December marks the beginning of the winter season in the United States, and the cool weather brings the perfect opportunity for cozy recipes using fresh seasonal produce. Take a look at this produce guide of what is in season in December!
Use this jump-to menu to quickly navigate to sections of this blog post, and check out the other monthly seasonal produce guides here.
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infographic of what's in season in December
Here's a handy infographic to showcase some of the freshest seasonal produce available in December. Save this image for all your grocery trips this month, or pin it for later!
complete list of fruits & veggies in season in December
Here are two comprehensive lists of fruits and veggies that are in season during the month of December!
what fruit is in season in December:
- Apples
- Clementines
- Cranberries
- Grapefruits
- Kiwi
- Kumquats
- Mandarins
- Oranges
- Passionfruit
- Pears
- Persimmons
- Pomegranates
- Satsumas
- Tangerines
what vegetables are in season in December:
- Broccoli
- Bok Choy
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Collard Greens
- Fennel
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Leeks
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Parsnips
- Potatoes
- Rutabagas
- Sweet potatoes
- Turnips
- Winter squash
December Seasonal Produce Spotlight & Recipes
Here’s a focused list of what produce is in season in December and some links to recipes for inspiration! Want more inspiration? Let me know in the comments below, and I'll help you out!
Pomegranates are a tangy, tart fruit that is similar in taste to cranberries. They appear in US grocery stores throughout December, and into January.
Pomegranates are a nutritional powerhouse that can be juiced, blended into smoothies, or enjoyed on top of your morning oatmeal. You can also use the flavor of pomegranates to make a simple syrup, which can be used to make pomegranate cocktails! Of course, you can also purchase pomegranate juice on it's own and use it in seasonal recipes like salad dressings.
Brussels Sprouts have truly had a turnaround in the public eye. They've gone from an unwanted veggie to a menu highlight in restaurants across the country, and there's a good reason why!
These tiny cabbages are not the gross childhood veggie you may remember from your youth! When they are in season, they are actually flavorful veggies that can be roasted, sautéed, or even enjoyed raw in a salad!
Winter squash like acorn squash, butternut squash, and kabocha squash are plentiful in December.
While technically considered a fruit, these squash are most often grouped together with winter vegetables. Some squash are very similar in flavor and can be used interchangeably in recipes, especially if you are roasting them. Because of their sugar content, they caramelize when baked at high temperatures, giving them a slightly sweet and nutty flavor!
Winter is prime citrus season, so be on the lookout for fresh varieties of lemons, oranges, and tangerines.
Varieties like the Sumo mandarin are gaining popularity each year, and you can usually plan to enjoy in-season citrus through the month of April or May, depending on the variety. Citrus fruits work wonders in salads and desserts, but their juices are great ways to highlight the flavors of sauces, syrups, and smoothies, too! Try this recipe for a honey orange vinaigrette dressing for an easy way to highlight winter citrus on your salads!
Grapefruit is another citrus that's ready to be enjoyed in the winter, and it's popularized as being a low-cal breakfast option, but it has so much more to offer!
Grapefruit and pomelos are similar in look, pomelos tend to be sweeter in taste than grapefruit, which can be bitter in flavor. Both varieties work well in cakes, marmalades, and beverages. The Paloma is a classic grapefruit tequila cocktail, which is sure to brighten up any dark and dreary winter day!
💬 Let me know in the comments what December produce you're looking forward to!
December means winter has indeed arrived, but cold temperatures make the perfect opportunity to use your recipes to warm you up! Dishes like soups, pot-pies, and casseroles are all wonderful choices to warm up on a cold winter night, and the produce aisle is stocked with options to choose from! Are there any other December ingredients you'd like to know more about? Let me know in the comments below, and I'll add on to this post!
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