Who doesn't love sweet, summer berries? Fresh, colorful berries are the epitome of summer! And the best part is that they're really good for you too! Here are some of my favorite ways to use berries.
Don't you just love fresh, summer berries? From luscious strawberries to fragrant raspberries to sweet blueberries and tart blackberries, the abundance of these colorful treats at the market are a reminder that summer is here. Fresh summer berries are not only delicious but they are good for you too. Did you know that blueberries consistently rank as one of the most antioxidant rich foods? Or that strawberries are a great immunity booster? In fact, one cup has more than 100% of your recommended daily amount of Vitamin C.
Berries are delicious eaten alone or served with freshly whipped cream. But if you’re looking for something a little different, here are some fun ideas for how to use them!
10 Fun Ways to Use Summer Berries
- Drinks- Berries add lovely color and sweet flavor to fresh lemonade. Simply puree fresh berries and stir them into homemade lemonade. Try a twist on classic sangria using berries and white wine. You can also make a berry Bellini using berry puree and Prosecco. Or muddle berries with fresh herbs and rum for a play on the classic mojito. Strawberry basil and blueberry mint are both great flavor combinations.
- Berry crumbles- A crumble is an easy dessert that showcases summer berries and is great for entertaining. Mix assorted berries in a dish with lemon juice, sugar and a little flour or cornstarch. Top them with a mixture of oats, sugar, chopped nuts, flour and butter and bake in the oven. Top with vanilla ice cream for an extra special treat.
- Homemade frozen desserts- Try making homemade berry sorbet, granita, ice cream or popsicles.
- Salads- Berries are not only good for desserts- their natural sweetness and tartness complement many savory ingredients. Try pairing strawberries with fresh spinach, almonds and crumbled goat cheese. Or make a grilled chicken salad and top it with fresh blackberries, walnuts and feta cheese.
- Berry jam- Homemade jams are a great way to use up a lot of berries, especially at the end of the summer when you want to preserve them for the cold months to come. Fresh jam makes a great topping for anything from toast to pancakes.
- Berry ice cubes- Freeze whole or sliced berries in ice cube trays with water and add them to your drinks at your next party. They add a fun splash of color and you can eat them when the ice melts.
- Fruit salsa- Fruit salsas are an easy way to dress up grilled fish or chicken breast. Try substituting a mixture of fresh berries for tomato in your favorite salsa recipe.
- Smoothies- Puree fresh berries with yogurt, milk and ice for a healthy treat. For added nutrition, add some ground flaxseed.
- Easy berry trifles- Layer fresh berries with pieces of angel food cake and freshly whipped cream or Greek yogurt for a light and healthy treat.
- Stuffed berries- Berries are a delicious accompaniment to cheesecake but rather than baking a cheesecake, save yourself lots of time and energy by making this simple dessert instead. Check out my recipe for Banana Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries below!
More Tasty Summer Berry Recipes
- Strawberry Pineapple Lemonade
- Quinoa Salad with Spinach, Strawberries & Goat Cheese
- Mixed Berry Chia Pudding
- Chocolate Raspberry No-Bake Cheesecake Jars
- Immunity-Boosting Orange Berry Smoothie
- Triple Berry Crumble
- Spinach Salad with Grilled Chicken and Berries
- Berry Shortcakes with Greek Yogurt Whipped Cream
Recipe
Banana Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
Sweet summer strawberries are stuffed with a creamy banana cheesecake filling. It's the perfect summer treat!
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Servings: 30 (makes about 30 strawberries)
Calories: 28kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs. strawberries
- 8 ounces reduced fat cream cheese (Neufchatel)
- 1 ripe medium banana, peeled and mashed
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
Optional toppings:
- crushed graham crackers and shaved dark chocolate
Instructions
- Using a paring knife, cut the stems off the strawberries. Carefully hollow out each strawberry leaving enough space inside for the filling. Cut off the tip of each strawberry so that it can stand up.
- To make the filling, beat the cream cheese in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer until fluffy. Add the banana, vanilla and maple syrup and beat until incorporated.
- Transfer the cheesecake mixture to a piping bag (you can also use a plastic bag and cut off a corner). Pipe the filling into the strawberries.
- If desired, garnish with crushed graham crackers or shaved dark chocolate. Refrigerate for an hour before serving.
Nutrition
Serving: 1strawberry | Calories: 28kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 27mg | Potassium: 69mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 47IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg
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Max Martin says
I especially love your presentation and photos. Wonderful. How were you able to cut the stems so cleanly? You must use some kind of knife sharpener, such as this one from DMT. I can't stress it enough, smooth cutting is so necessary for a clean finished product and presentation.
Max Martin says
Wow, great!
Outsource-safety says
Wow yummy food with different kinds of berries. I also like to eat and make as these different tastes.