Spiced Hot Fruit Bake is a delicious and healthy holiday breakfast! This gluten free spiced hot fruit bake also makes for a great topping for waffles, pancakes, or simply by itself! A nutritious dish to add to your Holiday Brunch menu. Easter, Christmas, Mother’s Day, or New Year’s brunch. Vegan option too.
Hey friends! I hope your enjoying the Holiday season so far! Just letting you know this vegan Spiced Hot Fruit Bake recipe was originally published in December 2015. I retested and updated content and photos. I really wanted to re-share this goodie of a Holiday recipe because it makes an amazing brunch recipe, dessert, or breakfast topping. Heck, I make it year round! I hope you don’t mind me republishing. Thank you for following Cotter Crunch Y’all!
Reason number 524,600 I love Christmas… THE SMELL! You know, the smell of spices, the smell of christmas morning breakfast.. ahem cinnamon rolls and egg casserole and um.. Christmas brunch Cranberry Almond Cake! And being married to a Kiwi, I get re-live all these “Christmas Smells” with him. It’s summer season during Christmas in New Zealand. Hard to really enjoy those cozy spices or winter fruit when it’s 95F. Right? Haha.
So today, it’s all about bringing back the nostalgia via food! Specifically, spiced hot fruit bake! A family favorite around here.
How to Make Spiced Hot Fruit Bake {Video}
My mom used to (and still does) make spiced hot fruit bake for Christmas and New Year’s brunch. Although, in the south, we call it Hot Alabama fruit. Don’t ask me why, I guessed Alabama or claimed it first. Haha! Actually, I’m thinking it’s because this traditional southern spiced fruit bake is more butter and sugar than fruit. We Southern’s love our buttah! I’m a southerner, I know this!
That being said, I’m determined to lighten this dish. Less sugar, more spice, etc. Besides, fruit is already sweet! Yep, and now I am even more determined to make this hot fruit bake dish ” healthy-ish.”
I know, gasp! Southern folk will disown me, once again, for healthify-ing a dish. But hear me out, because you’re gonna like this. A hot spiced fruit bake that taste so rich and buttery and sweet and smells like Christmas. Please excuse my run on sentences, but I can’t help but exaggerate this dish.
This fruit bake, it’s simple really (much like my caramelized apple cider fruit bake). The key is to have the right amount of extras and the right ingredients. Fresh seasonal fruit and seasonal spices. Such as pears, apples, cranberries, cinnamon, nutmeg. etc. Mmm… can you smell goodness?
Now.. to make it we need to mix the fruit up with spices, a little coconut sugar, and just a little (or more) of melted butter, or coconut oil or vegan butter (for the dairy free option).
Toss in some some toasted nuts and WHOA… you’ve got yourself a spiced hot fruit bake that tastes like dessert, but isn’t.
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Easy Spiced Hot Fruit Bake
- Total Time: 36 minute
- Yield: 5 1x
Description
Spiced Hot Fruit Bake {Gluten Free, Vegan option}
Ingredients
- 2 cup sliced apples
- 2 cups pear slices
- 1 ½ cup fresh cranberries
- 1 cup pineapple chunks (save the juice)
- ½ stick melted butter or 4 Tablespoons melted vegan butter
- ⅓ cup coconut palm sugar (unrefined) or brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon maple syrup, agave, or honey
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon (extra for topping)
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- ⅓ cup chopped raw walnuts or pecans
- Optional – 2 teaspoons melted coconut oil or butter to coat walnuts
- extra cinnamon for nuts or serving
Instructions
Updated 12/1/2017
- Preheat oven to 300 F.
- In a large bowl, toss fruit with 1-2 teaspoons lemon juice. Set aside.
- In another large bowl, combine melted butter, coconut sugar, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg and pineapple juice.
- Add butter mixture to the fruit and gently combine.
- Pour fruit evenly into a 9×12 baking dish. (OPTIONAL – Toss the nuts in 2 teaspoons melted coconut oil and pinch of cinnamon in the empty fruit bowl. Sprinkle the nuts on top of the fruit.)
- Bake uncovered for 1 hour.
- Sprinkle baked fruit with cinnamon before serving, if desired.
Notes
Slow Cooker Option – Follow the directions above, placing the ingredients in a slow cooker instead of a baking dish, and let them cook on LOW for 4 hours.
Meal Prep – Prep this dish the night before and bake the day of.
- Option 1: You can mix everything, place in casserole dish, place in fridge, then bake the next morning.
- Option 2: The fruit is is more bright and crispy if you mix the fruit in lemon, place in a large dish, cover. Then mix the melted butter, sugar, spices in another bowl. Place that in fridge too. In the morning, reheat the butter/sugar mix and pour it over the fruit. Then bake.
- Option 3: Bake everything the night before and then simply reheat for 20 minutes at 300F before serving.
Baking Tip -To save on time, use canned pineapple and pears in water or juice. Drain pears and pineapple before adding to recipe, saving pineapple juice.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 1 hr
- Category: breakfast/dessert/brunch
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: breakfast/dessert/brunch
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 273
- Sugar: 27.6 g
- Sodium: 6.4 mg
- Fat: 14.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 6.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 36.7 g
- Fiber: 5.2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 24.3 mg
Keywords: brunch, fruit, hot fruit, gluten free, breakfast, dessert, vegan dessert, holiday brunch
The great thing about this type of breakfast bake is that it can be used for so much more than just Holidays. It’s great with yogurt for a post workout meal because hello…. the perfect balance natural carbohydrates, glycogen, and protein from the yogurt! Can you just imagine how good this taste after a run in the cold? SO GOOD!
Hot fruit bakes are great for potluck parties, brunch, New Year’s, or Easter.
Okay, I’m getting way ahead of myself, but you get my point here. It’s a keeper! Plus it’s naturally gluten free and paleo(ish). Or you can make it vegan by using melted vegan butter! I will admit, I tried it both ways, and I although I tend to be a real butter kind of girl, the vegan option was super buttery tasting as well!
I had my family taste to see what that thought. And it’s a good thing because they all said, “This tastes like mom’s spiced hot fruit bake!” Little did they know I made it with unrefined sugar. GASP! Should I tell them?
Nah.
Let’s just breathe in the aroma that is CHRISTMAS and call it a day!
Favorite Holiday Smell? What do you make on Christmas morning?
Cheers!
This is easy and delicious. Thank you
★★★★★
This is soooo good. I used Swerve brown sugar as a sugar substitute and it was still delicious! Definitely might become a traditional Christmas dish for me!
★★★★★
I’m so glad! Yes we love swerve brown sugar too!
Oh… this is my favorit food.
Thank you! Glad to hear that!
tried this, turned out amazing. thank you for this recipe. 😃👍
★★★★★
Thank you for the kind words and 5 star review, Emma. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
It’s really hard to learn the hot fruit bake recipe on youtube, but your articles is really helpful for me. SO easy to understand it. Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe.
★★★★★
I’m so glad you found the recipe post to be more helpful! I hope you enjoy the recipe.
i think you need to make a tutorial about cooking pasta.
i need it, im your follower.
Wonderful! Will certainly make this to offer with ice cream. I wager it will certainly taste definitely delicious.
Keep me posted! It is so delicious!!
Eye-balled a 1/2 scale using 1.5 apples, 1 pear, chunked a navel orange and used craisins, brown sugar, maple syrup and salted butter. Will use it on/with ice cream, pork, waffles, top brioche or croissant with a custard for a breakfast bake. So many things and it’s all because of you. Thanks! 😀
Oh that makes me so happy 😁 and hungry 😂
this is a favorite food. But maybe with my different processing
Any suggestions on how to tweak it for an instant pot?
★★★★★
I’m serving this dish Thanksgiving Morning alongside a quiche and muffins! I can’t wait to try it, but I have a question….do you peel the apple and pear slices? I know that peeled and unpeeled fruit bake a bit differently. Have you tried both ways and if so, which do you prefer?
★★★★★
I’ve made it both ways! I prefer a little texture so I keep the peel on. It does bake 10’minutes faster without peel. I often leave Apple peel on then used canned peeled pears so it’s a bit of both. Does that make sense?
Yes! Thank you! That makes sense. I’m leaning toward peeling, but I will report back!
You’re welcome! Looking forward to hearing how it turns out for you! 🙂
The baked fruit was delicious! I peeled the apples and pears as opposed to unpeeled and cut back on the sugar a bit since it was served at breakfast. Everyone really enjoyed it and I know I’ll make it again!
★★★★★
Can you tell me the nutrition info on this dish?
Just updated it for you!
This looks like such a healthy, delicious, and beautiful dish! I love that you could serve it as a breakfast, snack or dessert. I am pinning to try it soon.
Great Scarlet! Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
I have made this recipe multiple times and love all of the holiday spices. If I don’t have pineapple, I leave it out and it’s still great. My kids enjoy it and I love that it’s mostly fruit.
★★★★★
Oh I love it! Thanks for letting me know Laura! <3
It was a hit and delicious. since cranberries are not in season yet I used craisins so I can only imagine how tasty it will be using fresh cranberries
★★★★★
Oh you must try with fresh cranberries. You will love even more! 😉
I really loved the flavor combination!
★★★★★
One of my favorites ?
Such a great breakfast/brunch recipe that I can make any time of the year. SO GOOD!
★★★★★
Thank ya friend!
This recipe is one I make year around! Such a great way to use up many fruits.
★★★★★
That’s what I love to hear!? thank you friend!
Love how when you cook the fruit is brings out their natural sugars!
★★★★★
Yes!! So you get the dessert feel, it’s just a lot lighter 😉
Love this! It would be great with yogurt or ice cream!
★★★★★
Absolutely! I love mine with coconut yogurt ?
Seriously this! Right out of the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
★★★★★
Mmm perfect combo right there ?
My mom made this, too, and I’m so glad I found your recipe! This is a winner!
★★★★★
Woohoo! I’m so glad!
wow,,awesome recipe…
★★★★
Delicious in look..love to taste it! thanks for sharing!
LOVED this recipe! Tastes completely like a cobbler or fruit crumble without all the other stuff! The aroma this creates while baking is heavenly.
★★★★★
Oh i am so glad you liked it! It’s a family favorite here too!
This is my second Christmas making this to go with our family breakfast. It is heavenly! Pro-tip: It’s amazing over cinnamon rolls!
★★★★★
OH that’s genius!! Thanks for the tip Victoria!
This is SO delicious! I planned on making it as dessert (served with vanille ice cream) for Christmas Eve, so of course I had I trial run and I absolutely love this. It looks and smells so festive too! Thanks for sharing.
Oh I love it with ice cream! And yes It makes the house smell amazing! Thanks renate
I can’t wait to make this for our Christmas breakfast party! Can I use coconut oil in place of the butter?
Thanks for sharing this delicious looking recipe!!
yep! totally can. Except I would get the coconut oil that stays as liquid. like an MCT or refined. It will harden when cooled. Still tastes great, but you dont want that chunky coconut butter taste, ya know?
This sounds delicious. Can I substitute something for the pineapple? My daughter-in-law is allergic to pineapple.
sure! can she have mango or papaya or any other tropical fruit? I’m thinking oranges (canned) might work too!
I tried this today but quartered the amounts to make a serving for two… DELICIOUS ? it will make a nice healthier alternative for dessert when we have guests. I thought I could serve it with ice cream… Any suggestions as to what cake/pudding I could have alongside it for guests who want a bit more than fruit?? ?
★★★★★
Oh wonderful! Yes I would serve with a pound cake or angel food cake. Are you looking for a gluten free cake recipe?
Hands down my favorite “fruit” dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas!
Nice! Will make this to serve with ice cream. I bet it will taste absolutely delicious.
you betcha! one of my favorite ways too!
great article, thanks.
★★★★
We tried this recipe for breakfast during the holidays and it was delicious. Can’t wait to have it again next holiday season.Thanks for the recipe!
Oh wonderful! So glad to hear David! It’s a favorite here too
OK, I’m stuck. I haven’t any pears – canned or fresh. What do you think about adding tiny cubes of fresh sweet potatoes? I’ll take any other suggestion anyone may have for a pear substitution.
Thank you so much for sharing!
just emailed you. What fruit do you have on hand? Any stone fruit?
i don’t what is this food. but it look’s great.. i will try to make one and try itt.. thank you very much for the recipe
I will try it tonight. I like the simple recipes that are great for you.
This looks and sounds amazing! I’m going to make it for breakfast for dinner tonight! Do you think this would freeze and reheat well? My mom-in-law is not well and when we find foods she loves, we freeze in individual containers so I can easily reheat for her over the next few weeks. This is something I think she’ll love and I’d love to have it on hand for her!
I think so! Are you using fresh or canned fruit? I would reheat in oven and add a bit of more spice or touch of coconut sugar when you reheat.
I’m using fresh except for the pineapple. I’ll give it a try and let you know how freezing and reheating works! I’ll do it in the oven when I reheat for sure! It’s in the oven now! Can’t wait to try it!
This fruit bake looks soo good!! I can only imagine the hint of tropical awesomeness the pineapple chunks and juice add to this dish
Hi, Lindsay.
I stopped eating pork for a year now and I want to gradually switch to being a vegan. Your recipes are surely the first ones I should try. Just by looking at it makes my mouth watery. Lol
This is the ULTIMATE comfort food—so warm and cozy!!
totally!
So pretty!
I want to make this ASAP and I want my whole house to smell like this baking!
I bet this fills the kitchen with the most wonderful scent!! Looks so good, Lindsay!
This looks SO so so perfect for the holidays! Going on my brunch menu 🙂
Totally loving the sound of this! Fruit anything is always delicious!
Such a beautiful dessert for this time of year!
This is so pretty! YUM!
This fruit bake looks amazing! I could eat all that right now, but like you said on top of pancakes or waffles this must be over the top, this is on my to-make list this holiday season 🙂
This qualifies for dessert or breakfast in my book Lindsay! It looks cozy, warm and delicious!
Looks like dessert for breakfast, love this!
Making this for Christmas brunch! perfect, thx
yay! invite me over. 😉
This is so fun! What a great idea. Also I love how authentic you seem to be. Your style and passion for blogging is contagious. Thank you for sharing your life!
What a perfect way to start the day!
Yup, my house never smells better than it doesn’t during the month of December – cookies and spices and all those wonderful things! And I bet this would make it 100X better. What a beautiful, healthy breakfast/brunch for the Holidays!
So pretty!!
HOLY YUMMINESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love the smells & scents of this season!!!!
It’s so divine!
This looks amazing! I would love it over vegan vanilla ice cream!
This looks fantastic! I am hosting a holiday breakfast and would love to include this. How early do you think I can make this and have it still turn out looking and tasting as good as yours? Do you think I can make it the night before the breakfast and then warm it up that morning? Have you tried that? Thanks!
totally! I think the night before should work great. Although, it smells so heavenly that i love baking it before guests arrive. Seriously SOOOO GOOD! haha.
This looks delicious! It came up on a search for low calorie cottage cheese pancake toppings! I’m trying to lighten it up a bit, any ideas for substitutions for the butter and sugar? Also sounds great on plain greek yogurt or oatmeal!
sure thing! Are you looking to cut back on calories or fat?
I fixed this for a Christmas get-together last year. It’s already been requested for a repeat performance this year. Thank you so much for sharing!
Oh I am so glad!! it smells heavenly, doesn’t it?
i would like to try it someday, if i have a time..
I have some pears in my refrigerator that I was just wondering what to do with. Now I know! This looks amazing. Thank you for sharing!
Wonderful! Keep me posted
Delicious! texture makes hunger on watching! great blogging 🙂
I liked the idea of this bake, but why you would add all that sugar and fat is beyond me. To keep this healthy, as fruit should be, do not add sugar or butter or all that coconut fat!! I used 1 tbsp honey and 1 tbsp coconut the first try, but I don’t think I’d add either next time. When you bake fruit it just becomes sweeter!! This did make my house smell amazing.
I totally understand! And you can definitely adjust the sugar intake. THe funny thing is that I actually reduced the amount of sugar I used for this recipe. I tweaked it from an old family recipe. Oh goodness, they use over a cup of sugar (processed) back then. Haha! But feel free to adjust as needed. Thank you for feedback!
Do we need to put some anti-stick spray on the pan before baking?
Not really, but you can if you want to be safe. There should be enough juice to keep it from not sticking though.
Can’t wait to try this amazing colourful fruit dish, nice to serve with warm breakfasts especially with my favourite oatmeal pancakes.
yes! so great on pancakes, waffles, and more! let me know when you try it!
I need to make this! It will be perfect for the cold winter days!
Amazing!!! Have made this dish many many times and everyone always loves it. Yummy!!!
so glad! i have another apple cider caramel hot fruit bake sharing soon!! another one to love!
I made this as a topping for waffles. I really underestimated this recipe. I didn’t think it would be that good but this goes to show how roasting really does bring out the best of not only vegetables but fruit too!
Isn’t it? and the smell alone is divine!!
Made this…sort of. I like the idea of all the yummy spiced fruit but why do people feel they need to add sugar and fat to everything?! Fruit is so sweet on its own, especially when you bake it. So I made this without the butter and sugar and honey and oil saving 100s yes 100s of calories. Think about it, 1 tbsp alone of butter is 100 cal and sugar is pretty close to that as well. Adding all that sugar and fat is unnecessary and horribly bad for you.
Please also note pop up ads on a website are evil.
Sorry about the ads. Didn’t know they were pop up. And yes, you can totally enjoy without sugar. Glad you did!
This looks fabulous!! What a great idea. I am going to try this for our christmas dinner I think 🙂
wonderful! Keep me posted Margaret
I totally agree with you- it’s crazy how much sugar is often added to fruit based dishes! This looks like the perfect balance.
it so is! thanks laura!
From one southerner to another, THANK YOU! I can definitely appreciate a dish that’s not laden with extra butter and sugar!
I always make homemade cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning, but I think these would make a great addition!
That looks so amazing!!!!!!! I love the smells of this season – cinnamon, molasses, gingerbread.. all so great!
totally agree! best smell ever
Who needs scented candles when you can just work some magic in the kitchen and make your house smell -amazing-, eh? 😀 Smells are definitely one of my favourite things about Christmas, especially when I go over to my parents’ for dinner and the house smells like I remember it from my childhood.
my thoughts exactly! 😉
I love this healthified version of Hot Alabama Fruit! Yummy! I am totally making this when my girls get home from school today! I can’t wait for the house to be filled with the scent. Mmmm.
This looks like the perfect dessert on a cold winter day. Love the spice.
so is! and i bet it’s cold in Canada, right? stay warm friends!
I can’t get enough pears this time of year. They’re stupendous and I even have my own pear recipe to share, provided I ever get the thing photographed. Damn darkness at 4:45 p.m. In the meantime, I shall ogle your glorious creation.
My family has a giant fruit bowl at every family meal. It’s a prerequisite.
I should have added banana to these! DOH! love you my fruity mama
This is so great for the holidays! I like how the I’ll be able to adjust how much sugar I put in it and the use of all fresh fruit (no to canned fruits!). I’ve been making a lot of overnight oatmeal lately, and I think this would be a nice topping to go with it.
yes, that’s what i liked too! let me know if you try it elle!
YUM!!!! Adding this to the christmas menu!! 🙂 Christmas morning.. Eggs. French toast bake & orange juice 🙂
yea! let me know how it turns out!
Yum! This looks amazing! I’m a huge fan of all Christmas smells. I just got some soap that smells like Pine and it’s wonderful!! PS. we had your one post honey chicken last night and it was so tasty!
Oh I love that! I need that soap! Haha
I’m all for you healthy-fying a traditional dish and this looks so festive!
My parents used to make Sri lankan Christmas cake and on Christmas day we used to “unwrap” it – and that smell was Christmas for me! This year I’m attempting to simplify my moms recipe some – it if comes out ok, I will post it.
Oh yes the smells of Christmas and Christmas season!! I could eat the whole thing myself! On top of pancakes, topped with granola, with yogurt, with oatmeal, by it’s self… but would it ever make it without me testing it the whole time since I would be so tempted by the smell?
I agree! The smell kinda is one of the BEST parts! Hahaha!
This looks SO. GOOD. I can almost smell it through my screen. Love how easy it is, definitely adding it to the list of things to make this holiday season!
OOOH we often do fruit salad on Christmas Morning, but this could be a great new twist! YUMMMM!
Ohhhh… I love this one! I could pour it over ice cream. For brunch. 😉
Or spike it!
Oh the smells of the holiday season are so delicious! And I can practically smell this from my computer! Can’t wait to try it. And how do we feel about leaving the butter out?
No butter at all? Or just coconut butter? It will not be as moist but still tasty!
I love that this dessert is bursting with so much fruity deliciousness!!!
★★★★★
Yum I can just imagine this on top of my pancakes – what a fantastic brunch idea! But melting some vanilla ice cream on top seriously looks amazing, might just have to combine them all and do ice cream for breakfast- you get to break the rules for the holidays right?
I was just thinking to bake a dough for it but your idea is great pancakes and vanilla ice cream, yummy!
totally! But it’s so good on everything haha
I don’t know what it is this fall but I’m really craving some baked fruit! This looks soooo good to me with maybe a dollop of whipped cream
I LOVE ALL holiday smells, but I really do love the smell of Mom making her famous cranberry sauce! Happy Monday friend…Miss you! XOXO
miss you too. Sorry, it’s been nutzzzzzzzo! haha
Yum! This looks amazing! I’m a huge fan of all Christmas smells. I just got some soap that smells like Pine and it’s wonderful!! PS. we had your one post honey chicken last night and it was so tasty!
yes!! i just made that again too! So good!
Gahhh you’re so right–the smell of Christmas is the best smell which is why I may or may not light a Christmas-scented candle randomly during the summertime… 😀 Beautiful photos too!
haha same! it’s the best! summer smells can’t beat it.
My mom actually makes something similar to this but it’s in the crock pot but it contains lots of canned fruit because it’s a really old recipe. Canned fruit doesn’t compare to fresh fruit, period! this is why this version looks so much better and more beautiful!
oh yes! i gotta try it in the crock pot next for sure! GO MOM! haha
It’s like the perfect dessert breakfast! I want the entire pan to myself right now.. Seriously though, GIRL!!! You have done it again! Totally adding this to my holiday list of goodness to make this year 🙂
oh yay! let me know if you do. And invite me to your holiday brunch, mmm k?
OMG I can’t even begin to imagine how amazing this must smell… drooooooool
pretty much 95% of the reason I make it!
Linday this is absolute perfection! Totally drooling. I don’t know if this would make it on to pancakes before I ate it all with a spoon 🙂
it would be EPIC on your pancakes! if it makes there. haha true
Okay, officially adding this to my holiday list!!! I’d love to wake up to a big stack of pancakes with this on top! And I’ll stir the leftovers into some Greek yogurt for snack. And over ice cream for dessert! Oh, my. 🙂
OMG you read my mind! and i’ve tried it with greek yogurt… SO SO GOOD
Now this I love! I bet it would work well in the crockpot too.
totally works the crock pot! YEA!
How long do I cook in a crockpot?
I haven’t tried it yet but I would try it on high for 90 minutes to 2 hrs. Check after 45 minutes. Does that make sense? Or low for maybe 3?
This is a dessert I would love. And even better, my family would to!