Fabulous Fruit

GUESTS OFTEN ASK THE COOK, "WHAT'S YOUR SECRET?" when they tuck a fork into a particularly flaky pastry or delve a spoon into a melt-in-your-mouth cheesecake. The answer lies in the ingredients. If you invest in top-quality products such as sweet or unsalted butter, fine cocoa, pure imported chocolate, perfectly fresh nuts and ripe seasonal fruits, you’ll have no trouble wowing your dinner companions with your dessert prowess.

In our special dessert spread devoted to fall and winter’s favourite fruits, we’ve compiled six recipes that will impress even the most seasoned pastry chef. While some folks tend to think of the warmer months as the best time to enjoy fresh fruit, our desserts serve as a welcome reminder that sensational results can come from humble wintertime apples, pears and cranberries, as well as more exotic produce like pomegranates and figs. Even canned or dried fruit and juices provide terrific ways to enjoy nutritious fruit no matter what the season.

From easy to elaborate, we’ve covered the entire dessert scale. Take the Pomegranate Mandarin Sorbet, for example. With pomegranates forming the latest antioxidant rage, we’ve created an incredible sorbet using pomegranate juice and mandarin oranges and it takes mere minutes to assemble.

But for a truly special occasion when you want the ultimate in dessert decadence, reach for the Hazelnut Praline Swirl and Orange Cheesecake. It may take a little time to prepare but it’s worth every loving stir and will feed at least a crowd of 16. Of course, if you’re serving this indulgent cake at the end of a meal, be sure to announce it from the start. Guests will want to save some room after the main course.

Recipes in this article:

• POACHED PEARS AND POMEGRANATE COULIS
• HAZELNUT PRALINE SWIRL AND ORANGE CHEESECAKE
• POMEGRANATE MANDARIN SORBET
• CHOCOLATE PANNA COTTA WITH CRANBERRY CONSOMMÉ
• CHAMPAGNE ZABAGLIONE WITH WINTER TROPICAL FRUITS
• FRENCH APPLE FIG TART WITH CARAMEL GLAZE

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