As February begins, many immediately think of Valentine’s Day. However, there’s another reason this month deserves attention: February is National Grapefruit Month, a fact that often goes unnoticed, yet couldn’t come at a better time.

For most people, grapefruit is simply eaten with a spoon and a sprinkle of sugar. While this classic combo tastes great, National Grapefruit Month is the perfect excuse to rethink how to use this fruit in a more creative and exciting way.

Raspberry-grapefruit-passionfruit sugar cookies

First is The Deeper Living’s sugar cookies. For this recipe, you’ll need flour, baking soda, butter, granulated sugar, vanilla and one whole egg plus an extra egg yolk, grapefruit zest, freeze-dried raspberries, passionfruit flakes, and extra sugar for rolling the dough. You’ll also want a mixer, baking sheets, and parchment paper. 

First, you mix your dry ingredients, flour, baking soda, and salt, then set them aside. In a separate bowl, cream the butter until it’s smooth, then beat in the sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This step is important because it helps create a soft cookie texture. 

Next, add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla, then mix until fully combined. Once that’s done,  slowly add dry ingredients just until a dough forms. At this point, divide your dough into four quadrants. One will stay plain, and the other three will get freeze-dried raspberries, grapefruit zest, and passionfruit flakes. To form the cookie, take small pieces from each section and press them together. Shortly after, roll them into a ball, coat them in sugar, then place them on the baking sheet. 

The cookies bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 8-9 minutes, just until the edges are set. You’ll want the center to look slightly underdone, because it will grow firm as it cools. 

Grapefruit olive oil cake

Next up is For The Love Of Gourmet’s grapefruit olive oil cake, which takes a bit longer but is very straightforward. You’ll need eggs, granulated sugar, olive oil, Greek yogurt, vanilla extract, flour, baking powder, salt, grapefruit juice, and grapefruit zest. For tools, you’ll need mixing bowls, a whisk or mixer, and a loaf pan lined with parchment paper. 

Start by whisking the eggs and sugar together until the mixture looks pale and thick. Doing this adds air and helps the cake rise properly. Then, slowly pour in the olive oil while mixing, followed by the yogurt, vanilla, grapefruit juice, and zest. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt. 

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until combined. Overmixing can make the cake dense, so watch out for that. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45-55 minutes, regularly checking with a toothpick. 

Once cooled, make a glaze with powdered sugar and grapefruit juice, drizzle it over the cake, and enjoy!

Grapefruit madeleines

Let’s go over Bakepedia’s classic madeleines with a citrus twist — our citrus twist will be grapefruit. You’ll need eggs, sugar, flour, melted butter, vanilla, salt, grapefruit zest, and grapefruit juice. You’ll also need a madeleine pan to create that signature shell shape. 

Begin by whisking the eggs, sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth. Add the flour and mix gently, then pour in the melted butter, grapefruit zest, and juice. The batter should be silky and loose. 

Let the batter rest for about 20 minutes to improve the texture. Spoon the batter into a well-buttered madeleine pan and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 18-20 minutes, until the cakes are light golden. While they bake, prepare a grapefruit syrup and glaze using grapefruit juice and sugar. Once the madeleines come out of the oven, they’re dipped into the syrup and finished with glaze, giving them extra moisture and a strong citrus flavor.

Grapefruit honey iced tea

Finally, Stellanspice’s grapefruit honey iced tea is a perfect, refreshing choice for those looking for something simpler to make. You’ll need black tea bags, fresh grapefruit juice, honey, sugar, and ice. 

First, brew the black tea in hot water, let it sit for 4-6 minutes before removing the bags. Take the grapefruit juice, honey, sugar, black tea, and ice, then place them into a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously until everything is combined. Finish by pouring into a cup, then drink!

Grapefruit is a largely underrated fruit because of its tartness; however, if people knew how to utilize its flavor, it wouldn’t be so neglected. National Grapefruit Month becomes an opportunity not just to learn a new fact, but to actually try something new and experiment with flavors you might normally overlook.