23 Blackberry Recipes That Celebrate Summer’s Juiciest Fruit From cozy, nostalgic desserts to frosty treats and festive drinks, our recipes make the most of these jewel-like berries. Close Credit: decorvow Summer is the time to seek out some good blackberry recipes. Though they’re available throughout much of the year in grocery stores, they are at their peak at farm stands and farmers markets once the weather turns warm—and there’s nothing quite like blackberry picking on a summer day. If you can resist popping them straight into your mouth, you’ll come home with a few cups of blackberries and purple-stained fingertips. It’s the blackberry’s deep color as well as its sweet juice that make it such a pleasure to use in baked goods, simple puddings, and drinks. Blackberries make beautiful garnishes, especially when speared with a rosemary sprig. Because their many seeds can add unwanted crunch, it’s a good idea to strain them out if you're making a puree for popsicles, drinks, or syrups. How to Wash and Store Berries So They Stay Fresh Longer 01 of 23 Blackberry Fool Cooked fruit puree folded into whipped cream is called a fool. It's a genius combination, and an old-fashioned easy dessert goes back as far as 16th-century England, where most country cottages would have had fruit trees and berry bushes. View Recipe 02 of 23 Best Berry Cobbler Credit: Yossy Arefi Tender cream biscuits make the topping for this summer classic. Be sure to taste the berries you’re using, and let your tastebuds guide you in deciding how much sugar to add. View Recipe 03 of 23 Lemon Cream With Blackberries Credit: Sang An Here's a vegan alternative to typical cream-rich lemony puddings. Filled with tofu, a plant-based protein, it's packed with bright lemon flavors and the sweetness of blackberries and is a light, refreshing choice for summer. View Recipe 04 of 23 Naked Berry Chiffon Cake Credit: Mike Krautter A showstopper of a cake, eight layers are stacked with softly whipped cream and piles of sugar-dusted blackberries and other berries. What is more beautiful than nature’s bounty? View Recipe 05 of 23 Blackberry Shrub Credit: Jake Stangel The uncomplicated sweetness of blackberries creates a flavorful base for a shrub, the tart, thirst-quenching non-alcoholic beverage. Simply mix a little shrub with sparkling water for a refreshing quaff. Or use it as a component in many cocktails. View Recipe 06 of 23 Blackberry-Raspberry Hand Pies Credit: David Malosh Hand-held pies are a portable treat for summer outings and backyard parties. The pastry dough we use for these has sour cream in it, which helps to create a tender and flaky crust. View Recipe 07 of 23 Berries With Buttermilk and Honey Credit: Hans Gissinger Cool, icy, and tangy, this blender dessert whirls buttermilk, ice, and honey into a sweet, frothy cloud of a frappe perfect for hot summer nights. The sweetest blackberries will provide juiciness and balance the buttermilk. View Recipe 08 of 23 Blackberry Crumb Bars These bars are packed with blackberries and topped with a brown sugar crumb. When cool, cut them into squares; you’ll find they’re perfectly packable. View Recipe 09 of 23 Blackberry Puree Simply pureeing blackberries and straining them through a sieve to remove the seeds gives you a base you’ll find many uses for, from spritzes and champagne sparklers to punch bowls and popsicles. View Recipe 10 of 23 Blackberry Crisp A crisp is the simplest bake we can think of—and one of the best ways to take advantage of ripe blackberries. The berries give off so much juice that we stir in tapioca pearls as a thickener, but cornstarch would also do the trick. View Recipe 11 of 23 Sweetened Summer Berries Credit: Frances Janisch Simmering fresh berries just until they soften in a simple syrup gives them a luxuriously soft texture. Enjoy these in a bowl with vanilla ice cream or yogurt– and save any extra spoonfuls as a base for a spritz or sparkler. View Recipe 12 of 23 Berry Grunt In the world of berry cobblers, crisps, and pies, the grunt is possibly the least familiar. Essentially a sweet dumpling, it is steamed on top of berries while they simmer and become syrupy; the whole dish is cooked on the stovetop. View Recipe 13 of 23 Fizzy Fruit Punch Credit: Nico Schinco When making a festive pitcher of mocktails, opt for our version with blackberries, lime, and passion fruit juice, which can be purchased in cartons at many supermarkets. Or try a different fruity combo and let your creativity fly! View Recipe 14 of 23 Ricotta Breakfast Bowls Credit: Paola + Murray Make a special breakfast even more special with small bowls of creamy ricotta topped with lemon curd and berries. Our recipe is easy, especially if you buy a jar of lemon curd for easy spooning, rather than making your own. View Recipe 15 of 23 Apple Blackberry Cake Apples and blackberries are a quintessential flavor pairing during the shoulder season when the summer is beginning to wind down, wild blackberries are ripening, and early apples are being harvested. This is a simple teatime cake. View Recipe 16 of 23 Baked Oatmeal for a Crowd With Berries and Seeds Credit: Chris Simpson Baking oats with milk and egg, and the warming flavor of cinnamon, makes them slightly custardy. Soft blackberries are the perfect fruit for baking into the oats. Frozen berries are easy to purchase throughout the year. View Recipe 17 of 23 Blackberry Buckle Credit: Bryan Gardner A buckle is the homiest of baked berry desserts, made in a skillet. Use the same skillet you used to melt butter for the batter in. Mashed blackberries spooned into the batter sink as they bake, creating a warm, fruity layer. View Recipe 18 of 23 Cornmeal-Berry Sheetcake Credit: Marcus Nilsson Sheetcakes are the solution to casual summer gatherings, easy to cut into squares and leave on the table, letting guests help themselves. A delicate batter lightened with buttermilk gets added texture from golden cornmeal, making this an All-American treat. View Recipe 19 of 23 Mini Blackberry Pies Credit: Victoria Pearson These cute-as-a-button pies are packed with juicy berries. Our recipe makes six mini pies, and we like to serve them with whipped cream. View Recipe 20 of 23 Macerated Berry Topping Credit: Marcus Nilsson A simple trick is all you need when you have the summer’s freshest berries. Turn them into juicy toppings for all sorts of desserts, from ice cream and shortcakes to floats. View Recipe 21 of 23 Berry Layer Cake Credit: Mike Krautter A deep purple summer extravaganza! Highlight the flavors of berries and show off those buttercream piping skills for your special someone. View Recipe 22 of 23 Vanilla Chia Pudding Credit: Marcus Nilsson This vegan breakfast cup feels special enough to make ahead for guests, but it’s a healthy choice for any day. Dress it up with colorful mixed berries. View Recipe 23 of 23 Firecracker Ice Pops When you make these stunning frozen yogurt-fruit pops, try substituting blackberries for the blueberries. Remember to strain the pureed fruit through a fine-mesh sieve to get rid of the tiny seeds. View Recipe Explore more: Food & Cooking Recipes Ingredients Fruit