Fruit and Cheese Desserts

[simplicity]

I need help! I'm looking for fruit and cheese desserts. The only recipe I've made is Gorgonzola stuffed pears. I guess I could serve fresh fruit with cheese, but I don't know the right pairings either, although I've eaten a lot of apples with Brie.

I would appreciate your suggestions.

 

[Bilby]

I haven't got a recipe as I saw it on a cooking show quite some time ago but I do remember a chef poached pears in white wine (I think! but may have been red) and used a blue cheese sauce as the dressing.

Fresh apples, pears,grapes and strawberries, amongst other fruit, goes with just about every type of cheese that I can thin of. One of my favourite snacks in summer is to wrap a crisp grape in a piece of cheese, or smother in a creamy cheese. Try drizzling the fresh fruit with a good quality balsamic vinegar (3 or 4 leaf rated).

Most of the fruit and cheese pairings, other than a cheesecake of course, are savoury. will post again if I think of anything further.

 

[kadesma]

Let you imagination and your taste buds guide you...I love a nice fresh fig, with some mascarpone cheese and a drizzle of lavender honey...Fresh or even dried apricots,stuffed with cream cheese mixed with some finely chopped toasted nuts of choice..
Hope this helps a little.
kadesma

 

[Jeff G.]

I need help! I'm looking for fruit and cheese desserts. The only recipe I've made is Gorgonzola stuffed pears. I guess I could serve fresh fruit with cheese, but I don't know the right pairings either, although I've eaten a lot of apples with Brie.

I would appreciate your suggestions.

I just had some grapes with hot pepper cheese--- a match made in heaven!!
The heat of the cheese with the cool, sweet of the grapes....

 

[Yakuta]

My favorite cheese is Brie and my favorite pairing and snack is to toast some french bread and serve that with room temperature brie and raspberry preserves.

I cut a thin slice of brie place it on the bread, put a small dollop of raspberry preserve and enjoy it.

Brie and raspberries are a perfect match.

 

[decolady]

I like Brie with slices of fresh pear. Yum! A classic is Manchego with membrillo. That's a favourite at our house. Fresh figs with Purple Haze goat cheese are delicious.

 

[simplicity]

I like figs/goat cheese as well. What is membrillo?

 

[jet]

I just had some grapes with hot pepper cheese--- a match made in heaven!!
The heat of the cheese with the cool, sweet of the grapes....

Do you mind elaborating?

 

[jessicacarr]

I like cubed pepper jack, cheddar and that white cheese (the kind that sometimes comes paired with the chedder cubes, I forgot the name) with grapes. I was on that kick for a few months this summer.

 

[merstar]

Check this out - it had great reviews:

STUFFED FIGS DRIZZLED WITH CHOCOLATE

1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons grated orange zest
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
10 fresh figs, washed, stems removed
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon Grand Marnier (one reviewer used a little juice from the orange)
1 orange, sliced

1. In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, cooled pine nuts, orange zest, nutmeg and pepper, mixing until smooth.

2. Slice each fig in half lengthwise.

3. Press about a tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture into the cut side of each fig half.

4. Melt chocolate and butter in micro 1 minute; add Grand Marnier, stir till creamy.

5. Drizzle over stuffed figs.

6. Garnish on a platter with orange slices.

posted by Rita L - Recipezaar

 

[merstar]

Here's another one that sounds good:

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE BITES

1 package (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel cheese), softened
1/3 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
16 (about 1 pound) whole strawberries
8 graham cracker squares, finely crushed (about 2/3 cup)

In mixer bowl, beat together cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice and lemon peel until smooth and creamy; set aside.
Using a paring knife or small melon baller, partially hollow out top of strawberries to a depth of 3/4 inch.
Gently fill each with 1 tablespoon cream cheese mixture.
Roll tops into graham cracker crumbs.
Arrange on serving platter.

Variation:
Melt 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate morsels; stir into softened cream cheese.
Omit lemon juice and peel. Add 1/3 cup powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Proceed as recipe directs.
Substitute crushed chocolate wafers for graham crackers, if desired.

- From California Strawberry Commission

 

[simplicity]

Thanks for your responses. They give me ideas.

merstar, that recipe looks good. I have a Black Mission Fig Tree and am always looking for recipes.