34 Scrumptious Quince Desserts That Are Perfect For Fall Gatherings

Edward Hickman

October 28, 2025

Sweet temptations await those who dare to explore the world of quince recipes. From traditional jams and pancakes to innovative pies and tarts, these culinary creations are sure to tantalize even the most discerning palates. With its distinctive yellow hue and delicate floral undertones, quince lends itself perfectly to a wide range of sweet and savory dishes. Despite being often overshadowed by more popular summer fruits like peaches or plums, quince is due for its moment in the spotlight.

So get ready to be seduced by this underappreciated gem and make quince your new summer obsession.

20 Favorite Recipes With Quince

20 Favorite Recipes With Quince

Persian Quince & Plum Stew – Khoresh e Beh

Persian Quince & Plum Stew – Khoresh e Beh

Taking centre stage in this delectable dinner recipe is the perfect harmony of sweet and savory flavours! The quince, plums, onions, tomatoes, and aromatic spices all come together to create a mouth-watering dish that’s perfect for warm summer evenings. To achieve this delightful combination, it’s essential to use ripe fruits that are tender enough to be enjoyed on their own. If you’re unable to find quince or other suitable fruits, don’t worry – apples or pears can be an excellent substitute.

This versatile recipe is completed with a side of fluffy couscous, making it a satisfying and well-rounded meal.

Membrillo (Sweet Quince Paste)

Membrillo (Sweet Quince Paste)

Creating something truly special from scratch is a delightful experience, and making Membrillo (sweet quince paste) at home is no exception. This Spanish treat is made by cooking quince until it’s soft, then pureeing it and adding sugar. The mixture is then cooked again until it forms a thick paste, after which you refrigerate it for at least 24 hours to allow the flavors to mature.

Membrillo pairs exquisitely with cheese, creating a delicious and unique flavor combination that will elevate your charcuterie board to new heights. If you’re feeling adventurous, why not try making your own Membrillo at home? It’s an experience that will surely take your food game to the next level!

Baked Quinces

Baked Quinces

Making use of only a few ingredients, baked fruits like these quinces are incredibly delicious without requiring a lot of fuss. For instance, this specific dish requires just three key components: quinces, brown sugar, and honey. That’s right – no need for extra additives or complicated prep work! Quinces are notoriously difficult to eat raw due to their hardness and sour taste, but they magically transform into tender, sweet delights when baked.

And as with any other scrumptious baked fruit recipe, the natural sweetness is perfectly enhanced by this simple yet effective method. Additionally, the sugar and butter caramelize beautifully during baking, resulting in a warm, rich, and indulgent finish that’s sure to please even the most discerning eaters.

Quince & Apple Golden Syrup Self Saucing Pudding

Quince & Apple Golden Syrup Self Saucing Pudding

Zeroing in on desserts with an extra layer of excitement, you’ll adore this scrumptious self-saucing pudding made with quince and apple, which boasts an enchanting flavor combination that’s both sweet and tart at the same time.

For those unfamiliar with this delightful treat, a self-saucing pudding is a game-changer, as it features a moist sponge topped with a rich syrup, created by the golden syrup and fruit juices, that seeps through the layers, leaving you wanting more of its juicy and tender goodness.

Quince Jelly

Quince Jelly

Bring a touch of excitement to your morning routine with quince jelly, the perfect accompaniment to add a burst of flavor and fun to your daily toast. This delicious spread is surprisingly easy to make, requiring only three simple ingredients, which will transport you to a world of light, fruity sweetness. Whether used as a topping for toast or crackers, or as a filling for cakes and pies, quince jelly is sure to become your new favorite addition.

Quince Dessert

Quince Dessert

Among the many quince desserts out there, this one stands out for its unique combination of flavors and textures that make it a feast for both the taste buds and the eyes. With its vibrant red color, it’s hard to ignore its appeal, while chopped walnuts add a satisfying crunch and a splash of contrasting hues that are optional if you’re allergic to them. For those who prefer an alternative topping, cookie crumbles could be a nice substitute.

Serving it with whipped cream or ice cream takes the experience to a whole new level.

Quince Tarte Tatin

Quince Tarte Tatin

Savoring the sweet flavors of France is easy with Tarte tatin, a classic dessert that combines sliced fruit, puff pastry, and caramel in perfect harmony. The process involves letting the fruit soften and release its natural juices, which then soak into the pastry, creating a delightful contrast between the crisp top and tender underside. What’s more, this indulgent treat is surprisingly straightforward to prepare, requiring minimal fuss and effort.

Its popularity is well-deserved, as it consistently impresses at any gathering or occasion.

Quince and Apple Browned Butter Tart

Quince and Apple Browned Butter Tart

Pairing apples and quinces is a culinary delight that results in a truly exceptional dessert. This recipe masterfully combines the natural sweetness of apple with the tartness of quince, elevating it further with the nutty flavor of browned butter for an added depth of richness. Although tarts can be notoriously finicky to make, this recipe breaks down the process into clear and easy-to-follow steps, making it a straightforward task to prepare.

Apple Quince Lattice Pie

Apple Quince Lattice Pie

Flaky, buttery pastry dough is often at the heart of a perfectly crafted lattice-top pie. Its rustic charm is undeniable, especially when the sweet or savory fillings begin to bubble and seep through the delicate latticework, creating a truly mouthwatering visual effect. Despite its intimidating appearance, achieving this design is surprisingly straightforward. Anyone with basic baking skills can master the art of creating a lattice top with practice and patience.

Follow the instructions carefully, take your time, and you’ll be rewarded with a beautifully intricate and visually stunning pie in no time.

Poached Quince Dessert (Slatko od Dunja)

Poached Quince Dessert (Slatko od Dunja)

Delighting the senses with its rich flavors and aromas, Slatko od dunja is a traditional Serbian recipe that’s truly decadent and delectable. The country is renowned for producing some of the world’s best quality quinces, making it only logical that they have mastered the art of cooking them. To prepare this dessert, you’ll need to poach the quince in a sugar syrup until it reaches the perfect level of tenderness, then carefully place the mixture into jars.

This sweet treat is incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed as a spread on its own, used as a topping for ice cream, or even as a delightful filling for cakes.

Sticky Quince Roasted Lamb

Sticky Quince Roasted Lamb

Taking inspiration from traditional Middle Eastern cuisine, this recipe brings together two unlikely ingredients: lamb and quince. The result is a surprisingly harmonious combination that will elevate your dinner game. The key to achieving tender and flavorful lamb lies in the simplicity of the glaze – a wonderfully sweet and sticky mixture made with quince paste. To prepare this dish, simply roast the lamb until it reaches perfection, then baste it generously with the quince paste.

After another round in the oven, your meal is ready to be devoured.

Empanadas de Membrillo (Quince Empanadas)

Empanadas de Membrillo (Quince Empanadas)

Laden with the flavors of Spain, quince empanadas are a must-try dessert for warm weather. The filling is crafted by combining grated quince and orange juice, resulting in a delightful balance of tartness and sweetness, elevated by the subtle presence of citrus notes. When served with a homemade sweet wine sauce, these empanadas reach new heights of flavor, although they also hold their own as a standalone treat.

Quince Liqueur

Quince Liqueur

Long-term enthusiasts will appreciate this recipe’s complexity and reward with a truly exceptional quince liquor. Although the actual cooking process is relatively swift, requiring only a day or so, the real challenge lies in waiting – at least two months of patience are necessary for the flavors to mature and blend together. For those who can resist temptation, this liquor makes an excellent choice for special holiday presents, showcasing your thoughtfulness and creativity.

Quince Almond Cake Recipe

Quince Almond Cake Recipe

Catering to your sweet tooth’s desire for something light and refreshing, a summer cake that breaks the mold is just what you need. Look no further than this delectable quince and almond sponge recipe, boasting an intriguing blend of ingredients like almond flour, plain yogurt, a hint of rum, and vanilla-poached quinces, resulting in a taste experience that’s nothing short of delightful.

Quince Jam

Quince Jam

Chicken with Quince and Almonds

Chicken with Quince and Almonds

Certainly one of our favorite chicken recipes is for chicken and quince, especially if you enjoy pairing poultry with fruits like mango or pineapple. This dish boasts a delicate sweetness and a satisfying crunch from the almonds, all within a quick cooking time of under an hour. It’s packed to the brim with flavor, making it perfect for a family meal that’s sure to please even the pickiest of eaters.

Chicken with Carrots and Quince

Chicken with Carrots and Quince

Flavorfully combining sweet and savory elements is a hallmark of many incredible dishes, and this fantastic chicken and quince recipe is no exception. Not only does it showcase the perfect balance of flavors, but it also adds an extra pop of color with its inclusion of carrots. The natural sweetness and earthy undertones of these root vegetables serve as a seamless complement to the juicy chicken and sweet quince, elevating the dish to new heights.

For a side that won’t overpower the other flavors, I recommend serving this with rice or even herbed potatoes for added depth.

Caraway Quince Chicken

Caraway Quince Chicken

Renowned for its distinctive flavor profile, caraway seeds offer a delightful combination of pepper, citrus, and subtle anise notes that add depth to various dishes. When paired with chicken and quince, the resulting sweet and savory flavors are nothing short of exciting. To elevate this culinary experience further, consider serving the dish alongside roasted potatoes and steamed broccoli for a well-rounded and satisfying meal.

Whether you’re in the mood for something familiar or looking to try new flavors, caraway seeds bring an intriguing twist that is sure to delight even the most discerning palates.

Caramel Upside-Down Quince Cake

Caramel Upside-Down Quince Cake

Making a sponge cake that’s both moist and flavorful is an art. One of its key components is achieving the perfect balance of sweetness, which this particular recipe manages to do beautifully. However, it’s the addition of caramelized quince topping that elevates the entire dessert to new heights. When cooked, the quince slices become incredibly soft and almost develop a rich, toffee-like quality, perfectly complemented by the deep flavors of the caramel sauce.

If you’re unable to find quince, feel free to substitute it with apples or pears – both options work beautifully in this recipe.

Quince & Vanilla Sorbet

Quince & Vanilla Sorbet

Here’s a refreshing summer treat that’s sure to hit the spot, especially if you’re looking for something light and easy. This sorbet is incredibly versatile, perfect as a sweet finisher after a big meal or as a cooling pick-me-up on a hot day. Its simplicity is part of its charm, making it effortless to prepare and ideal for topping a variety of desserts like baked quinces.

20 Best Ways To Cook With Quince

Keeping the sweet and tangy flavors of quince in mind, it’s no wonder why this fruit is a staple in many culinary traditions. From classic jam-making techniques to innovative uses in desserts like pancakes and tarts, these quince recipes showcase the versatility and allure of this lesser-known fruit. So get ready to be enchanted by the unique taste and aroma of quince as you explore our selection of mouth-watering recipes.

Instructions

Instructions

Often, the key to whipping up a mouth-watering meal quickly is being well-prepared. To begin with, choose a tried and true recipe that you’re familiar with. Next, gather all the necessary ingredients, ensuring they are fresh and readily available. By having everything at your fingertips, you’ll be able to prep a delectable quince recipe in 30 minutes or less.

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