How to Use Fresh Summer Berries in Dreamy Desserts

As far as I'm concerned, there are only two ways to to eat summer berries: either fresh off the plant and warmed by the summer sun, or in a homemade dessert that showcases their beauty and flavor. The recipe for the first method is easy - simply find berries and eat them, fresh off the plant. The dessert method is a little more complicated, but the result is an amazing dessert featuring berries picked at the peak of ripeness. To help you make the most of you summer berry bounty, I've put together this list of incredible desserts for your culinary pleasure.

As far as I’m concerned, there are only two ways to to eat summer berries: either fresh off the plant and warmed by the summer sun, or in a homemade dessert that showcases their beauty and flavor. The recipe for the first method is easy - simply find berries and eat them, fresh off the plant. The dessert method is a little more complicated, but the result is an amazing dessert featuring berries picked at the peak of ripeness. To help you make the most of you summer berry bounty, I’ve put together this list of incredible desserts for your culinary pleasure.

Strawberry Dream Cake

The name pretty much says it all. This strawberry dream cake uses mascarpone cheese in place of cream cheese, resulting in a lighter and more ethereal frosting that highlights the sweet and bold flavor of the strawberries. This cake is so good that you’d be doing it a disservice if you served it a la mode.

Raspberry Cobbler

This delicious cobbler uses fresh raspberries to give it an incredible taste. — A delicious example of how to use fresh fruits in your desserts from Martha Stewart

This is a nuanced twist on an old classic. Raspberry cobbler has been a summer staple in my family for years, but this version is better than even that old classic. The flavors are simple and clean, and citrus is omitted in order to let the berry flavor shine. Coupled with a topping of flaky dessert biscuits, this summer cobbler might be the ultimate berry dessert.

Peach Blackberry Pie

By combining summer peaches and blackberries, this peach blackberry pie embodies summer in every bite. This is one dessert that could certainly be served a la mode, especially when still warm from the oven. It’s also great for breakfast the next day, if you can resist eating it all in one sitting.

Blueberry Lemon Tart

This new twist on the classic lemon tart uses fresh blueberries to give it a hint of sweetness. — Blueberries add a new twist to a classic lemon tart from The Food Network

Lemonade is the unofficial beverage of summer, so it makes sense to incorporate lemon into your summer berry dessert. This is best displayed in my favorite blueberry lemon tart. By combining the sharpness of the citrus flavor with the subtle yet bold flavor of blueberry and unifying it with a savory crust, this dessert is a mouthwatering example of summer berry perfection. This dish also pairs incredibly well with home brewed iced coffee, making it perfect for breakfast or after dinner.

Cherry Black Forest Cake

While technically not a berry, cherries are great this time of year and you can use them to create an incredible black forest cake! — This black forest cake recipe from High Heat Kitchen uses fresh cherries to give it an incredible taste.

While not technically a berry, cherries are both in season during summer and delicious. Pairing vibrant cherries with bold chocolate flavors, this cherry black forest cake is a rich and enticing dessert best served on special occasions. This would be exceptional if paired with a Black Forest after dinner cocktail.

While this certainly isn’t an exhaustive list, these are some of my favorite summer berry desserts. They’re seasonal, complex, and refined without being pretentious or overdone. They embody the flavors of summer in neat little bundles of flavor, and that’s something worth experiencing. I really hope you enjoy these desserts and have a safe and happy summer!

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