7 Recipes That We’re Making The Second It Gets Warmer (2024)

We’ve reached that point in the year where we’re on the cusp of fresh produce. Could it be?! You mean I don’t have to force myself to break out the slow cooker and make yet another chili?! You’re saying that the short, dark winter days spent holed up in my kitchen are about to be behind me?! This is major. And when such a monumental turn of the seasons is upon us, it’s important to make sure that we’ve got an arsenal of recipes on deck once the warmer months and the thriving farmers’ market make their big return. Here’s what we’re planning on making the moment that spring hath sprung.

Spring Vegetable Bread Pudding Muffins image Photo: Kelsey Hansen; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Mark Driskill

‘Tis the season to brunch, amiright? These adorable, savory muffins are an easy addition to your next hosting spread, and bringing a batch of these out of the oven is going to feel like the first warm breeze of the season. Fresh dill and mint are about as spring-tastic as it gets, and these goat cheese-studded stars do not disappoint.

Sara Tane

With the change from winter to spring comes the obvious switch from hot, frothy lattes, to light, icy coffee drinks. To welcome the sunny weather, whip up a muddled mint iced coffee for your next morning brew. Bursting with fresh mint leaves, this unlikely combo of mint and espresso is just what you need to get your day going.

Jamie Vespa

If you can manage to find the willpower to avoid eating all of your freshly-picked strawberries on the way home from the market, then you should definitely put them to good use in these delightful, vegan (...but you’d never know) treats. If anything, the blush color of the filling should be enough reason to want to make these—how freaking gorgeous!

Pesto Caprese Galette with Balsamic Reduction image Photo: Daniel Agee; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

There is nothing that screams warm weather quite like tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and balsamic all wrapped into one masterpiece. Sure, we might be jumping the gun with fresh heirlooms, but if you can get your hands on some this early, then you should definitely consider tossing them into a warm, buttery galette like the baking maestro that you truly are.

This simple yet undeniably vibrant grain salad is the perfect way to welcome a fresh new season. Packed with crispy radishes, arugula, and fresh mint, this light lunch dish or entertaining salad is a great way to kick off the longer, brighter days.

Repeat after me: “Spring is for shaved salads.” Now that there is some fresh green produce in the store that you’ll actually want to eat, you might as well go ahead and shave it into a luxurious salad, to which you should most definitely toss in a bright, lip-puckering dressing. Don’t be shy with that grated cheese, either.

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When all else fails, the first thing that you should do with your first haul of fruit this season is to bring it home and immediately send it straight into a warm fruit crisp situation. You’ve waited through the cold, dark months for vibrant, fruity dessert season to make its return, and it’s finally here. Don’t waste another second, and please, for all that’s good and right in the world, please top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.