When markets and farm stands are brimming with ripe berries, savor them in these summery dishes
Written bySunsetJuly 20, 2006
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Photo by Annabelle Breakey; food styling by Karen Shinto
1 of 44Photo by Annabelle Breakey; food styling by Karen Shinto
What's so great about berries?
They all pack a slew of benefits that will have you leaping high buildings in a single bound. (Well, almost.)
They're full of vitamin C, fiber, and phytochemicals (health-enhancing plant compounds), which together may help prevent cancer, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory conditions, and even age-related mental decline.
Each one's exact nutritional makeup is slightly different, so our advice is, Why choose? Click ahead to see how to enjoy them all!
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Raspberry, Cucumber, and Mint Smash
This refreshing drink has all the makings of a signature party cocktail. It can be adjusted to taste (using light rum instead of the gin will tilt it toward a mojito). And the pitcher-size format means more time with guests rather than shaking drinks.
Use any size of mini-tart pan you like for these sweet little tarts. If you have leftover dough, you can always roll it out, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, cut into shapes, and bake into that childhood comfort, piecrust cookies.
Sweet and tangy, crunchy and creamy—this recipe delivers a perfect combination of flavors and textures in each bite. A touch of gelatin in the lime curd helps it set enough to slice cleanly.
With generous herbs and a sprinkling of flaked salt, this bread is as delicious with bacon for brunch as it is alongside grilled pork chops for dinner.
This vanilla mousse, with ribbons of tart-sweet boysenberry sauce, has a delicate, cloudlike texture. If you’re substituting raspberries and blackberries, start with more berries for the sauce, as they’re not as juicy as boysenberries.
As this soft, fruit-laden coffee cake bakes, the pistachio streusel sinks a bit, or “buckles.” If you’re lactose-intolerant, feel free to swap in almond milk.
Boysenberry Wine Compote with Goat Cheese and Basil
Here’s one for your summer-party recipe stash. Wine and black pepper make the compote sophisticated, and you can put the whole thing together in minutes—for guests to serve themselves.
Cream cheese and vanilla beans give these treats an extraordinary depth of flavor. Just as amazing: the time saved by making the sandwiches in a big pan rather than assembling them individually.
A tender chocolate crust under the chocolate pastry cream makes each bite seamless—the gastronomic equivalent of an infinity pool. The raspberries wake you back up.
Even if you’re a baking newbie, you can turn these out with ease, thanks to frozen puff pastry. To keep them from sticking, remove the pastries from the pan right after baking.
To make this recipe for a party, you could toast the baguette slices ahead of time and set the chocolate on top. When ready to serve, warm them in the oven and top with the other ingredients.
One of our all-time favorite desserts, with just a hint of spices to pull out the complex, wine-rich flavor of the huckleberries ― and also delicious made with blueberries.
We couldn't believe how simple it was to make these frozen treats. You can strain out the seeds if you like, but we love the texture they lend to the popsicles. Feel free to use boysenberries, pitted cherries, or other favorites instead of the combination of fruits here.
If you think tiramisu has to be made hours ahead, try this fresh, summery version, which comes together in no time. For a non-alcoholic variation, use lemonade concentrate in place of the limoncello. And swap in madeleines for the ladyfingers if you like.
Serve these buttery little cakes for breakfast or as a midday snack with a cup of hot tea. You can substitute raspberries for the blackberries if you like.
Perk up a green salad with juicy-sweet berries and flavorful blue cheese crumbles. A dish this peppery and refreshing needs only a simple vinaigrette to finish.
Guy Fieri loves to make this treat on a camping adventure. Any berry or berry combination works in this cake, which has a dry, crumbly topping that combines with the berry juices for a rich, sweet treat. Pack the frozen berries in a cooler and make this on the first night of camping, before they thaw completely.
Tender berries rise to the top of these little cups, while creamy lemon cake awaits at the bottom. Dive in with your spoon and you get the best of both worlds.