Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries — oh my! Berry season is in full swing. From muffins to pancakes to frozen yogurt, these delicious berry recipes make the most of the season’s juiciest bounty.
This summery recipe comes from Gina Homolka’s bestselling cookbook, Skinnytaste Fast & Slow (Clarkson Potter, 2016). She writes: “I love bringing a big bowl of these juicy berries to a backyard gathering, especially in the summer when berries are at their peak. This easy dessert doesn’t require any cooking, and is always a crowd-pleaser…My trick to making the homemade whipped cream with less fat is folding in some Greek yogurt, which also adds a slight tang that’s quite delicious with the berries.” GET THE RECIPE
Packed with sweet strawberries, these tender muffins with crisp, golden tops are perfect for a special breakfast or brunch. The secret is adding a lot of berries to the batter along with a touch of almond extract to complement the fruit. GET THE RECIPE
This elegant and refreshing fruit salad is delicious on its own as a healthy dessert but also pairs well with pound cake, vanilla ice cream — or both! GET THE RECIPE
This strawberry treat bears no resemblance to store-bought frozen yogurt or the imitation ice cream served at most fro-yo shops. Instead, it tastes intensely of fresh strawberries. My eight-year-old daughter said it best: “It tastes very strawberry-y.” GET THE RECIPE
Fresh berries are delicious on their own but if you’re looking for a way to dress them up, elegant parfaits are the way to go. Here, I’ve layered them with a luscious lemon cream — essentially a lemon curd lightened with whipped cream — to brighten their natural sweetness. GET THE RECIPE
Bursting with fresh blueberries with a tender crumb and sparkling sugar crust, these really are the best blueberry muffins. I’ve tried fussier recipes but this simple recipe tops them all. GET THE RECIPE
One of the easiest and best desserts I know: tart rhubarb and sweet strawberries bubbling away in their own juices beneath a crunchy oat streusel crust. Serve it warm out of the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. GET THE RECIPE
Usually we think of fresh berries as something to eat for breakfast or dessert, but here they make an elegant addition to a savory salad of baby spinach, pecans and goat cheese. I love it as a first course for an outdoor dinner party (it’s so pretty and always elicits oohs and aahs), but it’s also great served alongside grilled chicken or fish. GET THE RECIPE
Like a healthier muffin? These blueberry muffins flavored with cinnamon and maple syrup strike the perfect balance between wholesome and indulgent. They’re lower in fat and sugar than most muffins, enriched with nutritious wheat bran and whole wheat flour, and chockfull of antioxidant-rich blueberries. GET THE RECIPE
This is one of my favorite fruit salads, and it’s such a nice change of pace from the standard mix of pre-cut fruit from the supermarket. I usually serve it for brunch — it dresses up the table and pairs well with quiches and egg casseroles — but it’s also wonderful for dessert served with shortcake and whipped cream. GET THE RECIPE
If you prefer your blueberries in pancake form, you’ll love these blueberry buttermilk pancakes. Don’t skip the homemade blueberry syrup — it only takes a few minutes to make and is definitely the best part! GET THE RECIPE
Berry trifles make wonderful summer desserts — they’re simple, gorgeous and you can make them ahead of time. The only drawback is that, with all their layers, they can be time-consuming to make from scratch. I save time by using high-quality store-bought ingredients, like crisp ladyfingers, cream cheese, and raspberry jam. The result is a dazzling, delicious trifle that can be made in 30 minutes. GET THE RECIPE