HELEN ROSNER
Recipes

Summer Berry Recipes

Summer berries are lush and bursting with flavor

One of our favorites things about summer is the wealth of fresh berries. Strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and more—we've rounded up of our favorite fresh berry recipes.

Fresh, juicy strawberries are a treasure. Sprinkle them with sugar to macerate them and you have a wonderful topping for shortcake. Or freeze them into strawberry and cream ice pops. Strawberry mousse is light, airy, and a gorgeous shade of pink. For something more savory, try focaccia with strawberries and onions caramelized with balsamic vinegar and maple syrup. In the mood for a cocktail? Try the rossini, a variation on the bellini with strawberries and prosecco.

If you get your fill of strawberries, let's move on to blueberries. Mixed with nectarines, shiso leaves, and sesame oil, they make a sweet-savory salad. Or make them into a crisp (which is also delicious with peaches or plums). The sweetness of ripe blueberries highlights the floral character of poppy seeds in our blueberry poppy seed squares.

We love raspberries. A simple combination of raspberries, cream, and sugar makes for a lovely brûlée (and a fun excuse to break out the kitchen torch). For an especially elegant dessert, try setting raspberries in a pink champagne gelée. For an unusual dessert, pair black raspberries with sweet corn to make a sophisticated ice cream.

Don't forget blackberries. Their sweet-tart flavor is great in a pie, accented by lemon and nutmeg.

Find all these dishes and more in our collection of our favorite summer berry recipes.

Blueberry Upside Down Cake
Blueberry Upside Down Cake

A thick, jammy layer of blueberries tops dense, buttery cake. Slightly sweet and dramatic, this is best made with the ripest in-season blueberries. All it needs is a dollop of whipped cream and freshly grated nutmeg. Get the recipe for Blueberry Upside Down Cake »

Strawberry-Buttermilk Fōnuts
Strawberry-Buttermilk Fōnuts

This recipe is from Waylynn Lucas’ Los Angeles-based baked donut shop called Fōnuts. Get the recipe for Strawberry-Buttermilk Fōnuts »

Blueberry Donuts
Blueberry Donuts

Fresh blueberries bolstered by jam make these donuts especially flavorful. Get the recipe for Blueberry Donuts »

Strawberry Mousse
Strawberry Mousse

This pretty pink strawberry dessert should be chilled before enjoying—make it a day ahead and freeze for an especially refreshing treat. Get the recipe for Strawberry Mousse »

Mustikkakeitto
Mustikkakeitto

In Finland, wild summer berries are frozen for use in winter’s mustikkakeitto, a warm, silky blueberry potage packed with vitamin C. Mustikkakeitto »

Rossini
Rossini

A luscious take on the bellini, the Rossini swaps strawberries in for white peaches and prosecco in for champagne. Get the recipe for Rossini »

Blueberry and Basil Margarita

Fresh blueberries give a delightful twist to this margarita.

Rhubarb and Berry Compote
Rhubarb and Berry Compote

The sweetness of berries plays off tart rhubarb in this lightly-spiced compote, which is great over Greek yogurt.

Blueberry Slump
Blueberry Slump

A sticky biscuit dough is dropped onto blueberries in this classic New England dessert, which is called a “slump,” “grunt,” or “cobbler,” depending on who you’re asking.

Boysenberry Pie
Boysenberry Pie

Blackberries or raspberries can be substituted for boysenberries in the filling for this jammy pie. Get the recipe for Boysenberry Pie »

Razzleberry Pie
Razzleberry Pie

Strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries are brightened with lemon juice and zest to make the filling for this juicy pie. Get the recipe for Razzleberry Pie »

Blueberry, Nectarine and Shiso Salad
Blueberry, Nectarine and Shiso Salad

Bright shiso leaves and a touch of earthy sesame oil enhance this stone fruit and berry salad. Get the recipe for Blueberry, Nectarine and Shiso Salad »

Sour Cream Ice Cream with Strawberries and Brown Sugar
Sour Cream Ice Cream with Strawberries and Brown Sugar

Sour cream gives this ice cream a tang that’s balanced by a rich rum, strawberry, and brown sugar swirl. Get the recipe for Sour Cream Ice Cream with Strawberries and Brown Sugar »

Strawberry Pimm's Cup
Strawberry Pimm's Cup

A twist on the British classic, this summer cooler takes on spicy, herbal notes from Kaffir lime leaves, while strawberries lend sweet balance to the pleasingly bitter liqueur. Get the recipe for Strawberry Pimm’s Cup »

Chile-Spiced Strawberry Syrup
Chile-Spiced Strawberry Syrup

The addition of Sichuan peppercorns, ginger, and red chile flakes adds complexity and polish to this versatile syrup. Get the recipe for Chile-Spiced Strawberry Syrup »

Mixed Berries and Mint with Berry Shrub
Mixed Berries and Mint with Berry Shrub

​A sweet-sour syrup dresses this mixed berry salad.

Blueberry-Poppy Seed Squares (Borůvkový Koláč)
Blueberry-Poppy Seed Squares (Borůvkový Koláč)

The floral character of poppy seeds shines when paired with blueberries in this rich dessert. Get the recipe for Blueberry-Poppy Seed Squares (Borůvkový Koláč) »

Horchata de Moras (Berry-Rice Drink)
Horchata de Moras (Berry-Rice Drink)

We recommend using any fruit that’s in season for this sweet, vibrantly-colored, non-traditional horchata—the riper and juicier the better.

Strawberry Griddle Cakes
Strawberry Griddle Cakes

Fresh strawberries turn ordinary pancakes into something scrumptious; wild blueberries, or any other kind of berry, make an excellent substitute. Get the recipe for Strawberry Griddle Cakes »

Blueberry Crisp
Get the recipe for Blueberry Crisp

If you are lucky enough to find yourself with an overabundance of blueberries, this easy-to-make crisp is a delicious way to prepare them. It can also be made with peaches, plums, or other summer berries. Get the recipe for Blueberry Crisp »

Blackberry Pie
Blackberry Pie

The blackberry filling for this pie is flavored with lemon and nutmeg. Get the recipe for Blackberry Pie »

Raspberry Brûlée

This simple raspberry dish can also be made with tayberries or blackberries.

Huckleberry Crisps

This dessert can be made with either fresh or frozen huckleberries or blueberries.

Almond-Cream Tartlets
Almond-Cream Tartlets

Almond-Cream Tartlets

Coeur à la Crème with Caramelized Strawberries
Coeur à la Crème with Caramelized Strawberries

Pepper, cloves and cinnamon give the bright strawberry sauce in this dessert a spicy kick, offsetting the rich creaminess of sweet cheese. Get the recipe for Coeur à la Crème with Caramelized Strawberries »

Tricolored Bavarian Cream
Tricolored Bavarian Cream

In this classic Swiss dessert, gelatin is used in a creamy custard that’s set between two layers of tart raspberry and strawberry cream.

Strawberries and Cream Ice Pops (Paletas de Fresas y Crema)
Strawberries and Cream Ice Pops (Paletas de Fresas y Crema)

The flavor of ripe summer strawberries is front and center in these creamy treats, which are brightened with just a touch of fresh lemon juice. Get the recipe for Strawberries and Cream Ice Pops (Paletas de Fresas y Crema) »

Raspberries in Pink Champagne Gelée
Raspberries in Pink Champagne Gelée

These simple gelled fruit desserts made with rosé champagne are an elegant way to serve summer berries. Get the Raspberries in Pink Champagne Gelée »

Coconut Gelatin with Glazed Strawberries
Coconut Gelatin with Glazed Strawberries

The New York City-based chef Pichet Ong uses gelatin and citrus juice to coat strawberries in a sweet sauce before plating them with cubes of coconut-flavored gelatin. Get the recipe for Coconut Gelatin with Glazed Strawberries »

Strawberry Moonshine Julep
Strawberry Moonshine Julep

White whiskey takes the place of bourbon in this summery interpretation of a julep. Get the recipe for Strawberry Moonshine Julep »

Strawberry Focaccia with Maple-Balsamic Onions
Strawberry Focaccia with Maple-Balsamic Onions

This boldly flavored bread is a great use for not-too-sweet strawberries, which caramelize and intensify in flavor while cooking. The onion and balsamic vinegar add a welcome tartness. Get the recipe for Strawberry Focaccia with Maple-Balsamic Onions »

Strawberry Pie
Strawberry Pie

In this pie, orange zest nicely offsets the sweetness of fresh strawberries. Get the recipe for Strawberry Pie »

Strawberry Compote
Strawberry Compote

Strawberries macerated with gin, lime zest, and cardamom make an unexpected compote. Get the recipe for Strawberry Compote »

Berry Pavlova

This recipe for pavlova makes a summery, bright, airy dessert.

Sweet Corn and Black Raspberry Ice Cream
Sweet Corn and Black Raspberry Ice Cream

This recipe combines the silky flavor of corn with the tartness of black raspberries.

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