Fruit

Here’s your opportunity to use up berries that are slightly past their prime. This recipe method concentrates the berries’ flavors, so the more delicious they are to begin with, the better they will be dried. At Craftsman and Wolves in San Francisco, CA, William Werner combines them with raw berries in tarts or adds them to arugula salads. They're chewy—a bit softer than a dried apricot—with a plump, juicy consistency.

Don’t believe the hype that every vinaigrette recipe should have one part acid to three parts oil. This more assertive ratio brings a lot more flavor to the table.

Steaming the apricots over the rice while it rests softens them just enough.

While the ingredients for this sweet, salty, and savory salad can all be prepped ahead, the greens should be tossed through just before serving so they stay bright and crisp.

Poaching peaches in ginger beer infuses them with sweet, spicy flavor. Layer the fruit with ice cream and top with more ginger beer for a fun spin on a classic float.

Store-bought granola makes an instant crisp topping in this lickety-split version of the classic summer dessert.

This condiment, called nam pla prik, is found on virtually every home and restaurant table in Thailand.

Pan-searing dates turns them into an irresistible, warm treat with a crisp, caramelized exterior and a soft, sweet interior. Paired with cold vanilla ice cream and topped with olive oil, mint, and flaky sea salt, the fruit becomes a sophisticated dessert with a fun mix of sweet and savory.

These refreshing pops blend two kinds of coconut for an extra rich and creamy flavor. Lime zest lends a lovely floral note.

The savory quality of the herbed sweet-sour plums, plus this incredibly creamy tahini and lemon dressing, is unthinkably tasty.

This genius dessert—a simple lemon tart perfumed with elderflower cordial—comes from the first cookbook of “The Great British Bake Off”’s youngest contestant ever.

This is my ultimate cheesecake: sweet cream cheese, salty peanut butter and tart sour cherries all mingle together to create one perfectly balanced flavor sensation. It is set with gelatin, which means it takes a little longer to make, but the beautiful smooth texture makes it worth the wait.

Pineapple cups make a fun presentation for this frosty summer cocktail, but if you're short on time, just use regular cocktail glasses instead.

These cupcakes remind me of the crisp October air and colored leaves crunching underneath my feet.

Nothing says waiting for the holiday season to end like these moist, fluffy gingerbread cupcakes. Bring them to your next familial bash and eat them as you grit your teeth and marvel at your family.