Quincessentials: 5 Quince Dessert Recipes for Your Holiday Table

Fresh quince is now appearing in grocery stores and farmers markets here on the east coast. This often overlooked fruit has a tart flavor perfect for desserts. quince recipes make a wonderful addition to your Thanksgiving table. Here are my favorite quince recipes. Click on the picture caption to go to the recipe.

#1 Quince Cranberry Almond Bars

For this recipe, The quinces are poached in a wine, honey, lemon concoction. You can do this a few days ahead to save time. The dried cranberries add a decorative and sweet-sour flavor. The almonds add crunch.

This recipe is great for a holiday mean, not only because of the flavor but because it serves a large group.

#2 Poached Quince in Cranberry Vanilla Syrup Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 55 minutes  Yield: Serves 4 Served in dessert glasses, or poured over ice cream, this easy, make-ahead seasonal holiday dessert is not only delicious, its ruby red color looks beautiful on any festive table.

This recipe looks fancy but is so simple to create. A quick sugar syrup is made first by simmering fresh cranberries, whole vanilla beans and a cinnamon stick together with water and sugar.

#3 Quince Chocolate Streusel Cake

Prep Time: 55 minutes 

Bake Time: 45 minutes 

Yield: 12 slices

This quince chocolate streusel version is a beautiful German style addition for your holiday table

There is no cake base in this recipe. Fresh quince are poached, then pressed into a homemade chocolate streusel mix, covered over with more streusel and then baked. As a final touch in decoration and flavor, the cakes is then drizzled with semi sweet melted chocolate.

# 4 Fall Rainbow Sherbet: 

Cranberry, Butternut Squash and Quince

Prep time: 45 Minutes

Chill Time: 24 hours

Yield: 1 pint

The quince sherbet recipe of this trio is gorgeous. To make all three flavors, this sherbet is a bit labor intensive for those of us with one Kitchen Aid ice cream bowl attachment. Well maybe not labor intensive but time intensive. 

The quince sherbet has a pear like flavor and is the perfect dessert for Thanksgiving dinner. After a huge dinner, this dessert is not too heavy but still a special addition to your holiday menu.  I suggest serving the quince sherbet it in small bowls and garnish with pomegranate seeds for a pop of color. 

#5 Quince Almond Bread

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Bake Time: 45 minutes 

Rise time: 45 minutes 

Yield: 1 loaf

OK, not a dessert per se but this sweet, dense quince and almond-studded loaf pan bread is a perfect choice for holiday breakfasts or brunches.

To make the bread, grated fresh quince and chopped slivered blanched almonds are kneaded into the bread dough and provide a unique flavor and crunch to this beautiful loaf pan bread.

If you would like to fancy the recipe up a bit, cover the bread with a simple sugar glaze. Whisk together one cup of powdered sugar and a tablespoon of water and pour it over the top of the bread after it has cooled completely.