Cooked fruits make healthy, simple and delicious desserts.

Keep the cooking time brief as the flesh of most fruits is delicate and easily broken down and you’re aiming for a soft but firm finish rather than mush.

Most fruits respond well to baking, such as: apples, apricots, berries, mangoes, nectarines and peaches, pears, pineapples and plums.

Prepare the fruit by peeling it if necessary, then core and halve or cut into good sized chunks.

Butter a baking dish well and arrange the fruit in a single layer. Add a splash of water, fruit juice or wine to the bottom and dot the tops of the fruits with a little butter.

Sprinkle over with sugar and, if you wish, flavourings such as spices, lemon or orange zest or vanilla.

Bake the fruit in an oven preheated to 200C for about 15-25 minutes or until just tender if you pierce with a knife or skewer.

Cooking time will vary depending upon the variety and size of your fruits. Allow to stand for a few minutes before serving with cream or ice-cream.

The same fruits are equally delicious grilled.

Prepare the fruit as before and arrange in a single layer on a grill pan, sprinkled generously with sugar and your chosen flavouring.

Under a grill preheated to high, place the pan about 10cm below the heat.

After about 6-8 minutes the fruit should have started to soften and the tops should be lightly caramelised.

Serve, as before, with cream or ice-cream.