With over 25 brilliant blackberry recipes for inspiration in this recipe collection there's something to suit everybody. From fabulous drinks to enjoy on a late summer's evening to savoury recipes as well as plenty of dessert and bakes using fresh blackberries.
Beautiful, black, juicy, blackberries are seemingly on every hedgerow in the UK in the late summer, as well as in the shops and markets.
If you've been foraging or just want to make the most of this dark and delicious fruit while it's in season and at its best, now is a good time to check out this blackberry recipe collection from myself and my blogging friends.
Blackberries can be used in a host of different recipes that would be great from breakfast through to supper, as well as a little tipple at the end of the day!
Blackberries
Blackberries are an edible berry, commonly found growing in hedgerows in the UK from late summer until October. A juicy and a deep purplish black each berry is made up of between twenty and fifty single seeds known as druplets. Technically, they are an ‘aggregate fruit’ rather than a berry.
Blackberries are sometimes referred to as brambles although that more often the term used for the plant itself.
Rich in protective anthocyanins, vitamins and minerals, these deep purple berries are packed with goodness. You can check out the health benefits of blackberries here
Grow your own
If you dont want to rely on foraging or buying them from the shops you may want to consider growing your own blackberries. Cultivated blackberries are more productive and better behaved than their wild relatives, and can be trained in a variety of ways such as rambling over arches, pergolas, trellis or along wires on fences and walls.
Blackberries can tolerate light shade, but they will produce more fruit when planted in a sunny, sheltered site in moisture-retentive, but free-draining soil. You can even grow thornless varities.
Buying
Blackberries should be plump, shiny and tender. They are easily damaged, so handle with care. Carefully check the underside of the punnet if its stained with juice then the berries have probably been crushed and damaged.
Foraging
- Pick only berries that are a dark black colour shiny and pull free from the plant gently as they do not ripen once picked. Check the core of each berry which should be white. If discoloured then the fruit is past its best.
- Don’t pick blackberries close to a busy road.
- Once picked refrigerate as soon as possible
Storing
Blackberries will not keep for more than a couple of days. Store in the fridge ideally spread out in a single layer to keep them fresh.
To freeze
Wash, dry and freeze on a tray before transferring to freezer bags or a freezerproof container.
Preparing
Wash thoroughly just before use as washing makes them more prone to spoiling. Wash gently as they are delicate and easily damaged. Drain well.
Like many berries they have the best flavour when eaten at room temperature so if eating fresh remove from the refrigerator about 1 hour before serving.
Blackberry Recipes on Only Crumbs Remain
I adore all soft berries so needless to say I love using blackberries in the kitchen. Obviously I like to incorporating them into my bakes from simple upside down cakes to fancier cupcakes.
Blackberries are also delicious in tarts like this pretty lattice pie
and if you have more than you can eat straight away they can easily be made into jam. This blackberry and pear jam is a favourite of mine.
Don't be put off by the photos of these next three bakes. They are from old posts and need reshooting but they taste too good taste to leave out of this collection. I'll also be updating the recipes into a printable format as soon as I can.
Blackberry Recipes Made Easy
These recipes of mine appear over on my other blog Recipes Made Easy. And guess what! They really are easy!
The best of the rest
In case you are still in need of further inspiration as to what to make with blackberries, I have rounded up a selection of great blackberry recipes from my blogging buddies.
Desserts using Blackberries
It goes without saying blackberries are great in desserts such as this pretty cheesecake from The Copper Table.
Or in this colourful panna cotta tart from A baking journey.
You could go all fancy with this delicious iced dessert from Lost in Food.
Or more down to earth with this homely baked fruit cobbler from The Art of Food and Wine.
I don't know about you but I simply adore trifle in all it's forms so this Blackberry and apple trifle from Farmers girl Kitchen is a must.
Blackberry Cakes and Snacks
The flapjacks from Something Sweet Something savoury would be great with a morning coffee, afternoon tea or tucked into a lunch box for a sweet treat.
As would this easy loaf cake from Curly's Cooking.
Or you could make a delicious cupcakes like these from Chippa by the Dozen.
And these turnovers from Feast Glorious Feast would make a great lunch box addition or after dinner dessert.
Blackberries in Drinks
Blackberries are perfect for using in drinks. Blackberry whisky from Gluten Free Alchemist or A blackberry gin and tonic from Super Golden Bakes anyone?
Cheers!
Or perhaps a blackberry smoothie from Recipes From a Pantry a treat on a hot day or a great start to any morning.
Blackberry Conserves
Jam making is one of the best ways of preserving foraged fruits, like blackberries. Fab Food for All has an easy blackberry and apple jam and Tin and Thyme makes use of not only blackberries but also other bounty from the her foraging trips in her Hedgerow Jelly.
Blackberries in Savoury Recipes
Rather than reserving blackberries for dessert or cake why not use a handful of them in a savoury recipe like these crostini from Easy Cheesy Vegetarian.
Or this vibrant salad from Veggie Desserts
Chloe | Feast Glorious Feast
So many fab recipes - I especially love the savoury options - fruit in savoury dishes is totally underrated!
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
I keep meaning to do some savoury blackberry recipes on Recipes Made Easy .
Choclette
Blackberries are just dripping of the hedges here. Love it. Thank you for posting such a useful variety of yummy things to make with them.
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
Glad you like the collection Choclette.
Janice
Just like every year, I'm so excited to pick the first blackberries. I got my foraging vibe on today and have enough to make dessert for tomorrow. Thanks for this brilliant resource.
Kate Hackworthy
This is such a great roundup! It's amazing just how versatile blackberries are. You could spend days eating them and not be overloaded with all these creative recipes.
Lucy
What a lovely selection of Blackberry recipes! I really love the colour of the Blackberry Panna Cotta Tart. Thanks very much for including my traybake.
Cat | Curly's Cooking
What a lovely round up of tasty blackberry recipes. I love seeing the fruits on bushes and having a cheeky nibble as I'm walking the dogs, but strangely don#t tend to cook with them so this is a great place to come for inspiration. Weirdly, blackberries are the only thing I have found that my dog won't eat! She likes the look of them but spits them out every time!
REBECCA SMITH - Glutarama
Oh goodness gracious me! ... (shouts upstairs) 'kids! We need more blackberries'!!!
Monika Dabrowski
Thank you for including my healthy dessert in this lovely roundup!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
Thanks so much for including my blackberry smoothies. I love blackberries so will be giving these other recipes a try.
Camilla Hawkins
What a gorgeous collection of blackberry recipes, love the idea of your blackberry and pear jam!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche
Thanks for including my crostini! I'm a recent blackberry convert, but been loving them lately!