4 Wild Fruits to forage and cook with this fall 🍎🍂

Summer might be coming to an end... but autumn is the perfect time to get adventurous outside and inside the kitchen!

Did you know you can find delicious wild fruits in your own backyard or local nature area? A perfect activity for kids and adults alike, keep your eyes out for these hidden gems this fall and read on to discover creative ways to prepare them!

⚠️ Foraging Advice ⚠️

• Before you start foraging, especially if it's your first time, we recommend you read the rules and regulations for your local area. Some parks and nature reserves allow foraging, but some don't! And always ask for permission when collecting from a private property.
• If you come across an abundance of wild foods, it's best not to take more than what you need - at maximum no more than one third of what is available. Remember: you're not the only creature who benefits from free food!
• Before eating, check for insects and other critters and give your delicious finds a good wash. Some fruits that have been nibbled by bugs or worms are still safe to eat, just cut out any parts that have been damaged.
• If you can't exactly identify what you've found or you're not sure if it's still good to eat, it's best to leave it! Do your own research, keep practicing and it will get easier to correctly identify plants that are safe to eat.

Which fruits can you find?

Apples 🍎

These fruits come into season late summer and early fall, but some varieties like crab apples keep fruiting into the winter. Apples are one of the most abundant fruits of this season – it's not uncommon to find trees overburdened with fruit even in urban areas.

Packed full of fiber, vitamins and minerals, wild apples are more nutritious but less sweet than the ones you find in grocery stores. They are perfect for eating on their own or baking with a sweet filling. Imperfect fruits are ideal for turning into pies, jams, or applesauce!

Discover more apple recipes

Blackberries

In Southern states, spring is the best time to find wild blackberries. But in Northern states, autumn marks the arrival of these sweet, juicy berries. They are one of the easiest foraged foods to spot, and with no poisonous counterparts they're a perfect fruit for foraging beginners! Blackberry bushes spread everywhere from roadsides to fences, meadows, and woods. Just watch out for the thorns!

If you're able to stop yourself from gobbling them all up at once, try making cobblers, ice cream, or canned filling to enjoy these berries when their season has passed.

Search for more blackberry recipes

Persimmons

Wild persimmon trees are native to North America, primarily in Eastern and Central states. Their region includes states as far north as Connecticut and Long Island, all the way down to southern Florida, and reaching as far west as Kansas and Texas.

American persimmons look a bit different to their Japanese cousins you can find in stores, as they are much smaller and have bigger seeds! But they contain way more nutrients and you can cook with them in the same way.

Make sure to collect ripe wild persimmons, which will be very soft to the touch and have wrinkly skin – you might think they are overripe but this is when they are sweetest! Many foragers recommend collecting the fallen ones from the ground to ensure they are actually ripe.

With a rich taste similar to caramel, dates, or apricots, wild persimmons are perfect for baking or turning into jam to enjoy year round!

Explore more persimmon recipes

Rose Hips 🌹

Packed full of vitamin C, minerals, and antioxidants, rose hips have long been used medicinally to help boost the immune system and reduce inflammation. While all parts of the rose plant are edible, rose hips are the fruit of roses when the flowers drop, and they come into season from September to December. You know they are ripe and ready to harvest when the fruit turns from green to full red or orange, through some varieties turn purple or even black!

Rose hips can be found in all 50 states, in environments as diverse as coastlines, forests, road sides and private gardens.

⚠️ Be mindful ⚠️

• There are many poisonous red berries which may look like rose hips, including holly, bittersweet nightshade or red baneberries. Do your own research and if you're not confident, don't risk it!
• Avoid picking rosehips that have been sprayed with pesticides, such as in gardens, as these can be toxic when ingested.

Cookpad author, Hobby Horseman has a wonderful guide to cooking with rose hips, with recipes including tea, syrups, and jams:

Why not combine foraged flavors, like this rosehip and apple jelly recipe?

Discover more rose hip recipes

Be safe and have fun getting to know the wild foods that grow in your area! Happy foraging and happy cooking 🍎🍂

If you tried any of these recipes, share the love and post a Cooksnap for a chance to get featured in our weekly Newsletter or on our Instagram page!

What are you foraging this fall? Share your recipe with us on Cookpad: