Even though you can find berries year round, there’s something extra special about how they taste when picked locally. Strawberries are in-season first and other berries such as raspberries and blueberries soon follow. Here are some of the best berry dessert recipes to try this summer:
Strawberry Shortcake
Strawberry shortcake is a classic dessert and one of the earliest treats of the summer! To make your own, simply top angel food cake, pound cake, shortbread, or biscuits with fresh strawberries that have been sliced and sprinkled with a little sugar. Top with whipped cream and even vanilla ice cream!
Berry Cobbler
You can actually use any fruit you want when you make a cobbler. It’s a great way to use any berries you may have on hand! Popular versions call for blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and even a mix of different types of berries! Here’s a recipe for blackberry cobbler but you can substitute in any berry that you desire.
Strawberry Ice Cream
Ice cream is one of the great pleasures of summer. Strawberry ice cream is a special treat because it uses fresh strawberries. What’s even better is that you can make it from scratch, even if you don’t have an ice cream machine. However, having a machine does make your life easier. If you want to get creative, you can substitute in a different type of berry.
Blueberry Pie
Pies are so versatile that you can use nearly anything you want for the filling. When blueberries are in season, however, it’s the perfect summer dessert! This pie uses fresh blueberries and a dash of cinnamon to give it a hint of spice. If you decide to make a strawberry or raspberry pie instead, just substitute the cinnamon for a dash of nutmeg.
Strawberry Macaroons
These macaroons use strawberry jam instead of fresh strawberries so they can be made all year long. In fact, if you follow the basic recipe you can substitute any flavored jam desired. So, you can make macaroons using other berry flavors such as raspberry, blackberry, or blueberry instead. For even better results, make the jam from scratch right when the berries are at their peak.
Raspberry Tart
Tarts are similar to pies with a key difference – they use a special pan and the dough used is lighter than piecrust. Even though you can use any type of fruit that you want, a raspberry tart is especially lovely when these berries are in season. You can find ready-made dough in the frozen food section of the grocery store if you don’t want to make your own.
Strawberry Banana Cake
Fans of banana cake will love this version that also has strawberries mixed in. Light and fluffy, one slice of this cake will satisfy even the most intense sweets cravings! Using ripe bananas and just-picked strawberries will only intensify the sweet flavors. Serve with a scoop of homemade strawberry ice cream for an extra decadent treat.