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Home » How To » Cooking with fruit in November

Modified: Nov 1, 2022 by Vee

Cooking with fruit in November

What fruit is in season in November: Figs, grapes, apples, pears, cranberries, pomegranate, kiwi, grapefruit, and mandarins

November fruits are a bridge between fall and winter. The fall favorites are still perfect for roasting and baking. The winter citrus that start to show up this month add balance to heavy seasonal stews.

Fruit in season in November

  • Apples
  • Pears
  • Grapes
  • Cranberries
  • Figs
  • Pomegranate
  • Kiwi
  • Kumquats
  • Grapefruit
  • Mandarins

Cooking with seasonal produce (and accounting for cooler weather) lets us get creative, making some truly outstanding food. I've compiled some ideas to inspire you this month.

Check out the November seasonal guide for a full list of what's available, including vegetables, or scroll to the bottom for full guides on each of these fruits.

Apples

Apples are still in season in November and can be added to nearly any dish, sweet or savory, fresh or baked. And if love cooking with apples, you might also be interested in "Best apples for everything, from pie to salad."

Cinnamon & brown sugar applesauce
Cinnamon & brown sugar applesauce
Cider bourbon apple pie with oatmeal cookie crumble recipe by How Sweet Eats
Cider bourbon apple pie with oatmeal cookie crumble
Cranberry apple french toast casserole by Recipe Runner
Cranberry apple french toast casserole
Bourbon apple fritters recipe by Broma Bakery
Bourbon apple fritters
Arugula with apples and chickpeas. Recipe by Ask The Food Geek.
Autumn salad with apples & cinnamon-roasted chickpeas
A pan of pasta with apples, bacon, and sage. Recipe by Heather Christo
Pasta with apples, bacon, and sage
A plate of sausages with apples and fennel. Recipe by Foxes Love Lemons.
Slow cooker sausage, apples, and fennel
A plate of whole carrots and apples, roasted with spices. Recipe by Vanilla and Bean
Maple roasted cardamom-spiced carrots and apples
An apple galette topped with caramel. Recipe by The Bojon Gourmet
Apple galette with rum spiced dulce de leche
Apples cut in half and stuffed with caramel. Recipe by The Girl on Bloor
Stuffed caramel apples
A bowl of butternut squash apple soup with spice-filled-spoons on the side
Butternut squash soup with roasted apples
Venison chops with parsnip apple puree

Pears

If an apple can do it, so can a pear. Pears work in nearly any fall recipe as well, from baking to a pork chop's side kick.

Baked pears dipped in caramel. Recipe by The Cookie Rookie
Baked caramel dipped pears
Rye bread sandwich with pears and prosciutto. Recipe by Foxes Love Lemons.
Pear & prosciutto sandwich
Tacos with pears and pomegranate seeds. Recipe by Gimme Some Oven.
Pear & pomegranate tacos
Waldorf chicken salad with pears. Recipe by Jo Cooks.
Waldorf chicken salad with pears
Pear muffins topped with hazelnuts, by the Smitten Kitchen
Pear and hazelnut muffins
A gingerbread pear tart by Heather Christo
Gingerbread pear tart
Roasted brussels sprouts with pears & thyme
Pork chops with ginger pear sauce

Grapes

Roasted grapes will warm you up this month. If you haven't roasted grapes yet, you are in for a treat. They go with darn near everything, and get even better with a drizzle of honey. Try roasting grapes with:

  • A roasted chicken
  • A steak salad
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Add as a crostini topping
Sweet potatoes with roasted grapes & honey
Sweet potatoes with roasted grapes & honey
Roasted chicken with grapes
Roasted sweet potatoes with grapes and honey
Roasted grape balsamic crostini
Steak Salad for dinner recipe: Steak salad with farro and roasted grapes.
Steak salad for dinner with farro and roasted grapes

Cranberries

If you love a good homemade cranberry sauce, try using fresh cranberries in other dishes this month.

Here's a few recipes to get you started.

Whipped cranberry goat cheese spread recipe by How Sweet Eats
Whipped cranberry goat cheese spread
Apple bourbon cranberry sauce recipe by Rhubarbarians
Apple bourbon cranberry sauce
Cranberry sauce muffins recipe by Foxes Love Lemons
Cranberry sauce muffins
Roast turkey breast with cranberry sauce recipe by Jo Cooks
Roast turkey breast with cranberry sauce
Cranberry sauce vinaigrette in a bottle, recipe by Kitchen Confidante
Cranberry sauce vinaigrette
Triple-glazed cranberry pecan sticky buns recipe by Broma Bakery
Triple-glazed cranberry pecan sticky buns

More cranberry recipes:

  • 50+ seasonal ideas
  • Cranberry sauce recipes: fruity, boozy, floral, and spicy

Figs

Ripe, delicious figs are soft and slightly wrinkled. They don't ship well so they are hard to find. But if you do come across them, buy a few or buy a bunch, but use them fast.

  • Figs love cheese: add to a cheese tray or a salad
  • Roast with chicken or pork
  • Bake into bars and bread
Banana bread with figs
Bourbon fig swirled banana bread
A salad with roasted squash, figs, and cheese
Roasted squash & caramelized fig salad
Oatmeal fig bars by Bakerita
Oatmeal fig bars
A pan of chicken thighs with figs
Honey roasted chicken with figs
Flatbread with caramelized onions and figs
Caramelized onion flatbread with figs
Figs with goat cheese and drizzling honey
Baked figs with goat cheese & honey

Pomegranate

I love pomegranate arils (seeds) - they burst with a super sweet, tart flavor. They make everything more interesting, from salads to cheesy enchiladas.

A bowl of oatmeal with figs and pomegranate arils
Pumpkin turmeric oatmeal bowl with figs & pomegranate
squash pomegranate crostini
Butternut squash & pomegranate crostini
A plate of arugula with steak and pomegranate seeds
Pomegranate steak salad from Persiana
brie baked with cranberries and pomegranate
Cranberry pomegranate baked brie
A pan filled with enchiladas
Sweet and sour pomegranate chicken enchiladas
brussels sprouts salad recipe
Brussels sprouts salad with fried goat cheese & pomegranate

Grapefruit

Grapefruit start to show up in November and will taste more tart until they sweeten up later in the season (late winter and into spring). Use that tartness to counter rich and sweet foods.

Spring rolls with brussels sprouts and a grapefruit hoisin dipping sauce. Recipe by Half Baked Harvest
Winter spring rolls
Grapefruit campari tea cakes, recipe by Zestful Kitchen
Grapefruit campari tea cakes
A salad with roasted duck, grapefruit, and wombok. Recipe by The Devil Wears Salad
Roast duck salad with caramelized grapefruit
Roasted chicken thighs in a pan with pancetta and grapefruit. By Went There 8 This
Roasted chicken thighs with pancetta & grapefruit
Cashew chicken with grapefruit and couscous
Cashew chicken with grapefruit
Grapefruit poppy seed cake
Grapefruit poppy seed cake

Mandarins & clementines

This perfect snacking citrus often gets overlooked for other uses. Try using them in salads, cocktails, and baking.

A jar of clementine jam. Recipe by The View from Great Island
Clementine jam
Chocolate clementine smooth by How Sweet Eats
Chocolate clementine smoothie
A kit to make hot toddies by Half Baked Harvest
Clementine Hot Toddy kit for gifting
Clementine cocktail with thyme. Recipe by Heather Christo.
Sparkling clementine thyme cocktail
Cauliflower salad with clementines and pomegranate by Brooklyn Supper
Cauliflower salad with clementines and pomegranate
Clementine cinnamon rolls by Superman Cooks
Clementine cinnamon rolls

Produce guides for November fruit

Learn how to pick & store all of these fruits, as well as helpful tips & recipes.

  • Apple guide: includes tips on the best apples for pie, sauce, etc)
  • Pear guide: also describes the most popular varieties & their uses
  • Grape guide: talks about how harvest timing affects sweetness as well as different varieties
  • Cranberry guide: includes information about the different flavors of bright vs dark red cranberries
  • Grapefruit guide: includes varieties (from ruby red to yellow) and how to tame their bitterness
  • Mandarin / clementine guide: includes varieties and brand names that you'll find in stores
  • Pomegranate guide: shares a resources to learn how to seed them yourself
  • Fig guide: includes different varieties

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