Summer is great for many reasons and one of my favorite things is the abundance of fresh berries. I could snack on raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries all day long. And of course, I love to incorporate them into my cooking and baking too. These five recipes spotlight summer berries (and not one is for fruit salad!).
Rick Casteel’s (Clarksville, TN) Fruity Cream Cheese Delight could be eaten for breakfast, as a snack, or a sweet end to the day. And, as Rick says, “great in under 30 minutes.”
Crescent rolls dough is stuffed with a lightly sweetened cream cheese filling. He suggests using blueberries which is the perfect complement to the creamy center. But, any fresh berry would work well. Honey is drizzled on top that gives the dough a subtle sweetness and shine.
Diane M.’s (Twin Falls, ID) Coconut Berry Macadamia French Toast is a breakfast I love on a lazy Sunday morning.
“I love nutty, loaded sweet stuff,” shares Diane. “This has all my faves all put together.” When presented, this looks almost too good to eat!
Diane suggests using strawberries or raspberries. Both are delicious, but for this recipe I favor raspberries. They pair nicely with the crunchy flaked coconut macadamia nut coating. Adding a dollop of whipped cream tops this wonderfully!
I’ve already discussed my love of salads in the summer. When I’m throwing a basic one together for lunch I love to dress it up with Debbie Lopez’s Pick Your Berry Vinaigrette.
“Because this is made with fresh berries and honey it is just a tad thicker than a bottled most vinaigrettes but still a nice salad dressing consistency,” explains Debbie.
Fresh berries are a must for this recipe, but you can use any berry you have handy. I’ve used raspberries which makes the dressing a little tart. I’ve also used strawberries for a sweeter salad dressing. You can also get creative and use a combination of berries. It’s customizable and up to you.
I’ve been known to go back for multiple servings of Tammy Stephens’ (North Dartmouth, MA) Triple Berry Cheesecake Cobbler.
“My family loves cheesecake and cobbler,” says Tammy. “I made this recipe to satisfy all their cravings.”
So sweet, so fresh and so wonderful! There are four layers to this dessert – a moist cake, a creamy cheesecake, a berry filling, and a buttery topping. The assortment of berries (strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries) is what makes this taste like summer on a plate. Everyone is going to love this.
If there ever was a recipe that appreciated berries, it’s Barbara Heckenlively’s (Spokane, WA) Thank God for Berries Cake.
“This started as a blueberry upside-down cake,” reveals Barbara. “But then I added a filling and made it a layer cake. This LOVELY cake is better than chocolate!”
The texture is similar to a heavier shortcake. Blueberries are baked into one layer and then raspberries are sprinkled on top. The entire cake is iced in a fluffy lemon cream cheese frosting. Once assembled, it’s a delicious lemon-berry cake. Perfect for summer.
While they’re in season and at their height of sweetness, see what berries you can find at your market and have fun in the kitchen. Your family will be “berry” glad. Happy Pinching!