18 Best Berry Desserts That Are Bursting With Fresh Flavor
Take advantage of their natural sweetness.
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Come summertime, there's nothing quite like a pint of fresh berries from your local market or, if you're lucky enough, from your own garden. They're some of the most sought after summer fruits because they're simply bursting with natural sweetness. And while they're good on their own as a sweet treat, they taste even better in berry desserts! They're an excellent way to celebrate the season and to make sure not a single berry on the bush (or vine) gets wasted.
Because you can get practically get them all year round, there's no shortage of berry recipes out there. But if you're looking for the (ahem) berry best berry desserts to get you started, you'll find a smattering right here. There are summer recipes perfect for hot days from frozen desserts like homemade ice cream and sorbet to easy no-bake desserts like icebox cake. There are also homemade cakes better than store bought, a towering trifle to feed a crowd, and of course, fruit pies that simply beg you to indulge in a second slice.
While the more popular berries are listed here, don't be afraid to substitute other types of berries you may find locally in their place. And if you want to do more research and really go in deep while your favorite kind is in season, there are dozens more ideas at your fingertips: strawberry recipes, blueberry desserts, raspberry recipes, and blackberry recipes. Now go forth and enjoy berry season while it lasts!
Red, White, and Blue Trifle
This crowd-pleaser's easy hack is using store-bought pound cake. It comes together really quickly and let's the fresh berries shine! Use a mix of blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
Get the Red, White, and Blue Trifle recipe.
Strawberry Pie
If you prefer to highlight one particular berry, then pie is the way to go. Blackberry pie, blueberry pie, and strawberry pie all benefit from a buttery, flaky crust. A dollop of whipped cream never hurts, either.
Get the Strawberry Pie recipe.
Blackberry Cobbler
There are a few different ways to make cobbler. Some (like blueberry cobbler) have a biscuity topping, while others like Ree's go-to blackberry version start with a batter that the fruit gets baked into. You can't go wrong with either!
Get Ree's Blackberry Cobbler recipe.
Berry Chantilly Cake
If you've ever had the famous Whole Foods cake, you know how good the mixture of fresh berries, fluffy cake, and creamy frosting can be. Now you can make it yourself!
Get the Berry Chantilly Cake recipe.
Blueberry Ice Cream
What says summer more: ice cream or fresh blueberries? Why choose when you can get the best of both worlds in one scoop (or two or three).
Get the Blueberry Ice Cream recipe.
Raspberry Cream Pie
If baking in the oppressive heat of summer sounds like a nightmare, this is the pie for you. You only need five ingredients and ten minutes of prep time. The magic happens in the freezer!
Get Ree's Raspberry Cream Pie recipe.
Red, White, and Blue Berry Dessert
Hello, slice of Americana! Think of of this as part strawberry shortcake, part nostalgic Jell-O salad. Fresh strawberries and blueberries are folded into the gelatin for extra flavor.
Strawberry Shortcakes
If there's going to be one dessert you make with strawberries, it's this classic! It starts with a super-easy drop biscuit dough. Then once baked, layer on fresh berries and homemade whipped cream.
Get the Strawberry Shortcakes recipe.
White Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding
If you're looking for something a little bit different and a whole lot of indulgent, try bread pudding. A mix of store-bought croissants, a rich custard, white chocolate, and berries is over-the-top good.
Blueberry Buckle
If you've never had buckle, you're in for a treat―literally! It's a streusel-topped cake with loads of fresh fruit stirred. It's cakier than a than many cobblers but fruiter than most coffee cakes.
Get the Blueberry Buckle recipe.
Fruit Salad with Grapefruit-Vanilla Syrup
You don't have to go too crazy with baking to get a flavorful berry dessert. A fruit salad can be just as satisfying, especially when you make a flavorful syrup to mix in.
Blackberry Ice Cream Icebox Cake
Here's a fun way to highlight blackberries! Layer them with spiced gingersnaps, blackberry preserves, and lemon curd-swirled ice cream for a a sliceable, no-bake icebox cake.
Strawberry Pavlova
It may look and sound fancy, but a pavlova is made with a short list of surprisingly easy ingredients. The result is a cloud-like meringue that is the perfect sweet nest for fresh berries.
Get the Strawberry Pavlova recipe.
Chocolate Raspberry Cake
Chocolate and raspberries are a classic combo that never goes out of style. If you've got a special occasion to celebrate, make this showstopper of a layer cake and impress everyone.
Get the Chocolate Raspberry Cake recipe.
Blueberry Cheesecake
You can't go wrong with Ree's advice: "Make a dang good, basic cheesecake and top it with syrupy sweet fruit!" Make a stunner with blueberries or with strawberries and watch every morsel disappear.
Get the Blueberry Cheesecake recipe.
Strawberry Sorbet
Strawberry sorbet is one of the true delights of summer. It's refreshingly cold and filled with sweet, fruity flavor. Plus, it only has four ingredients, so it's easy to whip together.
Get the Strawberry Sorbet recipe.
Fruit Tart
A classic fruit tart is one of the best ways to highlight fresh fruit. Mix it with other fruits like mango and kiwi or keep it straightforward with just berries.
Get the Fruit Tart recipe.
Strawberry Cupcakes
Who knew small little bits could pack so much flavor? These cupcakes have triple the strawberries: in the cake batter, in the frosting, and of course, a slice right on top.
Get the Strawberry Cupcakes recipe.
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