Hot Baked Fruit
A warm, comforting baked fruit dish featuring prunes, apricots, pineapple, and cherry pie filling, enhanced with sherry or orange juice—perfect as a sweet side or dessert for gatherings.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Place prunes, apricots, and pineapple in a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish.
- Combine cherry pie filling, water, and sherry or orange juice.
- Pour the mixture over the fruit in the casserole dish.
- Mix well to combine all ingredients.
- Bake for 1 1/2 hours until heated through and bubbly.
Tips & Substitutions
For a richer flavor, consider adding a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the fruit mixture before baking. You can substitute the sherry with apple juice for a non-alcoholic version. If you like a sweeter dish, feel free to mix in some brown sugar or honey to taste. This recipe also works well with other dried fruits like figs or raisins.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this hot baked fruit as a delightful dessert or a comforting side dish. It pairs beautifully with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for added creaminess. For a festive touch, consider serving alongside a holiday punch like Hot Spiced Grape Punch. Enjoy it warm or at room temperature, making it versatile for any occasion.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, simply warm in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until heated through, or microwave individual portions for 1-2 minutes. The flavors will continue to meld, making it even tastier the next day.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Hot Baked Fruit contains roughly 234 calories, with 2g protein, 60g carbohydrates, and 0g fat. It is an excellent source of dietary fiber (25% of the Daily Value), and a good source of potassium and vitamin A. It also contributes 7g of dietary fiber toward your daily target.
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use fresh fruit instead of dried?
While dried fruit provides a concentrated sweetness and texture, you can use fresh fruit like apples or pears. However, you may need to adjust the baking time as fresh fruits contain more moisture and may take less time to cook through.
Is this recipe gluten-free?
Yes, this hot baked fruit recipe is naturally gluten-free as it contains no grains or gluten-containing ingredients. Always check the labels on canned products like cherry pie filling to ensure they are gluten-free.
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can prepare the fruit mixture a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Just pour the mixture into the casserole dish and bake it when you're ready to serve, allowing for a warm, fresh dessert with minimal effort.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).