pong!
So in this guide I'll take you through :
- Best natural air fresheners
- Which smells each tackle
- And how to use them to get your home smelling great fast.
But first a quick word about what's wrong with store bought air fresheners...
What's Wrong With Air Fresheners?
Air fresheners can give off VOCs tied to asthma and other health risks including hormone disruption. Yikes!!
With many of us experiencing weird allergies, autoimmune and hormonal issues it seems risky to pump chemicals into our homes that might contribute to our problems.
That doesn't mean natural odour eaters are risk free. But we do know what they are and often with air fresheners we don't. Big brand labels talk about "our eliminator" or "scent technology" which may include 50 different chemicals!
So natural air fresheners can help us reduce the risk of exposing our families to unknown ingredients AND save us money on stuff we don't need!!
Table of Contents
Baking Soda (Bicarb Of Soda)
Best For: vomit, urine, sneakers, carpets but great all rounder
Why It Works: turns stinky acids in vomit, urine & sweat into odourless water & salt and traps smelly gases in air.
How To Use: sprinkle on source of stink for 30 mins then vacuum up. Reapply if necessary. Leave overnight for very bad smells. Remove vomit and soak up dampness of vomit or sick with kitchen roll or rag before sprinkling baking soda.
Coffee Grounds
Best For: fridge, trash cans, fish, paint, musty mildew
Why It Works: rich in nitrogen and natural oils that absorb and neutralise odorous gases while leaving a mild roasted scent.
How To Use: place dried used grounds in a shallow bowl or open jar near the smell. Replace every few days. For bins or compost pails, sprinkle a small handful directly inside.
Corn Starch (Cornflour)
Best For: sneakers, laundry, towels, dish towels, washcloths
Why It Works: absorbs moisture and bacteria-laden sweat that cause sour, musty smells in fabrics and footwear.
How To Use: dust inside shoes or sprinkle on damp-smelling fabrics before washing. Leave overnight, then shake or wash out.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Best For: vomit, dog urine, cat urine, toilets, washing machine
Why It Works: oxidises organic matter and breaks down bacteria that create ammonia and sulphur smells.
How To Use: dilute 1 part peroxide to 2 parts water, spray on affected area, leave for 10–15 minutes, then rinse or wipe. Always test colourfastness first.
Lemons
Best For: microwave, oven, fish, paint, musty mildew
Why It Works: citric acid cuts through grease and neutralises volatile organic compounds while releasing fresh, antimicrobial lemon oil vapours.
How To Use: microwave a bowl of sliced lemon in water for 2–3 minutes, then wipe. For ovens or musty surfaces, rub with cut lemon or clean using lemon juice diluted in warm water.
Rubbing Alcohol (Surgical Spirit)
Best For: toilets, washing machine, trash cans, paint
Why It Works: kills bacteria, evaporates fast and carries away odorous compounds. Its solvent action helps lift residue that traps smells.
How To Use: wipe down affected surfaces with a 50/50 mix of alcohol and water. Let air dry. For bins or toilet seats, apply neat and leave for a few minutes.
Salt
Best For: fridge, fish, musty mildew, laundry, vomit
Why It Works: draws out moisture and slows bacterial growth that produces odours. Especially effective in damp or protein-based smells.
How To Use: sprinkle coarse salt over spill areas or store a small open bowl in fridge or cupboards. Rinse fabric stains with salted water before washing.
Sodium Percarbonate
Best For: laundry, washing machine, dish towels, towels, toilets
Why It Works: releases oxygen when dissolved, oxidising organic residues and killing odour-causing microbes.
How To Use: add 1–2 tablespoons to wash cycle or dissolve in hot water to soak fabrics. For toilet cleaning, pour in and leave for 15–30 minutes before scrubbing.
Tea Bags
Best For: sneakers, fridge, trash cans, microwave
Why It Works: tannins absorb moisture and neutralise smells, while tea’s mild antioxidants discourage bacterial growth.
How To Use: dry used tea bags thoroughly and place a few in shoes, bins or the fridge. Replace weekly.
Vinegar
Best For: dog urine, cat urine, laundry, washing machine, toilets, ovens, burnt food
Why It Works: acetic acid neutralises alkaline odours like ammonia and dissolves greasy or soapy residues that trap smells. The vapour also cuts through burnt or smoky residues.
How To Use: mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle, apply to source, leave 10 mins then rinse. For laundry, add a cup to rinse cycle.
Boiling Vinegar Steam (for burnt food or oven): heat a bowl of vinegar and water mix until just below boiling — allow steam to loosen odours and residues. Always keep the door open or well-ventilated to avoid irritation. Never leave boiling vinegar unattended.
Very Hot Water
Best For: microwave, oven, vomit, urine, musty mildew
Why It Works: heat loosens and evaporates volatile odour compounds, kills bacteria and opens porous surfaces for deeper cleaning.
How To Use: rinse or steam-clean surfaces with near-boiling water, taking care with materials that can warp. For microwaves, heat a bowl of water until steamy, then wipe clean.
Extra Odour Eaters
Activated Charcoal
Best For: compost pails, fridge, trash cans, paint, burnt food
Why It Works: ultra-porous carbon traps volatile compounds and sulphur gases responsible for strong odours.
How To Use: place charcoal granules or pouches in compost lids, fridge shelves, or near fresh paint. Refresh monthly by leaving in sunlight for a few hours.
Bay Leaves
Best For: trash cans, musty mildew, laundry cupboards, fridge
Why It Works: aromatic oils in bay inhibit mould and neutralise musty air with a fresh, spicy scent.
How To Use: place a few dried leaves in bins, cupboards, or drawers. Replace every few weeks when scent fades.
Cinnamon
Best For: oven, microwave, trash cans, musty mildew
Why It Works: its aromatic compounds suppress bacterial growth and overpower unpleasant odours with warm spice.
How To Use: simmer cinnamon sticks in water for 10 minutes to scent air, or add a pinch of ground cinnamon to a warm cleaning solution for bins or microwaves.
Clove Oil
Best For: musty mildew, toilets, compost pails, washing machine
Why It Works: clove’s eugenol oil kills mould spores and bacteria while masking musty air with a warm, spicy scent.
How To Use: mix a few drops with water or vinegar in a spray bottle, shake, and mist over tiles, bins or washing machine seals. Wipe off after 30 minutes.
And there you go 15 natural non-toxic air fresheners that you can use quickly and easily to tackle bad smells and get your home smelling great.
For more natural housework tips do check out my other non-toxic cleaning posts and follow my Non Toxic Cleaning board on Pinterest.
Edible Simmer Pots
Simple simmer pots are a lovely way to make our homes smell good naturally without dodgy synthetic fragrances.
Seasonal spices simmering on the stove top on cold days smell good enough to eat but usually they're NOT edible which is horribly sad!!
So I have here the very best edible simmer pots that taste as good as they smell. They are all deliciously fragrant recipes you can slot in meal plans, pop on as a cosy evening treat or whip up to make your home smell great fast.
And all these edible simmer pots are tried-and-tested recipes you can make easily from what you've got in your cupboards. Take your pick from :
- Mulled Drinks & Punch
- Hot Chocolates With A Twist
- Flavoured Lattes
- Fragrant Soups
- Aromatic Teas
- Spicy Stove Top Fruit
With ideas for everything from mulled wine and pumpkin spice latte to ginger bread hot chocolate, roast chestnut soup and brandy cherries ... enjoy!!
Table of Contents
Mulled Drinks & Punch
Mulled drinks and punch are a lovely way to fragrance your home with a combination of citrus or fall fruit PLUS seasonal spices including ginger, cinnamon, star anise, cloves etc.
Simply simmer gently for 20 minutes or so then strain out spices and fruit and pop back on a low stove to keep warm for your party or a hygge evening in.
Viennese Christmas Punch
This hot Christmas punch recipe is for real traditional Viennese Christmas market punch and is a perfect way to get your home smelling great in advance of parties throughout the holiday season from Halloween on.
Simmer Time : steep for 10 minutes, simmer for 5 to 10.
Ingredients : black tea, orange juice, sugar, rum, cointreau, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise.
Hot Mulled Winter Punch
This hot mulled winter punch is somewhere between a classic punch and traditional mulled wine. It is red wine rather than tea based but given the extra punch kick with Grand Marnier or Cointreau.
Simmer Time : simmer gently 15-20 minutes before removing zest & spices. Keep warm on gentle heat.
Ingredients : red wine e.g. claret, orange & lemon zest, demerara sugar, cinnamon stick, fresh ginger, cloves, Grand Marnier / Cointreau or similar.
Mulled Wine
This mulled wine has the extra fragrant twist of apple cider - NOT apple cider vinegar - PLUS too often forgotten cardamom which has a lovely sweet-but-spicy aroma for fall and winter.
Simmer Time : gently for 30 minutes.
Ingredients : fruity red wine e.g. Merlot, apple cider, orange zest, orange slices, honey, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon sticks, star anise, brandy.
If you do love cardamom check out this delicious apple cardamom cake recipe for some fragrant fall baking.
Mulled Cider
This simple mulled apple cider is the perfect simmer pot on a crisp autumn day after a long hike or some apple picking and would be a great addition to a grown up Halloween party.
Simmer Time : 30 minutes+
Ingredients : apple cider, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, orange peel.
This alternative mulled cider recipe is very similar but has the added fragrance of lemon and ginger plus - if you like - a splash of brandy!
Mulled Apple Juice
Simple mulled apple juice is a delicious alternative to mulled cider for kids and again perfect after autumn outdoor adventures or for a Halloween party ...
Simmer Time : simmer quickly until warm but not for kids too hot
Ingredients : apple juice, orange, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, honey.
This mulled apple juice is very similar but gives you a longer simmer time ...
Simmer Time : 30 minutes+
Ingredients : apple juice, orange zest, cinnamon stick, nutmeg
Both the mulled apple juice recipes would be delicious with one of these super easy homemade apple cakes.
Spiced Cranberry Juice
As we hit holiday season you can get your home guest ready fast with a quick speed clean and a simmer pot of mulled cranberry juice ...
Simmer Time : 5 minutes
Ingredients : pure cranberry juice, lemon & orange slices, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, raw ginger, cloves, star anise.
This similar very simple mulled cranberry recipe can be made with cranberry cocktail juice and gets an extra zing from some rum or gin.
Simmer Time : 5 minutes+
Ingredients : cranberry cocktail juice, orange juice, cinnamon stick, cloves, ginger, honey, rum or gin.
This spiced cranberry infusion is a bit different but will still make your home smell great. The recipe basically creates a spiced cranberry syrup you can add chilled to cocktails.
Simmer Time : 45 minutes
Ingredients : cranberry juice, fresh ginger, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg.
Spiced Pear Cider & Juice
Spiced pear juice is a great alternative to mulled apple juice in autumn but also works wonderfully at Christmas ...
Simmer Time : 10 minutes + 10 minute steep.
Ingredients : pear juice, clementines, lemon juice, cloves, cardamom, fresh ginger.
If you like the idea of Christmas pear flavours check out this pear & ginger trifle in my Christmas Dessert Guide.
For an alcoholic kick to your pear juice try this mulled pear & ginger recipe from Jamie Oliver ...
Simmer Time : simmer until sugar dissolved
Ingredients : apple juice, ripe pears, fresh ginger, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, light brown sugar, lime juice, Bacardi Oro or other rum.
Mulled Orange Juice
Oranges are of course another top Christmas fragrance and this super simple mulled orange juice is perfect for children.
Simmer Time : 10 minutes or so
Ingredients : orange juice, cinnamon stick, cloves.
This spiced orange juice with chai tea is almost an alcohol free alternative to Austrian orange punch ...
Simmer Time : 20 minutes
Ingredients : orange juice, chai tea, chai spice mix, sliced orange
Both drinks would make a lovely fragrant accompaniment to an evening making your own pretty dried orange Christmas decorations for rustic Christmas decor.
Hot Chocolates With A Twist
Classic hot chocolate made with real chocolate - not just cocoa powder - can make your whole home smell amazing fast and you can easily make it even more amazing with a few fragrant seasonal twists including gingerbread, peppermint, orange and cinnamon.
Classic Hot Chocolate
This classic is a classic hot chocolate recipe if you haven't got one ...
Simmer Time : 10 minutes
Ingredients : milk, sugar, cocoa powder, dark chocolate, vanilla extract, whipping cream, powdered sugar
This recipe is obviously full of sugar but you can make stunning hot chocolate with barely a teaspoon of sugar by pouring heated milk over smashed up 70-85% dark chocolate and topping with whipped cream.
Gingerbread Hot Chocolate
I adore baking gingerbreads at Christmas and this gingerbread hot chocolate is the perfect partner for snaffling them down on a cosy December afternoon ...
Simmer Time : 12 minutes
Ingredients : milk, cocoa powder, brown sugar, fresh ginger, allspice, cloves, cinnamon sticks, thick cream, powdered/icing sugar.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Peppermint is another Christmas fragrance that gets us in a wonderfully nostalgic mood and this peppermint hot chocolate is perfect for fragrancing your home before snuggling down to watch a Christmas movie ...
Simmer Time : 8 minutes
Ingredients : milk, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, brown sugar, cornstarch, vanilla extract, peppermint extract, whipping cream, peppermint candies.
The hot chocolate would be scrumptious with this easy white chocolate candy cane bark or candy cane Christmas fudge.
Hot Orange Chocolate
Orange chocolate is another beloved Christmas tradition in my family that can easily be extended to super smelling hot orange chocolate ...
Simmer Time : 10 minutes
Ingredients : milk, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, orange juice, orange peel, sugar, vanilla extract.
Cinnamon Hot Chocolate
If you want to get your home smelling sweet for holiday season breakfasts make this cinnamon hot chocolate to go with straight from the oven - but made ahead - Scandinavian style Christmas breakfast buns ...
Simmer Time : 5-10 minutes
Ingredients : milk, cocoa powder, cinnamon, sugar, vanilla extract.
Flavoured Lattes
Coffee shops lure us in every autumn with the scent of sweet-smelling lattes in every more glorious flavours but we can make our own homes equally fragrant for a fraction of the price with these easy stove top recipes.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
If you come all over pumpkin spiced latte every October you must master this recipe. It needs pumpkin puree which you can buy but it is incredibly easy to make your own to freeze in ready to use ice-cube sized blocks ...
Simmer Time : 5 minutes
Ingredients : coffee/espresso, milk, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, sugar or maple syrup, whipped cream.
Peppermint Mocha Latte
This peppermint mocha latte is - like the peppermint hot chocolate - perfect for Christmas afternoons watching movies or playing games as you much homemade fudge or candies ...
Simmer Time : 5 minutes
Ingredients : espresso, milk, granulated sugar, mint leaves or extract, chocolate syrup.
For quickness you can use bought chocolate syrup but this freezable homemade chocolate syrup is deliciously simple to make.
Hazelnut Latte
This recipe for hazelnut latte is incredibly easy made with bought syrup but for even more fall fragrance you can roast hazelnuts to make your own simple hazelnut syrup ..
Simmer Time : 5 minutes
Ingredients : espresso, milk, hazelnut syrup.
Orange Cardamom Latte
This sweet and spicy orange cardamom latte recipe can be made in a flash but for even more flavour and simmer pot fragrance you could infuse the milk with cardamom pods - rather than powder - and orange zest ...
Simmer Time : 5 minutes
Ingredients : espresso, milk, cardamom powder, orange zest, maple syrup.
Chestnut Praline Latte
Copycat chestnut praline latte can be made super quickly with chestnut syrup but for even more fragrance you can roast chestnuts to make your own chestnut syrup which will keep sealed in the fridge for 2 weeks ...
Simmer Time : 20 minutes
Ingredients : espresso, milk, chestnuts, pecans, dark brown sugar, cane sugar, vanilla extract, whipping cream
Vanilla Latte
This vanilla latte is perfect when you are short on time and the cupboards are a bit bare but you still want a delicious drink that will make your home smell great ...
Simmer Time : 5 minutes
Ingredients : espresso, milk, granulated sugar, vanilla extract.
Spiced Apple Cider Latte
If you want full on fall fragrance in your morning coffee, this spiced apple cider latte is the one for you!!
Simmer Time : 5 minutes
Ingredients : espresso, milk, apple juice, honey, pumpkin spice (cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves), nutmeg, star anise, whipped cream.
Chai Latte
A simple chai latte is a lovely calming way to scent your kitchen without quite such a cortisol kick of caffeine as the espresso recipes ...
Simmer Time : 15 mins
Ingredients : black tea, milk, cinnamon sticks, black peppercorns, cloves, cardamom pods, star anise, fresh ginger, maple syrup.
Fragrant Soups
Fabulously fragranced fall and winter soups make fantastic edible simmer pots. They will keep your home smelling good for hours and deliver deliciously stomach warming meals into the bargain - what's not to like?
Classic Pumpkin Soup
Pumpkin soup is a wonderful edible simmer pot as soon as pumpkins appear at the market in September and nights start drawing in. This classic pumpkin soup recipe couldn't be easier.
Simmer Time : 10 minutes
Ingredients : pumpkin, onion, garlic, vegetable/chicken broth, cream.
Spicy Pumpkin Soup
For a spicier scent try this roasted pumpkin soup which is richly fragranced with fall spices and apple cider vinegar ...
Simmer Time : 20 minutes + 1 hour roasting pumpkin
Ingredients : pumpkin, onion, garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, turmeric, cardamom, coconut or other milk, vegetable broth, apple cider vinegar.
Roast Chestnut Soup
If you love chestnut lattes and the fragrance of chestnuts you have to try these French style chestnut soups.
This first recipe uses pre-roasted and peeled chestnuts that are quicker and easier to cook with ...
Simmer Time : 20 minutes
Ingredients : cooked & peeled chestnuts, shallot, carrot, celery, garlic, thyme, bay leaf, vegetable broth, heavy cream, nutmeg.
This second chestnut soup made with skillet roasted and peeled chestnuts is a bit more effort but the chestnuts roasting in a stove top skillet will smell unbelievably good ...
Simmer Time : 20 minutes
Ingredients : chestnuts, mushrooms, garlic, onion, vegetable stock, bay leaves, thyme.
Ginger & Carrot Soup
The lovely fall fragrances of ginger and cinnamon work wonderfully in this simple carrot soup ...
Simmer Time : 30 minutes
Ingredients : carrots, onion, garlic, fresh ginger, cinnamon powder, vegetable broth, bay leaf.
Caraway Seed Soup
The sweet-spicy aroma of caraway in this traditional Czech potato soup is a lovely traditional alternative to classic cinnamon and ginger ...
Simmer Time : 20 minutes
Ingredients : potatoes, onions, caraway seeds, flour, egg, vegetable broth / stock, parsley greens.
Apple & Cheddar Soup
If you adore cheese as much as I do try scenting your kitchen with this apple & cheddar soup on the stove top. It smells and tastes scrumptious ...
Simmer Time :
Ingredients : apples, apple cider, cheddar, cream, sweet potato, onion, garlic, flour, chicken stock, thyme, bay leaves, brandy, bacon (optional).
Rosemary White Bean Soup
For a fresh take on fall fragrances copy the Italians and scent your kitchen with a classic rosemary & white bean soup given an extra tahini twist ...
Simmer Time : 20 minutes
Ingredients : white beans, rosemary, thyme, lemon, parsley, onion, garlic, celery, carrots, vegetable broth, tahini.
Rosemary Squash Soup
Rosemary combined with sage also makes a great fragrant addition to this butternut squash soup ...
Simmer Time : 35 minutes
Ingredients : butternut squash, rosemary, sage, ginger, onion, garlic, vegetable broth, parsley, pumpkin seeds
Spicy Stove Top Fruit
Seasonal fruit poached, stewed or caramelised on the stove top with spices, and perhaps red wine or brandy, taste delicious and smell divine.
Red Wine Poached Pears
These red wine-poached pears are elegant enough for a dinner party dessert but are so simple you can get on with a pre-guest speed clean whilst they simmer away scenting your kitchen ...
Simmer Time : 1 hour
Ingredients : pears, Pinot Noir, star anise, cinnamon stick, cloves, granulated sugar, yoghurt, cranberries.
Honey Spiced Quince
Quinces are one of those forgotten fruit you need to discover if you haven't and this fragrant poached quince recipe brings out their flavour and aroma perfectly ...
Simmer Time : 25 minutes
Ingredients : quinces, fresh ginger, cinnamon stick, lemon peel, cloves, vanilla extract, honey, granulated sugar.
Honey Spiced Figs
These honey spiced figs will naturally fragrance your home with an amazing deeply sweet aroma ...
Simmer Time : 30 minutes.
Ingredients : figs, white wine, honey, cardamom pods, allspice berries, peppercorns, almonds, orange peel.
Figs In Port
Alternatively you can simmer beautifully caramelised figs in port for an even richer scent ...
Simmer Time : 10 mins
Ingredients : figs, sugar, port, peppercorns.
Cherries Jubilee
All sorts of cuisines have Christmas stove top cherry recipes that smell as good as they taste. This classic cherries jubilee recipe couldn't be easier :
Simmer Time : 10 minutes
Ingredients : cherries, orange, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, salt, kirsch / brandy / bourbon, vanilla extract, vanilla ice cream.
Brandy Cherries
Homemade brandy cherries will fill your home with holiday season fragrances and are perfect for popping in Christmas party cocktails ...
Simmer Time : 10 minutes
Ingredients : cherries, brandy, rum, cinnamon, nutmeg, cherry juice, turbinado sugar.
Kirsch Cherries
This cherries in kirsch recipe which actually preserves the cherries so they will keep for up to 6 months would make a wonderful homemade Christmas preserve gift ...
Simmer Time : 20 minutes
Ingredients : cherries, Kirsch, star anise, cinnamon sticks, cloves, granulated sugar, lemon juice.
Cinnamon Stewed Plums
These cinnamon stewed plums are a super simple and speedy way to make an autumnal dessert and make your home smell lovely ...
Simmer Time : 8 minutes
Ingredients : plums, sugar, cinnamon stick, orange juice.
Rosé Poached Apricots
These rosé poached apricots are lovely delicate way to scent your home with simmering apricots and vanilla. Simple Christmas shortbread would be the perfect partner for the fruit ...
Simmer Time : 30 minutes
Ingredients : apricots, rosé wine, vanilla pod, sugar.
If you can't find good apricots, you could also use the recipe to make a peach dessert.
Aromatic Teas
Simple aromatic teas are a lovely way to calm your nerves and scent your home when the holiday season is getting hectic ...
Lemon & Ginger Tea
This lemon & ginger tea recipe could not be simpler and the lemon is actually a natural odour eater which neutralises stinks and pongs in the air whilst releasing fresh lemon vapours ...
Simmer Time : 10 minutes
Ingredients : lemon, fresh ginger, turmeric, honey.
Lemon & Thyme Tea
The simple thyme in this lemon & thyme tea is actually a natural antibiotic with all sorts of benefits for our health and it's natural fragrance can help lemon gently shift unpleasant smells that may be lingering ...
Simmer Time : 20 minutes
Ingredients : lemon, thyme, honey.
These simple lemon teas also work as very effective homemade cough and sore throat remedies.
Peppermint Tea Latte
A peppermint tea latte is a lovely, calming way to get into the holiday season spirit with all the fragrance of peppermint minus the caffeine kick of peppermint latte ...
Simmer Time : 3 minutes
Ingredients : milk, peppermint extract, maple syrup.
Rosemary Tea
The rosemary in this rosemary tea is another natural antibiotic and natural odour eater that can help see of musty smells whilst making your home smell deliciously seasonal ..
Simmer Time : 4 minutes
Ingredients : rosemary.
And there you go, over 40 deliciously fragrant edible simmer pots that taste as good as they smell. I hope they help you make your home smell amazing naturally this year.
Easy Apple Recipes
These easy apple recipes are your answer to the question that comes around every autumn of what can I make with lots of apples?
The scrumptiously simple recipes include everything from all sorts of apple pie to :
- Apple tarts
- Apple cakes
- Apple crisp, crumble & cobbler
- Apple cookies & bars
- Baked apples
- PLUS more classic apple desserts including apple cheesecake, Charlotte, clafoutis and brown Betty.
So if you have a load of apples from a backyard tree, market or picking farm you'll find deliciously different recipes to take you all the way through fall.
For each recipe I've included time to table and a summary of ingredients so you can find easy apple recipes to work with your personal pantry supplies and busy schedule.
All of these recipes can be made with whatever apples you've got but typically it works well to combine some sharper apples e.g. English Bramley, Granny Smith with some sweeter varieties if you can.
Enjoy!!
Table of Contents
Apple Pies
Easy Apple Pie
This easy apple pie is a classic recipe with deliciously flaky pastry and gently spiced apples. It isn't the speediest apple pie to make but most of that time is the pastry resting or in the oven and the prep itself is pretty quick.
Time To Table : 2 Hours (plus resting out of the oven if your prefer)
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, egg, nutmeg, cinnamon, lemon juice.
Apple Galette
Rustic apple galettes are the super quick and easy French alternative to a full on apple pie. We love galettes in my house - including this plum galette and pear galette - as you can whip them up on auto pilot when your brain is full of other stuff.
Time To Table : 1 hr 55 mins
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, unsalted butter, light brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, ginger, egg, apricot jam or jelly.
You just roll out a very rough round of pastry, brush it with jam/jelly, plonk your apples in the middle, fold over the pastry edges and sprinkle with sugar. That's it!
Latticed Apple Pie
A traditional latticed apple pie does take a little more effort but if you've got the patience - and nimble fingers - it is a thing of beauty and this latticed apple pie recipe is gloriously rich in fall spices and will make your home smell good naturally whilst baking!
Time To Table : 2 hours 45 minutes
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, unsalted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, allspice, nutmeg, cornstarch, egg.
Apple Turnover
Little apple turnovers are a great way to use up lots of apples as they make perfect lunch box and tea time treats and can easily be frozen.
This first super quick apple turnover recipe is made with store bought pastry :
Time To Table : 30 mins
Ingredients : apples, frozen puff pastry, brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, egg.
Whilst this second apple turnover recipe includes homemade pie crust.
Apple Pie Filling
You can store apples easily for months but sweeter early season apples don't store that well. So apple pie filling for the freezer is a great thing to make if you've got lots of apples to use up from a bumper harvest.
This amazing stove top apple pie filling macerates the apples in all the fall flavours of cinnamon, nutmeg and apple cider and will make your kitchen smell amazing - think of it as an edible simmer pot!!
Time To Table : 35 mins
Ingredients : apples, lemon juice, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, apple cider, vanilla extra, unsalted butter.
Apple Custard Pie
This apple custard pie is a lovely traditional alternative to a classic pie with just a single crust and a rich vanilla custard filling around your cinnamon-spicy apples.
Time To Table : 2 hours 10 mins
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, milk, cream, eggs, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract.
Apple Tarts
Easy French Apple Tart
As a Brit I may not like to admit it but the French do make great fruit tarts - my family adore these French white peach, plum & almond and pear tarts.
They also excel at apple tarts and this easy french apple tart is a handy French inspired recipe to start with ...
Time To Table : 1 hour 45 minutes
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, unsalted butter, sugar (it's that simple!!)
Or for an even easier recipe try this french apple tart from one of my favourite food bloggers using store bought puff pastry.
Toffee Apple Tart
Toffee and apples truly is a match made in heaven and toffee apple tart is blissful way to use up apples for us grown ups long beyond the temptation of an actual tooth-sticking toffee apple.
Time To Table : 50 minutes
Ingredients : apples, unsalted butter, flour, brown sugar, dulce du leche (milk, condensed milk, butter, sugar)
Apple Tarte Tatin
Classic apple tarte tatin is another amazing French apple tart for using up a big apple haul and much easier to make than it looks. This apple tarte tatin recipe is genuinely French and IN French so just use your browser to auto-translate it.
Time To Table : 2 hours
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, unsalted butter, caster sugar, cinnamon
If you love tarte tatins, do also check out these plum, peach and pear varieties.
Apple Tartlets
These sweet little apple tartlets with a spicy oat topping are another adorably delicious way to turn your apple haul into lunch box and tea time treats.
Time To Table : 50 minutes
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, unsalted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, oats, vanilla extract.
Apple Custard Tart
This apple custard tart is a French variation on the traditional apple custard pie with a sweet crust and a nutmeg custard made from eggs and heavy cream.
Time To Table : 1 hour
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, unsalted butter, eggs, powdered sugar, sugar, thick cream, vanilla, nutmeg.
Apple Crisp, Crumble & Cobbler
Apple crisps, crumbles and cobblers are I reckon the most deliciously quick and easy way to make desserts with all your apples. You barely need a recipe, I just
- Chuck chopped apples in a big skillet with butter, spices, a little sugar (not much at all) and a splash of water.
- Stew-caramelise for 10-20 minutes.
- Splosh in a little brandy (!!!) and cook off for a few minutes.
- Sprinkle crisp, crumble or cobbler mix on top.
- Bung in oven for 20 minutes or so!!
- Serve with cream or natural yoghurt.
But if you do want a proper recipe for your apple crisps, crumbles and cobblers, the ones below are fantastic and still very simple.
Classic Apple Crisp
This cinnamon flavoured classic apple crisp with oat topping needs only 15 minutes preparation to get in the oven.
Time To Table : 1 hour
Ingredients : apples, cinnamon, lemon juice, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, oats, flour, unsalted butter, cinnamon.
Classic Apple Crumble
Made with just 5 basic ingredients a classic apple crumble - this one is from Jamie Oliver - could not be simpler and is a great way to use up cooking apples like Bramleys.
Time To Table : 50 minutes
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, unsalted butter, sugar, lemon juic.
Classic Apple Cobbler
This classic apple cobbler is another super easy recipe full of warming fall spices including cardamom and cloves that tastes amazing AND makes your home smell great!
Time To Table : 1 hour
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, unsalted butter, milk, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, cardamom, cloves, lemon juice.
Apple Crumble Cake
This spicy apple crumble cake with beautifully moist sponge and a streusel-like crumble topping works well both as an apple dessert or a teatime treat.
Time To Table : 1 hour 5 minutes
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, yoghurt, buttermilk / thinned sour cream, eggs, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla.
Apple Cookies & Bars
Little apple filled lunch box and teatime treats like apple cookies and bars are a great way to use up lots of apples from your garden or the market as they keep well in the fridge and can be frozen.
Apple Pie Bars
These easy apple pie bars use the same simple crumble crust as both the base and the lovely crumble topping
Time To Table : 1 hour 15 minutes
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice.
Caramel Apple Pie Bars
These caramel apple pie bars are very similar to the easy ones above but have an oaty streusel topping with caramel sauce. They don't take long to prepare but do need a good 2 hours to rest in the fridge after cooking.
Time To Table : 3 hours 20 minutes
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, heavy cream.
Apple Crumble Bars
These apple crumble bars are similar again to the pie bars but have a real shortbreadie - classic British-Australian crumble feel to the base and topping.
Time To Table : 55 minutes
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, unsalted butter, white sugar, baking powder, egg, cinnamon, nutmeg, rolled oats.
Apple Pie Cookies
These adorable little apple pie cookies combine simple cookie dough - you can make in a mixer - with skillet caramelised apples and a quick streusel topping.
Time To Table : 45 minutes
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, unsalted butter, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, corn starch, baking powder, bicarb / baking soda, cinnamon.
Apple Crumble Cookies
These apple crumble cookies that are both crunchy and crumbly are great for kids but also for dunking in a cup of tea!
Time To Table :
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, unsalted butter, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, egg, rolled oats, cinnamon, baking powder, bicarb / baking soda.
Apple Cakes
Easy Apple Cake
This easy apple cake is a deliciously everyday apple cake with layers of cake batter and sliced apples topped with flaked almonds.
Time To Table : 55 mins
Ingredients : apples, self-raising flour, unsalted butter, caster sugar, milk, eggs, flaked almonds.
German Apple Cake
Most European countries have their own classic version of apple cake but German apple cake (apfelkuchen) is perhaps the most famous. You basically stir most of your thinly sliced apples into your cake batter and then press a few slices into the top as decoration finally glazing the baked cake with cinnamon sugar or apricot jam.
Time To Table : 1 hour
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, eggs, milk, baking powder, vanilla extract, lemon juice, cinnamon.
Apple & Walnut Cake
If you are a big fan of nutty cakes you will love this apple & walnut cake. Optionally, you can take it to a whole new level by adding whisky and espresso.
Time To Table : 50 mins
Ingredients : apples, walnuts, plain flour, eggs, dark brown sugar, neutral tasting oil, baking powder, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg plus optionally whisky, coffee.
Spiced Apple Cake
Fragrant fall spices are a common theme in all these easy apple recipes and this spiced apple cake includes cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg.
Time To Table : 1 hour 50 mins
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, vegetable oil, cornstarch, milk, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, eggs, soft light brown sugar, vanilla extract, baking powder, baking soda/bicarb, unsalted butter, lemon juice.
This alternative multi-layered spiced apple cake with caramel sauce is very similar but would look stunning as a seasonal dessert.
Apple Bundt Cake
This apple bundt cake uses a very simple batter you can make quickly in a mixer but looks stunning covered in caramel glaze as a dessert.
Time To Table : 1 hour 25 mins
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, vegetable oil, eggs, granulated sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, baking soda/bicarb, heavy cream, light brown sugar.
Swedish Apple Cake
This simple Swedish apple cake (appelkaka) has a wonderfully moist sponge made with milk and is topped with thick slices of apple, brown sugar and cinnamon.
Time To Table : 1 hour
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, eggs, granulated sugar, butter, vanilla extract, milk, brown sugar, cinnamon.
Cardamom Apple Cake
The warm, sweet, spicy fragrance of the cardamom in this delicious cardamom apple cake oozes cosy autumn comfort. It's another lovely fall bake that will make your home smell amazing naturally.
Time To Table : 1 hour 5 minutes
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, butter, olive oil, eggs, caster sugar, demerara sugar, baking powder, ground cardamom, vanilla extract.
Invisible Apple Cake
This French inspired invisible apple cake (Gâteau Invisible) is something a bit different. It is made with lots of apples in a loaf tin and a very creamy almost custardy batter. You can top it with a caramel sauce or blackberry compote.
Time To Table : 1 hour 45 minutes
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, caster sugar, heavy cream, milk, eggs, butter, granulated or light brown sugar.
Italian Apple Cake
Italy's contribution to this collection of easy apple recipes is this Italian apple cake (torta di mele) which has the lovely extra twists of lemon zest and pine nuts rather than the typical northern European flavourings.
Time To Table : 1 hour 15 minutes
Ingredients : apples, flour, butter, caster sugar, eggs, lemon, pine nuts, icing sugar
Apple Upside Down Cake
I have a real nostalgia for upside down cakes as they were so popular in my childhood and this apple upside down cake is a joyful mix of fall flavours with caramel topping and much easier than it looks.
Time To Table : 1 hour 30 minutes
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, unsalted butter, dark sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract,
Apple Desserts
Apple Cheesecake
This stunning salted caramel apple cheesecake makes a showstopping fall dessert that would be great for Halloween, Bonfire Night or Thanksgiving if you're not a big pumpkin fan.
Time To Table : 2 hours 35 minutes
Ingredients : apples, apple cider, salted butter, light brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, all spice, cornstarch, Graham's cracker / digestive biscuit crumbs, cream cheese, granulated sugar, eggs, sour cream.
Dorset Apple Pudding
This Dorset apple pudding is a simple everyday British apple traybake that you can serve hot with custard, ice cream or cream or as slices for lunch boxes.
Time To Table : 1 hour 10 minutes
Ingredients : apples, self raising flour, unsalted butter, light brown sugar, milk, eggs, baking powder, demerara sugar, lemon juice, icing sugar.
Malvern Apple Pudding
This traditional Malvern apple pudding from Worcestershire in England is a great option if you are after a quick easy dessert to make with apples. You just quickly caramelise the apples in a pan then cover them with creamy egg custard topped with demerara sugar and cinnamon and pop it under the grill for 5 minutes.
Time To Table : 35 minutes
Ingredients : apples (traditionally half Bramleys, half russets), butter, caster sugar, lemon, plain flour, full fat milk, egg yolks, vanilla extract, demerara sugar, cinnamon.
Apple Charlotte
This delicious apple Charlotte is another traditional British apple dessert - or pudding - that is very easy to make. You just bake lightly caramelised apples in a pudding bowl lined with butter dipped bread.
Time To Table : 1 hour 15 mins
Ingredients : apples, white bread, butter, sugar, lemon zest
Apple Eve's Pudding
Traditional apple Eve's pudding is another British dessert that takes almost no effort - it is just cinnamon stewed apples baked under a thick soft sponge and served with custard or cream.
Time To Table : 1 hour 15 mins
Ingredients : apples, self raising flour, butter, caster sugar, egg, milk, cinnamon
Apple Clafoutis - Batter Pudding
A clafoutis is a simple French dessert that is basically a fruit and batter pudding. You can make clafoutis with all sorts of fruit including pears and plums. This apple clafoutis is flavoured with cinnamon and vanilla but you could also add blackberries.
Time To Table : 50 minutes
Ingredients : apples, butter, caster sugar, plain flour, milk, eggs, corn starch, baking powder, cinnamon, vanilla extract.
Apple Brown Betty
A betty is very close to a crumble or crisp but as in this apple brown betty has alternating layers of fruit and crumble mixture.
Time To Table : 50 minutes
Ingredients : apples, plain flour, butter, brown sugar, caster sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, lemon juice.
Baked Apples
Baked Apple & Oats
Baked apples in all their different forms are a nice no-brainer way to use up lots of fruit. This baked apple & oats recipe uses whole cored apples that are stuffed with oats, butter, brown sugar and spices plus if you like dried fruit and nuts.
Time To Table : 1 hour
Ingredients : apples, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg.
Cinnamon Baked Apples
Baked apples are a lovely simple way to make your kitchen smell amazing and these cinnamon baked apples will fill your whole home with spicy fall fragrances.
Time To Table : 1 hour 10 minutes
Ingredients : apples, apple juice, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, corn starch.
Baked Apple Slices
Finally, these baked apple slices are a super quick way to make an apple dessert if you are on your own or there is just the two of you.
Time To Table : 30 minutes
Ingredients : apples, butter, cinnamon
And there you go a must save collection of easy apple recipes that will give you delicious options for using up your apples all autumn long.
Do save for later and for more inspiration check out these other seasonal fruit recipes and follow my Seasonal Food board on Pinterest.
Cucumber Recipes
These deliciously easy cucumber recipes are just what you need if you're struggling to know what to make with an abundance of cucumbers.
Obviously you can pickle them - and I have top tips on pickling cucumbers at the bottom - but first off I have for you here super tasty recipes for :
- Cucumber salads with a twist.
- Classic gazpacho soup.
- Ever popular tzatziki and raita sauces to add a zing to your fave middle eastern and Indian dishes.
- PLUS surprisingly delicious fried and stir fried cucumbers with punchy harissa and peanut sauces.
There's also recipes for the best cucumber sandwiches, lovely cucumber canapes, cucumber smoothies and even cucumber sorbet!
So if you love cucumber, or like me have got a bumper harvest of huge cucumbers, read on. And do bookmark or save on Pinterest for later.
Table of Contents
Cucumber Salads
Creamy Cucumber & Dill Salad
This creamy cucumber & dill salad is super quick to make but seriously delicious and goes with just about any meal you could be serving.
Time To Table : 10 minutes
Ingredients : cucumbers, red onion, sour cream, lemon juice, dill, garlic
Cucumber Noodle Salad
This lovely cucumber noodle salad is tasty enough to be the centre of a light meal with just a quick protein side dish. You don't need a fancy spiralizer to make the cucumber noodles, I just use my super cheap julienne peeler.
Time To Table : 15 minutes
Ingredients : cucumbers, snow peas, spring onion, mint, sesame oil, ginger, coconut aminos/soy sauce, honey/maple syrup, sesame seeds.
Asian Cucumber Salad
This Asian cucumber salad takes a little longer to make but has a wonderful combination of flavours that perfectly complement the cucumbers.
Time To Table : 25 minutes
Ingredients : cucumbers, scallions/spring onions, ginger, garlic, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, maple syrup/honey, chilli garlic sauce, toasted sesame seeds.
Thai Cucumber Salad
This Thai cucumber salad makes the perfect quick side dish for your favourite Thai dishes. My one gripe with this recipe is the sugar level - it has more than 30g per person. That is more than the recommended daily maximum for an adult in a salad, crazy!! Personally, I think it's great with barely 2 teaspoons per person.
Time To Table : 15 minutes
Ingredients : cucumbers, shallots, chilli peppers, cilantro/coriander, white vinegar, kosher salt, sugar.
Cabbage & Cucumber Salad
This green cabbage & cucumber salad recipe is something a bit different combining the freshness of cucumber with cabbage crunch which makes it filling enough to be the base of a low carb or Keto meal served with pork ribs or your other favourite pork cuts.
Time To Table : 15 minutes
Ingredients : cucumbers, green cabbage, green onions/spring onions, dill, sunflower oil, distilled white vinegar/white wine vinegar
Cucumber Greek Salad
A big cucumber greek salad is a great quick lunch in its own right with just just some bread on the side for mopping juices!
Time To Table : 15 minutes
Ingredients : cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, feta, green bell pepper, olives, mint leaves, olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, oregano, dijon mustard.
Tzatziki Sauce
A classic tzatziki sauce is an incredibly easy way to add some extra zing to your favourite Greek and middle eastern meals or leftovers and a perfect accompaniment for :
- Grilled fish
- Grilled meat
- Lamb kebabs
- Roast vegetables
- Pitta bread
- Falafel etc
Time To Table : 15 minutes
Ingredients : cucumber, yoghurt, lemon juice, garlic, dill, olive oil.
Cucumber Raita
Ready in barely 10 minutes this cucumber raita is the perfect quick partner for all your favourite Indian recipes or again a great way to pad out and freshen up leftovers.
Time To Table : 10 minutes
Ingredients : cucumber, yoghurt, cumin, black pepper, coriander/cilantro, chaat masala/curry powder, mint, green chilli pepper.
Cucumber Gazpacho
This cucumber gazpacho is a lovely way to use up garden cucumbers and green tomatoes. It's ideal for hot summer days but also delicious as summer fades in September.
Time To Table : 30 minutes
Ingredients : cucumbers, tomatillos/green tomatoes, onion, garlic, jalapeno pepper, olive oil, cilantro, lime juice, honey/maple syrup, yoghurt, mint, seeds
Fried Cucumber & Harissa
Who knew you could fry cucumber? Well you can and this fried cucumber & harissa truly is a fantastic way to use up big garden cucumbers. We love it combined in mezze with lamb, Greek yoghurt, falafel, houmous etc.
Time To Table : 10-15 minutes
Ingredients : cucumbers, harissa, olive oil
The recipe cuts the cucumbers into slices but I think it's quicker to cut them into slabs length wise, especially if like me you've got some huge late season cucumbers!
Cucumbers In Spicy Peanut Sauce
This recipe for cucumbers in spicy peanut sauce is another great way to serve cucumbers with a real big punch of flavour. It looks like it takes a bit longer but 60 minutes of your prep time is just leaving the cucumbers in a colander to lose some of their excess moisture.
Time To Table : 75 minutes
Ingredients : cucumbers, peanuts, soy sauce, rice vinegar, peanut butter, honey, garlic, chilli flakes, coriander
Stir Fried Cucumber
This brilliant stir fried cucumber from Ken Lom makes a wonderful low carb or Keto side for your favourite Chinese meat or fish dishes.
Time To Table : 30 minutes
Ingredients : cucumbers, groundnut oil, garlic, ginger, spring onions, chilli flakes, sesame oil, sugar (optional)
Cucumber Sesame Noodles
These spiralized cucumber sesame noodles tossed in sesame oil and roasted sesame seeds make a simple and elegant low-carb alternative to your usual noodles.
Time To Table : 40 minutes
Ingredients : cucumbers, salt, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, sugar (option)
Cucumber & Pineapple Smoothie
Cucumbers work well in all sorts of smoothies but this cucumber & pineapple smoothie has a wonderfully refreshing tropical flavour to it.
Time To Table : 5 minutes
Ingredients : cucumber, pineapple, banana, coconut milk, lime, spinach/kale.
Cucumber Canapes With Salmon Mousse
These pretty cucumber canapes with salmon mousse need a little patience to cut and fill but are really not tricky. If you are making them from home grown cucumbers, do check the skins aren't too thick and tough.
Time To Table : 20 mins preparation, 5 hours chilling
Ingredients : cucumbers, smoked salmon, cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, dill, garlic, lemon.
Cucumber Sandwiches
It is easy to be dismissive of cucumber sandwiches but they really are a refreshingly mouth cleansing start to afternoon tea and the perfect segue to scones and jam!!
Time To Table : 15 minutes
Ingredients : cucumbers, white bread, cream cheese, mayonnaise, dill, chives, garlic powder (optional)
Cucumber Sorbet
Sadly cucumbers don't typically freeze well when you've got an abundance to use up BUT they do freeze well transformed into a mouth wateringly simple cucumber sorbet!
Time To Table : 6 hours
Ingredients : cucumbers, lemons, sugar.
Equipment : ice cream maker
Pickling Cucumbers
Pickled cucumbers are a brilliant and very simple way to use up an abundance of homegrown cucumbers but there's also an over abundance of pickled cucumber recipes out there which over complicate the process!!
So I have here basic rules for pickling cucumbers to keep in the fridge safely for a few months and a quick recipe you can easily adapt using the rules.
Pickled Cucumber Basics
- Pickling Brine
- Pickling Vinegar
- Vinegar - Water Ratios
- Pickling Salt
- Heating The Brine
- Cooling The Brine
- Do You Need Sugar?
- How Long Do Fridge Cucumbers Last?
- Do Jars Need Sterilising
Pickling Brine
Cucumbers are pickled in a preserving brine made from :
- Vinegar
- Water
- Salt.
You can add all sorts of flavours to your brine to give your cucumbers a real zing.
Pickling Vinegar
Cucumbers are typically pickled in distilled white vinegar or white wine vinegar but you can use other vinegars e.g. apple cider vinegar as long as the acidity is greater than 5%. The acidity stops bacteria growing in your pickles.
Vinegar - Water Ratios
Adding water to brine stops the vinegar being crazily tangy. But do NOT dilute the vinegar too much. You must have at lease equal parts of vinegar and water e.g. 1 cup of vinegar to 1 cup of water.
Pickling Salt
You can pickle your cucumbers with plain table salt but it can make the brine cloudy. Cumbers are typically pickled with Kosher or pickling salt in the USA or with rock salt in the UK.
Heating The Brine
You don't have to heat the brine for fridge pickles - you must if canning - but the added flavours will be much better if you do.
Cooling The Brine
Some recipes cool the brine before pouring over cucumbers. Cooled brine will keep your cucumbers crunchier but the flavourings will take long to penetrate the cucumber. If you want to start eating cucumbers the same day or next day hot brine is better if not let the brine cool.
Do You Need Sugar?
Sugar is not needed to preserve pickled cucumbers in the fridge. If can help keep cucumbers a tiny bit crunchier but is mostly just there because we are all addicted to sugar!!.
How Long Do Fridge Cucumbers Last?
Cucumbers pickled in vinegar and salt brine should last up to 2 months in the fridge as long as the cucumbers stay covered by the brine.
Do Jars Need Sterilising?
Jars just need hot washing in soapy water and air drying rather than sterilising if you are going to keep cucumbers in fridge.
Picked Cucumber Ingredients
Brine per 1 large cucumber weighing roughly ~7 oz / 200 g :
- 5 US fl oz (150 ml) distilled white vinegar or white wine vinegar with > 5% acidity.
- 4 US fl oz (120ml) water.
- 2.5 teaspoon (14g) of kosher salt (rock if kosher not available).
If your family loves tangy cucumbers up the vinegar to 6 US fl oz (180 ml).
Brine flavouring extras per cucumber :
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon pepper corn
- 1 teaspoon of e.g. mustard seed, coriander seed, fennel seed, dill seed or a combo thereof.
Other optional extras to pickle with cucumbers per cucumber :
- 1 jalapeno pepper sliced
- 1 spring / green onion sliced
- 1-2 garlic cloves crushed
Pickling Equipment
Equipment needed per cucumber :
- 12-16fl oz / 350-500 ml jar
You will also need a stainless steel pan that won't react with vinegar.
Pickled Cucumber Recipe
- Make Brine : bring brine ingredients to boil in pan and simmer for 5-10 minutes until the salt has dissolved.
- Cool Brine : for at least 30 minutes to keep cucumbers crunchy.
- Prep Cucumbers : thinly slice cucumbers or cut into spears. Big home grown cucumbers may need peeling if they have thick skins.
- Crunch Cucumbers : place cucumber in a colander over a bowl either lots of ice or ½ teaspoon of salt for 20 minutes to make super crunchy.
- Hot Wash Jars : leave to air dry.
- Prep Extras : slice e.g. jalapeno pepper or spring onion and crush garlic cloves.
- Pack Jars : with cucumbers and extras until 75% full.
- Pour Brine : pour over brine and seeds leaving ½ inch space at top.
- Submerge Everything : push down cucumbers & extras to ensure submerged in brine.
- Store In Fridge : ready to eat in 24 hours but peak flavour in 3-5 days. They will last up to 2 months.
And there you go, loads of simple but super tasty ideas for what to make with an abundance of cucumbers.
For more seasonal food ideas do check out my other real food recipes and follow my seasonal food and food storage boards on Pinterest.
Luscious Pear Recipes
Summer pear recipes too often lose out to all the scrumptious peach and plum recipes out there but pears have a secret weapon and that is chocolate!!
Pears and chocolate are a match made in heaven and chocolate can transform the saddest of backyard pears - mine aren't great - into a delicious dessert.
So I have for you here a collection of the best easy but luscious pear and chocolate recipes covering :
- Poached Pears & Chocolate
- Chocolate Pear Tarts
- Chocolate Pear Cakes
- Chocolate Pear Puddings
PLUS classic chocolate-free pear recipes that come into their own with perfectly ripe fresh pears including :
- Pear Tarte Tatin
- Red Wine Poached Pears
- Tarte Bourdaloue (the traditional French pear frangipane tart)
- Pear Clafoutis
- Pear Sorbet
- And more ....
If you have fresh market pears or a huge load of pears from a farm or backyard tree, there are pear recipes here for you!!
Do bookmark or save and enjoy!!
Table of Contents
Poached Pears & Chocolate
Poached pears and chocolate - or Poire Belle Helene as the French call it - looks glamorous and tastes amazing but is actually surprisingly simple.
This Poire Belle Helene recipe has nice, easy to follow steps but I would slash the sugar to 3 teaspoons per pear.
For a luxurious twist try this poire belle Helene recipe with white wine.
Chocolate Pear Tarts
Caramel Pear & Chocolate Tart
This delicious caramelised pear & chocolate tart is much simpler than you'd think. You basically just :
- Blind bake crust for 20 minutes
- Caramelise pears in a sugar, water & butter syrup in a skillet.
- Add pears to cooled crust to cool.
- Top with chocolate ganache.
- Cool in fridge for 2 hours.
Classic Chocolate Pear Tart
This classic chocolate pear tart is another crowd pleaser that is much simpler than it looks. It is a slightly spongey crust plus an incredible chocolate, almond & Amaretto filling topped with sliced pears. The crust doesn't need blind baking - or even chilling - so you can have the tart ready for the table in just over an hour.
Pear & Chocolate Bakewell Tart
This pear & chocolate tart recipe is based on a traditional British Bakewell tart. Melted chocolate is knifed through an almond sponge mixture to create a gorgeous marbled effect and then topped with pears and almonds.
Chocolate Pear Cakes
Easy Chocolate Pear Cake
This super easy chocolate pear cake isn't a fancy-pants dessert for entertaining but makes a scrumptious family teatime treat or dessert with just 15 minutes of preparation.
Chocolate Pear Crumb Cake
This pretty chocolate pear crumb cake is made with ricotta, sour cream or yoghurt for a beautifully moist chocolate and pear sponge base with a hazelnut streusel crumb topping.
Chocolate Fudge Pear Cake
This gorgeously decadent chocolate fudge pear cake has a dark chocolate base and more dark chocolate on top but is not crazily high in unnecessary sugar compared with many recipes having less than 3 teaspoons per slice.
Chocolate Pear Layer Cake
This chocolate pear layer cake is a real show-off cake for special occasions. The pears are poached in brandy and the poaching syrup added to the sponge for an extra boozy boost.
Personally, I'd ditch the sugar from the poaching brandy as you risk losing the flavour of the pears. And if like me you are a dark chocolate kind of girl, try replacing the butter cream with more dark chocolate - and brandy! - ganache.
Chocolate Pear Bundt Cake
If you love bundt cakes, you'll love this chocolate pear bundt cake. It is a spicy chocolate and pear sponge flavoured with cinnamon and nutmeg and covered in cinnamon sugar and a glaze.
Secret Pear Chocolate Cake
This fabulous secret pear chocolate cake would make a delightful surprise dessert when you are entertaining.
It is a perfect recipe for slightly over ripe pears that are just baked in a chocolatey cake mixture in a loaf tin. The cake is cooled slightly for better slicing and then served with hot chocolate sauce.
The recipe defaults to French but you can tab to English at the top
Chocolate Pear Desserts
Easy Chocolate Pear Pudding
This easy chocolate pear pudding is a great way to use up lots of ripe pears from the market or garden at the end of the pear season in autumn.
You can also whip up the pudding as a stomach warming family dinner dessert in winter with either canned or frozen pears.
Pear & Chocolate Crumble
This pear and chocolate crumble is another deliciously kid-friendly way to use up lots of pears and could not be easier. A lovely alternative is to make a plain pear crumble - leave out the cocoa powder & chocolate chunks - served with hot chocolate sauce.
More Pear Tarts
Pear Tarte Tatin
The skillet caramelised pears in this gorgeous pear tarte tatin are beautifully rich and oozing with flavour.
Don't be scared off by the idea tarte tatins are tricky - they're not and this pear recipe and these for plum tarte tatin and peach tarte tatin are great ways to use up lots of seasonal fruit.
Tarte Bourdaloue (Pear & Almond Tart)
The French are such experts at seasonal fruit tarts they have a special name - Tarte Bourdaloue - for a pear and almond or frangipane tart.
This classic French Tarte Bourdaloue recipe combines :
- Sweet short crust pastry shell
- Lemon poached pears
- A very light almond sponge filling
- And flaked almonds
- With a light syrup topping.
It's not the quickest of recipes as the sweet crust is better for chilling and blind baking but none of the stages actually involve much effort.
Pear Galette
Galettes and crostatas are a deliciously quick and easy way to use up lots of seasonal fruit from a market or orchard or your own backyard.
This wonderfully spicy pear galette recipe needs just 15 minutes prep and 20 minutes in the oven. It is an ideal rough and ready recipe for family dinners but looks stunning and tastes scrumptious if you are entertaining.
If you love galettes do also check out this peach crostata and plum galette.
More Pear Desserts & Puddings
Pear Clafoutis
A clafoutis is another classic French dessert for using up lots of seasonal fruit. It is basically a crust-free custard tart baked with fruit.
This lovely pear clafoutis is made with pears marinated in white wine, kirsch or brandy and has some great tips on how to make sure your fruit don't sink to the bottom of your clafoutis.
If you are a clafoutis fan do check out this easy plum clafoutis recipe.
Pear Crumble
I usually make pear and chocolate crumble, as my garden pears are not marvellous but this simple oaty pear crumble is lovely with good ripe pears.
I would serve with cream rather than ice cream for just that right balance of sweetness and tart fruity flavour.
Pear Cobbler
A stomach warming pear cobbler is a great way to use up lots of autumn or frozen pears or even canned pears.
This traditional pear cobbler recipe can be on the family dinner table in just an hour with 20 minutes prep. It's delicious served with cream which keeps the sugar hit to 3 teaspoons per person compared with ice cream which can easily double that!!
Easy Pear Crisp
This easy pear crisp with oat and pecan topping is another wonderful recipe for lots of fall or frozen pears.
The recipe does work out at 6 teaspoons of sugar per person - even without ice cream - so it's worth cutting it down a bit if you don't want to overload the family with insulin spiking sugar in an everyday dessert.
More Pear Cakes
Italian Pear Cake
The French may make the best pear tarts but I reckon the Italians make the best pear cakes!
This fabulously easy Italian pear cake which needs just 10 minutes preparation is made with yoghurt for a wonderfully moist sponge.
Pear & Ricotta Cake
This alternative Italian ricotta pear cake is just as gorgeously moist made with sour cream as well as ricotta and is again very easy needing only 15 minutes preparation.
Pear & Ricotta Cheesecake
If you love pears and ricotta do try this ricotta & pear cheesecake recipe. It's crust free so is super light and luscious with fresh pears.
French Pear Cake
This classic French pear cake made with sour cream and a crackly sugar topping is another lusciously light recipe that is more pear than cake.
Upside Down Pear Cake
Pears just like peaches and plums make great gooey upside down cakes.
This upside down pear cake recipe is rich and spicy with ginger, cinnamon and molasses and would make a great late autumn or Halloween dessert as the winter nights draw in.
Poached & Baked Pears
Poached Pears
Pears truly are heavenly with chocolate but good pears are also exquisite poached simply with :
- Water
- Alcohol
- Sugar (but not too much!!)
- Plus your favourite spices e.g. cinnamon, ginger, cardamom.
This guide to easy poached pears has got great tips on how to work with whatever you've got into to produce perfectly poached pears.
Sugar Free Stewed Pears
My garden pears are short on sun and not amazing but even they are good poached and caramelised with just water, butter and spices and served sugar-free with dollops of cream.
I just peel and chop them and chuck in the pan but for more tips use this recipe for easy stewed pears.
Red Wine Poached Pears
This recipe for pears poached in red wine is another absolute French classic. You just poach firm pears in red wine with spices, orange slices and a little sugar and honey.
Baked Pears
These baked pears caramelise beautifully roasted in the oven sugar with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. The natural sugars in the pears will caramelise in the butter so you don't even need added sugar if you are trying to cut back.
Pear Sorbet
Pear sorbet has a lovely clean refreshing flavour and this easy pear sorbet, which you can whip up without an ice cream maker, is a great way to use up ripe pears going spare.
Pear Butter & Jam
Pear Butter
Lashings of homemade pear butter on a toasted English muffin are a delight on cooling autumn days and this spicy pear butter recipe rich with ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg is super easy to make with lots of ripe pears.
Do remember fructose in fruit butters and sauces and the honey in this recipe spike blood sugar as much as added sugar. So start the recipe with half as much honey and only add more to taste if you really think it needs it.
Pear Jam
Pears truly do blend beautifully with ginger and cinnamon and bring a gorgeous flavour to this chunky pear jam recipe.
Savoury Pear Recipes
Pear & Blue Cheese Galette
Pears other big super power in the seasonal fruit stakes is that they are amazing in savoury recipes and this savoury pear galette with blue cheese is a brilliant example of that.
Savoury Baked Pears
These savoury baked pears with gorgonzola, walnuts and cranberries would be lovely as part of an autumn buffet meal with cold meat or as a no sugar dessert if you swapped out the honey with butter.
Pear Salad With Balsamic & Walnuts
This pear salad with balsamic, walnuts and pecorino cheese is another great fall recipe but it is one you need to save for great, perfectly ripe pears.
Roasted Pear Salad With Gorgonzola
If your pears aren't quite ripe or totally amazing, this roasted pear salad is a great choice. The pears are quickly roasted in olive oil and served with rockets, walnut, gorgonzola and a balsamic and honey dressing.
The recipe suggests serving the salad with farro but it is also great without. If you are keeping an eye on sugar, drop the honey from the dressing.
And there you go a must save collection of luscious pear recipes including :
- Chocolate Pear Tarts
- Chocolate Pear Cakes
- Chocolate Pear Desserts
- More Pear Tarts
- More Pear Desserts
- More Pear Cakes
- Poached & Baked Pears
- Pear Sorbet
- Pear Butter & Jam
- Savoury Pear Recipes
Do save for later and for more inspiration check out these other seasonal fruit recipes.
Deliciously Easy Peach Recipes
These deliciously easy peach recipes are your answer to what to make with
- Perfectly ripe fresh peaches.
- Lots of peaches from the backyard, pick your own farm or market.
- Frozen peaches in winter
- Or even that random can of peaches you need to declutter from the back of the pantry!!
The collection includes all sorts of easy peach recipes for the best :
- Peach tarts, pies & crostata
- Peach cakes
- Peach cobblers & crisps
- Snack size peach bars & scones
- Simple baked & grilled peaches
PLUS some slightly longer but totally scrumptious recipes for :
- Peach meringues
- Peach ice cream!!
So however big your peach haul there are recipes here for you - do bookmark or save for later ...
Table of Contents
Peach Tarts & Pies
Peach Crostata
This peach crostata is scrumptiously easy. It really is a go to recipe - just like this plum galette - when you want an amazing dessert without any faff!!
All you do is :
- Roll a rough round of pastry.
- Toss cut peaches with lemon juice, brown sugar & vanilla essence
- PLUS optionally rum & cinnamon!!
- Dump fruit in centre of pastry.
- Fold over an inch or so of pastry to make a crust.
- Sprinkle with sugar.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes.
If you do want a slightly fancier look try this peach crostata recipe with a proper tart crust and enjoy the time taken to carefully arrange your peaches.
Custard Peach Tart
This custard peach tart truly comes into its own with slightly under ripe, frozen or canned peaches. You still get all the lovely peach flavour but with a bit of lift from the custard filling. Don't be put off by the idea custard is complicated - this peach recipe still only needs 20 minutes prep.
Peach Tartlets
Pretty peach tartlets make lovely tea time treats and this peach tartlet recipe is super easy with frozen puff pastry and a quick almond & glaze topping.
But great fresh peaches don't even need the extra topping and these alternative peach tartlets are amazing with nothing more added than brown sugar and vanilla extract.
White Peach Tart
The French really do win at simple classic fruit tarts - whether peach, plum or pear - and this French inspired white peach tart is a perfect example.
If you have firmer, less juicy white peaches try this alternative white peach tart recipe with a cakier base that doesn't need chilling.
Peach Frangipane Tart
The very best seasonal fruit shines in the simplest of recipes but I have to confess, I cannot resist frangipane tarts whether the plum frangipane we made with plums from our garden this week or this amazing peach frangipane tart recipe.
Peach Tarte Tatin
Tarte tatin's are one of those French fruit tarts that look super impressive and tricky but with simple recipes like this peach tarte tatin are actually incredibly easy - you just have to master flipping them over at the end!!
No Bake Peach Tart
Perfectly ripe - bordering on soft - fresh peaches are ideal for this peach tart which is just a baked crust filled with a mix of mascarpone, cream cheese, heavy cream and confectioner's sugar and topped with fresh peaches.
It can be a good option if you want to cut down on added sugar as neither the crust nor the lusciously creamy filling truly need sugar to taste amazing.
Peach & Berry Tart
If you are after a beautifully easy peach recipe with a bit less added sugar try this peach & berry tart which has only just over 1 teaspoon per helping.
Peach Pie
A peach pie with a pretty lattice topping is a great way to use up lots of peaches from the freezer as the weather cools in autumn and winter.
The lattice does take a little more time but somehow I think peaches need that extra air to caramelise a bit and so aren't so good - unlike apples - under a plain flat crust.
Peach Cakes
Easy Fresh Peach Cake
I honestly think tarts are the very best way to enjoy fresh ripe peaches but peach cakes are amazing if you've got a haul of peaches from the back garden, market or pick your own farm.
This super easy fresh peach cake with yoghurt which manages to be both cakey and creamy really does do fresh peaches justice!
Peach Skillet Cake
Alternatively try this simply gorgeous peach skillet cake which combines peaches with blueberries and a sour cream cake mixture.
Peach Upside Down Cakes
These adorable mini peach upside down cakes make lovely tea time treats or sweet individual deserts but are again super easy. If you did want to make them fancy for dinner guests you could add a tiny splash of brandy or bourbon in the base.
Peach Cobbler, Crisp & Crumble
Peach Cobbler
A simple classic peach cobbler is an easy no-brain-effort way to use up lots of peaches. Personally I prefer peach cobbler in the winter when its great with peaches from the freezer or a forgotten can you need to declutter from the kitchen.
This peach cobbler recipe peels the peaches but when you're cooking them for 40 minutes I am not convinced you need to and there's real goodness in them there skins!! Your call.
Peach Crisp
This crunchy peach crisp recipe with a cinnamon flavoured oat, almond flour and walnut topping can be prepared in just 15 minutes and is very flexible. You could easily use pecans, macadamia, pistachios or whatever nuts you have to hand in your cupboards.
Peach Crumble
There's endless debate about the differences betweens cobblers and crumbles and crisps but for me this easy peach crumble recipe is the classic British crumble with a simple streusel like topping over loads of super juicy peaches.
Peach Bars
These scrumptious little peach crumb bars are stuffed full of fruit but fuss free! They are basically a shortbread-like base and streusel crumb topping with peaches and and sour cream custard in between. They are heavenly with fresh peaches but frozen will do.
This alternative peach bar recipe is very similar but skips the custardy centre.
My only caveat with these recipes is they have way more added sugar than they need i.e. 6-8 teaspoons per bar!!
You can easily slash the sugar - e.g. boost the butter in the base - without losing the lovely peach taste.
Peach Scones
If you love peaches and you love scones, you will love these peach scones or rather peaches & cream scones as the scone dough has both Greek yoghurt and heavy cream!
With beautiful fresh peaches and all that cream, I would skip the glaze, which will bring each scone in with less than 2 teaspoons of added sugar.
Peach Ice Cream
Peaches and cream are a match made in heaven and so is homemade peach ice cream. This simple peach ice cream recipe doesn't use eggs and can be made quickly in a blender.
Alternatively, try this traditional peach ice cream recipe with eggs if you do have an ice cream maker.
Grilled & Roast Peaches
Grilled Peaches
These gorgeous grilled peaches with honey, thyme and mascarpone take just 5 minutes to prepare and less than 10 minutes to transform under the grill!
Personally, I think the peaches are delicious just brushed with the butter and without the added sugar - the butter lets the amazing natural sweetness of the peaches come through without overwhelming it.
And let's be honest - we could all do with seriously slashing our sugar intake!
Roast Peaches
Roasted or baked peaches are a wonderful option if you have fresh peaches to use up but no time to bake and already have the oven on. Just arrange cut peaches cut side up in a baking dish and fill with some combination or another of :
- Butter or olive oil
- Brown sugar
- Honey or maple syrup
- A tiny pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves or all spice
- A splash of brandy, rum or whisky.
Roast for 30 minutes and serve them straight from the oven with cream, Greek yoghurt, creme fraiche, mascarpone or whatever you have.
Peach Meringues
Peach Meringue Pie
Great fresh peaches are so delicious on their own and we really do need to avoid gilding the lily but ... if you are looking for a serious show stopper for a special occasion this peach meringue pie is stunning!
Peach Pavlova
Or for an equally stunning but slightly simpler option go for this peach pavlova recipe - big meringues look impressive if you've never made them before but are super easy, as long as your eggs are fresh.
And there you go, a must save collection of easy peach recipes covering :
- Peach Tarts
- Peach Cakes
- Peach Cobblers, Crisps & Crumbles
- Peach Bars
- Peach Scones
- Peach Ice Cream
- Grilled & Roasted Peaches
- Peach Meringues
I do hope you enjoy them as much as I have - let me know which you love best and do save to come back to make more with your precious peach haul!!
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