A collection of the freshest, brightest, fruitiest spring desserts to make using seasonal fruits!
From pies, pastries, and tarts to fruit curds, jams, ice creams and so much more, these easy fruit desserts are perfect to herald the warmer spring weather and the bounty of fruits the new season brings.
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It might be cliché, but springtime truly is one of my favorite times of the year. Living in Ottawa, we go through about 5 months of cold, snowy, wintry weather.
And after all that to see the ground re-appear in April after it disappears under feet of snow for months, to hear the birdcalls again, to smell the warmer, heavier, humid air after a bout of spring rain, and to see the first shoots of green in my garden all brings me a special kind of glee and hope for the coming months! 😊
So, if you’re looking for some fresh, fruity, light spring dessert ideas to replace the heavy puddings and cakes and hot cocoa from winter and enjoy the spring sunshine and produce, I’ve got the perfect roundup of recipes for you!
Whether you’re whipping any of these up for Easter or Mother’s Day or birthdays or family gatherings, or a simple spring afternoon treat, I hope you’ll find these recipes and tips helpful and refreshing!
What fruits are in season in Spring for desserts?
Being an avid gardener, Spring is an exciting time. To see the first signs of organic life, the first strawberry runners, the first rhubarb shoots, and all the native plants… the feeling never gets old!
Strawberries, blueberries, sweet cherries, rhubarb (technically a vegetable!), lemons, and limes are all synonymous with Spring.
But so are some tropical favorites such as mango, pineapple, passion fruit, coconut etc. that are quite abundant in spring (and most of the year for that matter).
These are all excellent fresh, fruity flavors to incorporate into lighter, brighter desserts to enjoy all season long!
Very berry & tart rhubarb
Sweet, fresh berries and tart rhubarb bring such vibrant color and flavor to any dessert. The flavors pair well with custard desserts and pastry recipes, and they make excellent fruit jams, dessert bars, and even ice cream.
I can think of countless subtle and over the top ways to showcase and enjoy these fruits all season long!
1. Rhubarb crumble bars
Easy rhubarb crumble bars
A perfectly sweet, fruity, tart rhubarb jam filling sandwiched between a buttery shortbread base and a nutty crumble topping. I use the same shortbread dough here for the base and the topping, for convenience. These are so vibrant in color and flavor, and you can add nuts or oats to the topping for more texture and taste too!
Rhubarb crumble bars recipe
2. Strawberry shortcake
Easy strawberry shortcake
Fresh strawberries and whipped cream, served with a soft, buttery lemon buttermilk biscuit with a crunchy topping is such a delightfully light and satisfying treat, perfect for brunch or dessert! The biscuits take 5 minutes to make and only 20 minutes to bake. The lemon buttermilk shortcakes are delicious on their own too.
Strawberry shortcake recipe
3. Strawberry galette
Strawberry galette
It's honestly hard to choose between the buttery galette crust and the jammy strawberry filling here!The rustic galette crust is easy to assemble and the sweet, fresh, fruity strawberry filling that's piled high is such a delicious way to showcase this seasonal fruit. Serve with a dollop of homemade whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for the perfect treat.
Strawberry galette recipe
4. Strawberry cream puffs
Strawberry cream puffs
Crisp, airy choux pastry filled with a fruity strawberry whipped cream filling and fresh macerated strawberries.You could even add an optional craquelin top for more flavor and bright texture. These are such an elegant, simple, vibrant dessert to highlight the fruity freshness of spring!
Strawberry cream puffs recipe
5. Strawberry tart with pastry cream
French style strawberry tart
A buttery tart crust filled with a luscious, creamy vanilla pastry cream filling, and topped with sweet, fresh strawberries! This fresh strawberry tart is such a simple and stunning dessert, and you can easily substitute the strawberries with other seasonal fruits or fresh berries.
Strawberry tart recipe
6. Mixed berry pie
Mixed berry pie
Out of all the fancy, elaborate pies I've made over the years, this simple mixed berry pie is actually my favorite!You can make this with fresh or frozen berries, so technically, you can make it any time of the year! But it's such a wonderful way to use up fresh spring produce like strawberries and blueberries.You can also make it as a classic pie or a slab pie.
Mixed berry pie recipe
7. Strawberry rhubarb pie
Strawberry rhubarb pie
A quintessential spring favorite. This one really has the best combo of sweet and tart fruity flavors! The filling is super thick and jammy, while being melt in your mouth soft and delicious. My simple secret (for many fruit pies) is to cook down the liquid from the fruits, which concentrates the flavor, plus prevents the filling from being runny or watery.
Strawberry rhubarb pie
8. Fresh strawberry pie
Fresh strawberry pie
Truly the freshest strawberry pie you’ll ever taste where the fresh strawberry base is cooked down and thickened with cornstarch and then mixed with more whole fresh strawberries!No strawberry jello, just the sweet, fruity flavor of fresh strawberries.
Fresh strawberry pie recipe
9. Blueberry muffins
Blueberry muffins with streusel topping
Buttery, jam-packed with blueberries, and topped with a crunchy lemon streusel topping!My simple secret is to use wild blueberries. These are smaller, so you can really PACK them into your muffins. Lemon also brings out more of the blueberry sweetness.
Blueberry muffins recipe
10. Roasted blueberries and brie with cinnamon toast
Cinnamon toast with roasted blueberries and brie
Buttery, crunchy, sweet, salty cinnamon toast topped with a fruity blueberry compote and creamy brie. The cinnamon toast with a crème brulee like crunchy topping is such a decadent pairing with fruity blueberries. You could substitute the cinnamon toast with honey butter toast as well.
Cinnamon toast with roasted blueberries and brie recipe
11. Strawberry shortcake ice cream
Roasted strawberry shortcake ice cream
This is the ultimate mashup of spring / summer desserts! Creamy ice cream made with sweet, roasted strawberries and chunks of delicious vanilla sponge cake!This ice cream has a whopping 1 lb of strawberries unlike regular strawberry ice creams. AND I roast them first to concentrate the strawberry flavor even more! This is hands down one of my favorite ice cream recipes ever.
Strawberry shortcake ice cream recipe
Citrus & floral
I LOVE, nay, absolutely adore citrus fruits. So does my husband. I’ll find any way to incorporate the fresh, bright, happy flavors of lemon and lime into my desserts.
Pair them with cakes or cheesecakes or pastries or quick breads, OR let them shine in their own right with ice creams and fruit curds.
12. No bake lemon cheesecake bars
No bake lemon cheesecake bars
Creamy, tangy lemon cheesecake bars with a lemon cheesecake layer and a graham cracker crust, topped with a beautiful lemon curd topping! Easy, fresh, bright, fruity, tangy, these no bake cheesecake bars herald spring and summer for me!
No bake lemon cheesecake bars recipe
13. Lemon raspberry cake
Lemon raspberry cake
Soft, light, airy, yet deliciously moist, and full of refreshing lemon flavor!A lemon cake with a thick, tangy layer of lemon curd and fresh raspberries in the middle, and then frosted with fruity raspberry buttercream frosting. I share lots of tips on how to add even more zingy lemon flavor to this cake too.
Lemon raspberry cake recipe
14. Lemon curd
Homemade lemon curd (lemon butter)
Tangy, creamy, sweet & buttery. I keep a jar of this deliciously fruity curd all spring and summer long in my fridge! You only need 4 ingredients to make it, and I share how to make this curd extra thick and spreadable so you can use it as a filling too.
Lemon curd recipe
15. Lemon ice cream
Creamy lemon ice cream
I love citrus ice creams, so I wanted this to be unapologetically lemony. And that's exactly what you get here. Made with homemade lemon curd for an ultra creamy, buttery, very lemony and tangy ice cream!
Lemon ice cream recipe
16. Lime curd
Homemade lime curd
This has got to be the most citrusy lime curd ever! Not too sweet, deliciously tart, and made with only lime juice (no water to dilute the flavor). And I show how to thicken it further with eggs and butter for a smooth and spreadable consistency, so you can use it as a spread or filling too.
Lime curd recipe
17. Salted lime sherbet
Salted lime sherbet (margarita ice cream)
Tangy, salty, creamy, and refreshing, this has all the flavors of a classic margarita (optionally) MINUS the alcohol, so even kids can enjoy this all spring and summer long!
Salted lime sherbet recipe
18. No bake frozen margarita pie
Creamy frozen margarita pie
A delightfully creamy frozen lime pie, with a salted pretzel crust, and topped with a pillowy soft meringue topping!A boozy and refreshing spring dessert idea for adults, this no bake lime pie treat is packed with sweet, tart, salty flavors. It's a party in your mouth!
No bake frozen margarita pie recipe
19. Lemon meringue pie
Lemon meringue pie
Perfectly sweet, tart lemon meringue pie made with a cooked lemon filling that guarantees you will never overcook or undercook the pie.The filling is never runny or watery, and the buttery crust is always crisp and flaky!
Lemon meringue pie recipe
20. Lemon meringue pie cocktail
Lemon meringue pie cocktail
This cocktail might just be my favorite drink ever! A lemon meringue pie in cocktail form, topped with pillowy, glossy Swiss meringue and a delicious oatmeal lace cookie!It's a dessert and a cocktail in one, made with my homemade lemon curd that adds a richness, creaminess, and a refreshingly tart flavor you'll love!
Lemon meringue pie cocktail recipe
21. Ginger cardamom cake with rose buttercream (Magnolia cake)
Magnolia cake
This one's a quintessential spring dessert for me because everything about this cake reminds me of the beautiful spring blooms of magnolia!Did you know that magnolia flowers are edible? They have ginger and cardamom flavor notes, and that's what aimed for with this gorgeous cake.A combination of spice and floral flavors, with a light and buttery rose Swiss meringue buttercream for a uniquely delicious cake!
Ginger cardamom cake recipe
22. Lavender blueberry scones (with lemon glaze)
Blueberry scones with lemon glaze
Tall, soft, flaky, with crisp edges, and packed with blueberries, and then drizzled with a blueberry lemon glaze, these refreshingly delicious and buttery scones are irresistible! You can make these ahead and freeze, and they bake perfectly from frozen. These really are the only blueberry scones you'll ever need!
Blueberry scones recipe
Tropical & bright
I grew up in tropical Sri Lanka on a steady diet of the juiciest mangoes and pineapple, and all things coconut. 😄 So, these bright, sunny flavors are a go-to for me, no matter the time of the year!
But as spring transitions into warmer weather, these tropical fruits become even more irresistible. Their natural, refreshing sweetness works really well in chilled desserts, tarts, sorbets, creamy spoon desserts etc.
23. Pineapple curd
Easy pineapple curd
Sweet, creamy, buttery, tangy, and looks and tastes like a spoonful of glorious spring and summer! A delicious alternative to citrus curds, this pineapple curd is perfect to eat on its own, or as a spread or filling.
Pineapple curd recipe
24. Pineapple tart (piña colada tart)
Creamy pineapple tart
A buttery shortcrust pastry (pâte sucrée) with a creamy pineapple curd filling, and topped with a light coconut whipped cream topping and a lemon and lime zest garnish.If that doesn't sound like the ultimate spring time dessert, I'm not sure what will! Sweet, tangy, fruity, and refreshing.
Pineapple tart recipe
25. Mango lassi
Creamy mango lassi
A childhood favorite of mine, this sweet, creamy, tangy mango lassi made with just a few simple ingredients is such a refreshing dessert drink for spring and summer!You can use fresh, frozen, or canned mangoes to make this drink. Such a bright, tropical, fruity drink, I think you'll love it! 😊
Mango lassi recipe
26. Mango panna cotta
Mango panna cotta
You can make this creamy, silky smooth, delicious mango panna cotta with fresh mangoes, frozen mangoes, or even mango pulp (frozen or canned).Plus, I also show how to make an easy mango fluid gel to top the panna cotta for even more of that sweet, bright, tropical mango flavor! A refreshing no bake spring dessert.
Mango panna cotta recipe
27. Mango sorbet
Easy mango sorbet
A silky smooth, easy, no churn mango sorbet that you can make with or without an ice cream maker. A delicious way to preserve the sweet, tropical flavor of spring and summer mangoes throughout the year!
Mango sorbet recipe
28. Pineapple popsicles
Spicy pineapple popsicles (paletas)
Eating fresh, ripe, sweet, juicy fruit with a spicy chili powder mix is so common in tropical Sri Lanka, where I grew up. That's where the idea came from for these refreshing pineapple popsicles layered with a spicy, salty spice mix that enhances the fruity freshness and sweetness of pineapple even more!
Pineapple popsicles recipe
29. Passion fruit curd
Passion fruit curd
If you want to preserve the wonderful citrusy, tropical flavor of passion fruit for longer, this is the perfect solution! A delightfully creamy, buttery passion fruit curd made with just a few ingredients. Perfect as a spread or filling or topping.
Passion fruit curd recipe
30. Passion fruit pie
Passion fruit pie
This is truly an unforgettably delicious fruit pie! A creamy, tangy, tropical filling encased in a buttery, flaky pie crust, and topped with billowy marshmallow-like meringue. You can use fresh or frozen passion fruit pulp to make this, and the filling is melt-in-your-mouth thick and luscious, and sets perfectly without any gelatin.
Passion fruit pie recipe
31. Creamy vanilla avocado drink
Vanilla avocado drink
Long before avocado toast, this was how my little millennial self enjoyed avocado, growing up! Simply blend the avocado with milk, sugar, and vanilla to make a deliciously thick, milkshake-like, smooth avocado drink.A great snack for kids and a healthier alternative to dessert drinks as well.
Vanilla avocado drink recipe
32. Matcha panna cotta with passion fruit and mango compote
Matcha panna cotta
A light, refreshing matcha panna cotta topped with a sweet, tart, bright, tropical passion fruit mango compote! I love drinking matcha, and of course mango and passion fruit are two of my all-time favorite fruits, so this silky smooth, creamy panna cotta was such a fun way to combine those flavors.
Matcha panna cotta recipe
More spring dessert ideas
Warmer spring weather also brings lots of occasions for family gatherings and potlucks as well.
From Easter to Mother’s day and weekend brunches, these desserts are perfect for making ahead and entertaining, and for showcasing the beautiful bounty of seasonal fruits (à la pavlova and panna cotta).
33. Spiced banana cupcakes with apricot frosting
Spiced banana cupcakes
These cupcakes are such a fun spring dessert for me! These actually taste like hot cross buns in cupcake form, so they are a perfect Easter treat too.These banana cupcakes are soft and light, moist, spiced (with cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and cloves), studded with raisins, and then topped with a sweet, buttery, fruity apricot frosting.
Spiced banana cupcakes recipe
34. Carrot cake
Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting
This is my absolute favorite carrot cake! Super moist, packed with warming spices and carrot flavor, and frosted with a tangy cream cheese frosting. An easy, versatile recipe that you can make as a one layer sheet cake too.
Carrot cake recipe
35. Pavlova
Pavlova
While an exquisite meringue dessert such as a pavlova is a show-stopping dessert perfect for any time of the year, it's also a fantastic vehicle to showcase the bounty of fresh spring fruits!The crisp outer meringue shell and the melt-in-your-mouth marshmallowy center pairs so beautifully with strawberry, mango, passion fruit, kiwi fruit, sweet cherry etc.
Pavlova recipe
36. Cherry pie
Homemade cherry pie
I honestly can't think of a better way to enjoy sweet cherries that come into season around mid to late spring than in pie form!Unlike most recipes, my trick for an unforgettable cherry pie is to use two cherry components for the best flavor. A thick, concentrated cherry pie filling AND juicy, whole cherries coated in that base. Plus, an optional dash of red wine for even more flavor. Because, why not?
Cherry pie recipe
37. Kahlúa cherry ice cream
Cherry ice cream
Kahlua is one of my favorite liqueurs and the boozy kick from it completely elevates the sweet, fruity notes of this cherry ice cream! Along with chunks of fresh sweet cherries swirled through the ice cream, this is such a fantastic frozen spring treat to welcome the warmer months.
Cherry ice cream recipe
38. White coconut cake with lemon buttercream
Coconut cake with lemon buttercream
A deliciously soft, moist, classic white cake full of coconut flavor, paired with a fluffy, buttery lemon Swiss meringue buttercream. The cake is PACKED with tropical coconut flavor (I use desiccated coconut AND coconut milk), for a fresh, bright, zingy flavor profile.
White coconut cake recipe
39. Coconut panna cotta
Coconut panna cotta (served 3 ways)
Super creamy, light, refreshing coconut panna cotta served 3 ways – with passion fruit syrup, raspberry compote, or granola. If you're looking for a light spring dessert with a lovely tropical flavor, you'll LOVE this! It has no refined sugars, paleo and dairy free, and vegan friendly too.
Coconut panna cotta recipe
40. Buttermilk panna cotta with macerated mango
Buttermilk panna cotta
Buttermilk panna cotta has such a lovely, light, creamy, refreshing flavor that I adore! The contrast of its sweet, tangy flavor with the gently set, melt-in-your-mouth creamy, soft texture is such a perfect spring treat.And then pair it with the sweet, tropical flavor of macerated mango, and you have an easy, crowd-favorite spring time dessert perfect for potlucks and parties.
Buttermilk panna cotta recipe
Tips for baking with spring fruits
- When baking cakes or quick breads such as muffins, one big issue is the fruits sinking to the bottom as the cakes and muffins bake. To prevent this, make sure the fruits are patted dry with a napkin, and toss the fruits with just a little bit of flour. The light coating of flour suspends the fruits in the batter. This technique works for most frozen fruits as well!
- If you do end up with excess fruits, you can absolutely freeze them for later.
- When mixing fruits with cake batter, you have to be extra careful and gentle. The fruits can easily crush, but also because of the extra moisture, you can have too much gluten development, resulting in a more rubbery cake.
- When cutting fruits for baking, make sure to cut the fruits uniformly. This ensures that all of it bakes evenly.
- When baking fruits pies, there are several methods to prevent a soggy bottom crust (caused by the moisture in the fruits).
- One recommended way is to par-bake the bottom crust. However, sealing a top crust will be more difficult this way.
- I prefer to bake the pie closer to the lower heating element in the oven, on a preheated pizza stone or half sheet pan. The direct heat helps to cook the bottom crust better.
- Another option you can also incorporate is to add a thin layer of ground almonds or semolina on the bottom crust to help absorb extra moisture from the fruits as they bake.
- Cooking down the liquid or half of the fruits (like I do with the strawberry rhubarb pie filling), or fully cooking the fruits (like in my cherry pie recipe), can also reduce the moisture from the fruits.
- Some fruits such as mango can lose some of their flavor as they bake. So, make sure to add a fresh fruit component (as a topping, or as fresh fruits in the filling) to really enhance the fruit flavor.
- Citrus fruits contain a white layer under the zest called “the pith”. This is bitter. So, when juicing citrus fruits such as lemons, limes, oranges etc., make sure not to agitate that white pith too much, as this will introduce bitter notes to the juice.
- Adding the zest of citrus (only the surface, and not the white part), will also enhance the flavor of citrus in your desserts.
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