Sweet Fruit Baskets

Sweet fruit baskets are a delicious option for a fresh and inviting dessert, perfect for spring or summer. Here I give you a simple version that you can customize with your favorite fruit.

Ingredients for 4 people:

• 1 package of ready-made shortcrust pastry (or, if you prefer, sweet pastry dough)
• 250 grams of spreadable fresh cheese (such as mascarpone or ricotta)
• 2 tablespoons of icing sugar (plus extra for decoration)
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• Fresh fruit as desired (for example, strawberries, kiwi, blueberries, raspberries, bananas)
• Butter or margarine (for greasing the molds)
• Apricot jam (optional, for glazing the fruit)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Roll out the shortcrust pastry and cut out circles slightly larger than the molds you’ll use for the baskets.
3. Lightly grease the molds and line them with the pastry circles, shaping the edges to your liking.
4. Prick the bottom of the pastry with a fork to prevent it from puffing up during baking.
5. Bake in the oven for about 10-15 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and crispy.
6. Remove the baskets from the oven and let them cool completely before removing them from the molds.
7. Meanwhile, in a bowl, work the spreadable cheese with the icing sugar and vanilla extract until you get a smooth and homogeneous cream.
8. Wash, dry, and cut the fruit into small pieces.
9. Fill the cooled baskets with the cheese cream and decorate them with fresh fruit.
10. If desired, you can brush the fruit with a little apricot jam diluted with a dash of water to give them a glossy and appetizing appearance.
11. Dust with icing sugar before serving.

Italian variation: if you want to add an Italian touch, you might consider using typical local fruits such as fresh figs, grapes, or even thin slices of peach. You can pair your baskets with a good Vin Santo or Moscato d’Asti to enhance the taste of the fruit.

Sweet fruit baskets are a delightful way to end a meal, and customizing the fruit allows you to vary according to the season or your personal tastes. Have fun and enjoy your meal!