15 Simple Bakes to Make the Most of Your Garden Haul

Too much fruit on the counter? A fridge full of extra zucchini or berries that won’t last much longer? These 15 simple bakes are a smart way to turn your garden haul into muffins, quick breads, and other easy treats that actually get used. Each recipe is made with fresh ingredients and comes together without much fuss. Whether it’s juicy peaches, ripe strawberries, or extra zucchini, there’s something here for whatever you’ve picked or brought home.

Image shows irresistible peach scones.

Fresh Peach Scones. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Zucchini Bread

Zucchini bread loaf with slices on a cutting board.
Zucchini Bread. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Shredded zucchini blends into this soft loaf and gives it the right amount of moisture without weighing it down. It bakes up golden on the outside and stays tender all the way through. This is one of those simple bakes to make the most of your garden haul when the zucchini won’t stop coming.

Get the Recipe: Zucchini Bread

Blueberry Sour Cream Muffins

Sliced blueberry sour cream muffin with pat of butter.
Blueberry Sour Cream Muffins. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

These muffins stay soft inside thanks to a bit of sour cream, while the blueberries add little bursts of sweetness in every bite. The batter rises well and bakes into a tender crumb that’s easy to enjoy anytime. This is a good pick for those pints of berries that are starting to go soft.

Get the Recipe: Blueberry Sour Cream Muffins

Peach Kuchen Muffins

Peach kuchen muffins in a muffin tin.
Peach Kuchen Muffins. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Juicy peaches, cinnamon, and nutmeg come together in these soft and spiced muffins that are easy to mix and bake. The tops turn golden while the centers stay moist and full of fruit flavor. If your kitchen’s full of ripe peaches, this is a smart way to bake them.

Get the Recipe: Peach Kuchen Muffins

Strawberry Muffins

Two pans of strawberry muffins sitting on a black stovetop.
Strawberry Muffins. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Fresh strawberries bake right into these fluffy muffins and add a soft, sweet bite in every one. They come together fast and bake up golden, which makes them perfect for breakfast or snacks. This is a simple and tasty recipe for those extra berries picked or bought in bulk.

Get the Recipe: Strawberry Muffins

Cherry Streusel Quick Bread

Image shows a loaf of baked bread with a golden brown, crumbly oat topping sits in a metal pan on a stove.
Cherry Streusel Quick Bread. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

This soft loaf is filled with sweet cherries and topped with a crumbly streusel that bakes into a golden crunch. The inside stays moist and full of fruit without being too heavy. When you’ve brought home more cherries than you planned, this bread helps you make the most of them.

Get the Recipe: Cherry Streusel Quick Bread

Fresh Peach Scones

Image shows  Peach scones with icing on a cutting board.
Fresh Peach Scones. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

These scones bake up golden on the outside and tender inside with sweet chunks of peach in every bite. The dough is easy to mix and shape without much effort, so it’s perfect for quick baking. It’s one of the easiest ways to use ripe peaches before they’re too soft to slice.

Get the Recipe: Fresh Peach Scones

Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Image shows a hand holding a Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffin with more in the background.
Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Chocolate and zucchini come together in these muffins that taste rich but feel light and moist. The shredded zucchini blends into the batter and helps the texture without changing the flavor. It’s a great recipe to keep on hand when the garden is full and you want something sweet.

Get the Recipe: Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Blueberry Scones

Image shows a Blueberry Scone on a white plate.
Blueberry Scones. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

These blueberry scones have a crisp edge and soft crumb, with juicy fruit in every piece. The dough holds up well and bakes into golden rounds that are easy to serve. If the fridge is full of fresh berries, this bake helps use them before they go to waste.

Get the Recipe: Blueberry Scones

Strawberry Bacon Scones

Image shows an overhead shot of Strawberry bacon scones on a wooden cutting board.
Strawberry Bacon Scones. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

These scones mix ripe strawberries with crispy bacon for a sweet and savory treat that’s anything but boring. They bake up soft with little bits of fruit and smoky crunch in every bite. This is a creative bake that uses garden fruit in a way you might not expect.

Get the Recipe: Strawberry Bacon Scones

Blueberry Lemon Scones

Blueberry lemon scones on a white platter with fresh blueberries.
Blueberry Lemon Scones. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Fresh blueberries and a touch of lemon zest come together in a dough that bakes into soft and flavorful scones. The lemon glaze gives each one a bright finish without being too sweet. This is a quick and easy way to use berries from the store or your last market trip.

Get the Recipe: Blueberry Lemon Scones

Strawberry Cream Cheese Muffins

Strawberry streusel muffins on a white plate with strawberries.
Strawberry Cream Cheese Muffins. Photo credit: Sage Alpha Gal.

These bakery-style muffins are filled with chunks of fresh strawberries, a creamy center, and a crisp crumb topping. They bake up tall and hold their shape well, even after a day or two. This is a great way to use up a full basket of berries before they go soft.

Get the Recipe: Strawberry Cream Cheese Muffins

Air Fryer Sourdough Blueberry Bread

Slices of blueberry bread on a teal plate, with a jar of blueberries and a container of brown sugar in the background.
Air Fryer Sourdough Blueberry Bread. Photo credit: Mama’s On A Budget.

This sweet loaf uses sourdough starter and fresh blueberries to make something soft inside with a crisp crust. The air fryer bakes it fast, so it’s easy to enjoy even on a busy day. If you’ve got too much starter and fresh berries to spare, this recipe puts both to good use.

Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Sourdough Blueberry Bread

Starbucks Blueberry Muffin (Copycat)

Freshly baked Starbucks blueberry muffin arranged on a white plate.
Starbucks Blueberry Muffin (Copycat). Photo credit: Sassy Chopsticks.

These muffins bake up golden on top with a soft, fluffy middle and lots of blueberries in every bite. They taste like the ones from the coffee shop but are easy enough to make at home. This is a good bake for fresh berries that are almost too soft to snack on.

Get the Recipe: Starbucks Blueberry Muffin (Copycat)

Raspberry Muffins

Raspberry muffins cooling on a wire rack.
Raspberry Muffins. Photo credit: Sage Alpha Gal.

Raspberries bring a bold flavor to these light and soft muffins that are quick to mix and bake. The fruit adds a tart bite that stands out without making the batter too wet. This recipe is perfect for using up delicate berries before they turn mushy.

Get the Recipe: Raspberry Muffins

Double Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

Slices of chocolate chip zucchini bread.
Double Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread. Photo credit: Little House Big Alaska.

Zucchini and cocoa mix into this soft and rich loaf that’s dotted with sweet chocolate chips. It slices clean and stays fresh for a couple of days, making it easy to save or share. This is one of those easy recipes that uses what the garden gives without much effort.

Get the Recipe: Double Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

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