What's in season in August

August is one of my favourite times of year to cook with British produce. There's plenty of juicy stone fruit to get your teeth into, like fragrant apricots and the sweetest King Cherries – both perfect in this summery stone fruit salad with pistachio and sesame brittle from the M&S Food Team. Alongside raspberries and plump Victoria blackberries, there's also a bounty of green beans, M&S’ Jumbo Spring Onions and more courgettes than I know what to do with. Here are just a few of my favourites, which will be in abundance in the M&S Foodhall this month.

Plump and luscious, our King Cherries are some of the juiciest and sweetest cherries around – and also the biggest on the high street. Our tree-ripened cherries can be used in everything from light salads to refreshing drinks and indulgent desserts. Try these delicious ideas:

• Pair our King Cherries with salty Parma ham and toasted sourdough croutons with Tom Kerridge’s salad recipe.

• Solve your sweet tooth with King Cherry and apple parcels with the addition of our extra-large King cherries cooked with cinnamony apples. Serve with clotted cream ice cream for extra indulgence.

• Start the day with a stack of fluffy pancakes with creamy yogurt and tangy cherry compote.

August is the perfect time to enjoy British blackberries, when they're at their sweetest and juiciest. Whether you're baking with them or pairing them with savoury ingredients, these seasonal berries bring plenty of flavour to every dish. Looking for inspiration? Look no further than these wow-worthy recipes:

• Blackberry pie with elderflower clotted cream: Tangy blackberries are baked in a buttery pastry case and topped with a crunchy oat crumble. Serve with elderflower clotted cream for an easy summer dessert.

• Pickled blackberry and goat's cheese sourdough crostini: Sweet-sour blackberries pair beautifully with creamy goat's cheese in this simple starter. Spooned onto crisp sourdough crostini, it's all about the contrast of sharp, sweet and savoury flavours.

• Roasted apricots and rice pudding: Roast apricots with a little sugar and lemon juice until soft, sweet and caramelised, then spoon over creamy rice pudding for an easy dessert.

• Apricot and honey custard tart: Perfect for August bank holiday entertaining, this impressive tart showcases beautifully sliced apricots on top of a silky honey custard filling.

• Roasted apricot and coconut Victoria sponge: A summery twist on a classic, filled with juicy King Apricots and rich coconut buttercream for a fruity bake.

August is peak courgette season, when they're at their sweetest and most versatile. Whether charred, baked, fried or slow-cooked, courgettes soak up flavour beautifully, making them a brilliant ingredient for everything from light summer suppers to comforting family dinners.

• Try adding them to my midweek one-tray spiced veggie and chickpea bake. Feel free to switch up the veg in this recipe; in-season carrots, aubergines and potatoes would all work well.

• Use a vegetable peeler to shave them into ribbons in this courgette ribbon salad or grate them into these kid-friendly, picnic-perfect courgette and halloumi muffins from the M&S Food Team.

• Courgette carbonara: Slow-cooked courgettes bring a silky texture and delicate sweetness to this vegetarian twist on carbonara. Tossed with linguine, parmesan and garlic and chilli olive oil, it's a simple way to turn seasonal courgettes into a flavour-packed dinner.

• Whipped feta and charred courgette pan de cristal: Charring the courgettes until tender and lightly smoky brings out their natural sweetness. Layer onto crisp pan cristal with whipped feta and preserved lemon, then finish with a drizzle of chilli oil, pistachios and honey for the perfect balance of creamy, spicy and sweet flavours.

• Courgette, pea and feta baked rice: Let the oven do the hard work with this vibrant one-pan dish. Courgettes cook alongside rice, peas and beans, soaking up plenty of flavour before being finished with salty feta and a fresh mint and walnut pesto.

• Air fryer courgette fritti recipe with a cherry tomato dip: A brilliant way to enjoy courgettes as a summer side. Coated in a light batter and air fried until crisp and golden, they're served with a sweet and garlicky cherry tomato dip that's perfect for sharing.

Sweet, delicate and wonderfully versatile, British spring onions are at their best in summer. Their mild flavour works beautifully in everything from tarts and salads to comforting rice dishes, adding freshness without overpowering other ingredients. Try these recipes below to make the most of your spring onions.

• Spring onion and Cornish Cruncher cheddar tart: Pair spring onions with our wonderfully mature Cornish Cruncher Cheddar. Baked into a golden tart, the sweet onion flavour perfectly complements the rich, crumbly cheese.

• Oven-baked smoked trout and spring onion risotto: Gently sauté the spring onions until softened, then bake with rice before finishing with Collection Garlic and Herb Butter and Hot Smoked Loch Trout Flakes.