From crisps and cheesecakes to salads and cocktails, these blackberry recipes celebrate the fruit’s deep color and unmistakable sweet-tart flavor.
It’s funny how one fruit can do so much. Swirl blackberries into cheesecakes, mash them into jam or whisk them into salad dressings, and they never disappoint. Blackberries hit that sweet spot between tart and juicy, making them a natural fit for delicious berry desserts and savory dishes. Their deep purple hue brings richness to the plate, while their bold flavor cuts through creamy textures and complements everything from baked goods to glazes.
These easy recipes with blackberries let the fruit take the spotlight, whether it’s a bubbling blackberry crisp under a buttery oat topping or brushed into a tangy glaze over pork chops. You’ll even find creative blackberry dishes that go beyond the usual, like frozen yogurt with a tart twist or a pitcher of blackberry lemonade that’s as refreshing as it is colorful.
These berries are delicate, but with a little care, they keep fresh. It starts with knowing how to pick the best blackberries, then storing them in a single layer to avoid bruising. When you’ve got more than you can use in one go, turn to homemade jam recipes or freeze a few handfuls for winter baking. Whether you’re baking for a summer gathering or pulling together a quick weeknight treat, blackberries bring something special.
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Blackberry Crisp
From the Recipe Creator:
I adapted this comforting dessert from a recipe my mother-in-law gave to me. Hers fed a family with nine growing kids who were never full, so there was never any left. There aren't any leftovers when I make my downsized version, either! —Marliss Lee, Independence, Missouri
2/38
Apple Blackberry Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother made this pie so often, she could do it with her eyes closed! We picked the berries ourselves, and the apples came from the trees in our orchard. I can still taste the delicious combination of fruits encased in Mother's flaky pie crust. —Fran Stanfield, Wilmington , Ohio
3/38
Blackberry White Chocolate Cheesecake Cups
From the Recipe Creator:
I read that white chocolate intensifies the flavor of blackberries. It's true! The crunch of baking chips, the blackberry puree, and the sweet and salty pretzel crust make this a sensational mini dessert. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois
4/38
Berry-Beet Salad
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's a delightfully different salad that balances the earthy flavor of beets with the natural sweetness of berries. If you prefer, substitute crumbled feta for the goat cheese. —Amy Lyons, Mounds View, Minnesota
5/38
Humble Bumble Crumble Bars
From the Recipe Creator:
While developing a treat for my bingo group, I asked my husband for ideas. He suggested a fruity bar. This berry bar is lightly sweet and so easy. —Nancy Phillips, Portland, Maine
6/38
Berry Whirligig
From the Recipe Creator:
Blackberries are an Oregon treasure. We love to go out and pick our own. Whatever we don’t eat fresh, we freeze to enjoy whenever we start dreaming of this irresistible treat. —Pearl Stanford, Medford, Oregon
7/38
Blackberry-Sauced Pork Chops
From the Recipe Creator:
My family loved these chops from the first time I fixed them. They're as tasty in a skillet as they are grilled, so you can eat them all year long. The sauce is also fantastic with chicken. —Priscilla Gilbert, Indian Harbour Beach, Florida
8/38
Blueberry-Blackberry Rustic Tart
From the Recipe Creator:
My dad would always stop our car on the side of the road in Maine and say, "I smell blueberries." He had a pail ready. Then Mom would bake the wild berries in a cornmeal crust to make this homey tart. —Priscilla Gilbert, Indian Harbour Beach, Florida
9/38
Blackberry Apple Jelly
From the Recipe Creator:
August is the busiest month of the year on our small farm—that's when we're harvesting sweet corn, pumpkins and pickling cucumbers for our stand. But I always make time to put up this jelly. The apples come from our old-fashioned orchard, while the blackberries grow wild along our creek...and the jelly's usually gone by January! —Liz Endacott, Matsqui, British Columbia
10/38
Blackberry Frozen Yogurt
From the Recipe Creator:
You could also use boysenberries, raspberries or strawberries for this delicious dessert. — Rebecca Baird, Salt Lake City, Utah
11/38
Pork Tenderloin with Three-Berry Salsa
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband came home from a work meeting that had served pork with a spicy blueberry salsa. He was amazed at how tasty it was, so I came up with my own rendition without seeing or tasting what he had. It took several tries, but this is the delicious result. —Angie Phillips, Tarzana, California
12/38
Cookies ‘n’ Cream Berry Desserts
From the Recipe Creator:
This sweet berry dessert makes an especially pretty final course in the spring. With berries, a creamy topping and a sprinkle of meringue cookies, it always earns praise. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
13/38
Blackberry Beer Cocktail
From the Recipe Creator:
This refreshing hard lemonade has a mild alcohol flavor; the beer adds just enough fizz to dance on your tongue as you sip. Sorry, adults only! —Ginger Sullivan, Cutler Bay, Florida
14/38
Wild Berry Freezer Jam
From the Recipe Creator:
One year, I decided I wanted to make a wild berry jam but couldn't find a recipe, so I invented my own. — Barbara Hohmann, Petawawa, Ontario
15/38
Double-Berry Quick Bread
From the Recipe Creator:
Healthy, fast and easy! This bread is a favorite of mine when prep time is tight and I have small amounts of different kinds of berries to use up. — Jennifer Coduto, Kent, Ohio
16/38
Rise and Shine Parfait
From the Recipe Creator:
Start your day with a smile. This fruit, yogurt and granola parfait is so easy to make. If you like, use whatever favorite fresh fruits are in season and are looking best at the supermarket. —Diana Laskaris, Chicago, Illinois
17/38
Avocado Fruit Salad with Tangerine Vinaigrette
From the Recipe Creator:
On long summer days when we just want to relax, I make a cool salad with avocado, berries and mint. The tangerine dressing is refreshingly different. —Carole Resnick, Cleveland, Ohio
18/38
Four-Berry Spinach Salad
From the Recipe Creator:
Nature's candy abounds in the berry-filled salad. The slightly tart dressing contrasts deliciously with the sweet in-season fruit. —Betty Lise Anderson, Gahanna, Ohio
19/38
Blackberry Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
I grew up on a farm, and we always picked fruits in early summer and used them to make desserts. This blackberry pie recipe is a real stunner. —Gladys Gibbs, Brush Creek, Tennessee
20/38
Blackberry Cheesecake Bars
From the Recipe Creator:
Sugar cookie dough is a speedy way to turn ricotta and mascarpone cheeses topped with blackberries into beautiful bars. — Terri Crandall, Gardnerville, Nevada
21/38
Berry Granola Pancakes
From the Recipe Creator:
My son and I like to make this breakfast favorite together. You can leave the berries out of the mix and sprinkle them on top, or sub in chocolate chips or nuts instead. —Elizabeth Stewart, Crab Orchard, West Virginia
22/38
Berry BBQ Sauce
From the Recipe Creator:
On weekends, I jazz up our favorite BBQ sauce with berries. This blackberry-blueberry BBQ sauce makes a marvelous spread for basting and saucing grilled baby back ribs. —Janet Hix, Austin, Texas
23/38
Honey-Yogurt Berry Salad
From the Recipe Creator:
I wanted my family to eat more fruit but not more sugary ingredients. This berry salad lets you play with different low-fat yogurts and fruits. —Betsy King, Duluth, Minnesota
24/38
Berry Nectarine Buckle
From the Recipe Creator:
I found this recipe in a magazine a long time ago, but modified it over the years. We enjoy its combination of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and nectarines, particularly when the cake is served warm with low-fat frozen yogurt. —Lisa Darling, Rochester, New York
25/38
Mixed Berry Sangria
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a light, tasty beverage to serve with spoons so everyone can enjoy the fresh berries once the sangria is gone. — Linda Cifuentes, Mahomet, Illinois
26/38
Berry Coulis with Dutch Pancakes
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband makes his mom's crepe-like Dutch pancakes with our kids on Saturdays. I came up with the berry sauce, and the dish is now our brunch standard. —Shannon Koene, Blacksburg, Virginia
27/38
Blackberry Lemonade
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's a special drink that's perfect when blackberries are in season. It has a tangy, refreshing flavor. —Rich Murray, Nevada, Missouri
28/38
Four-Berry Spread
From the Recipe Creator:
For a big berry taste, you can't beat this tasty spread. With a flavorful foursome of blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries, this lovely jam brightens any breakfast. —Marie St. Thomas, Sterling, Massachusetts
29/38
Berry Cobbler
From the Recipe Creator:
I combined several recipes to come up with this one. It's very versatile. Sometimes I use other fruits depending on what is available or on hand. —Edna Woodard, Fredericksburg, Texas
30/38
Blackberry-Orange Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandmother made luscious fruit pies and cobblers using blackberries from her garden. I decided to follow her lead and create a blackberry cake that's always lovely with a summer meal. —Lisa M. Varner, El Paso, Texas
31/38
Sweet-Chili Salmon with Blackberries
From the Recipe Creator:
My garden is often my cooking inspiration. Because I have a large berry patch, I especially enjoy using just-picked berries in savory dishes to add natural sweetness and sometimes a bit of tart. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California
32/38
Blackberry Cobbler
From the Recipe Creator:
Alabama has some tasty fresh berries. Several decades ago, my mama was going to pick blackberries to make a cobbler, but she went to the hospital to have me instead! This wonderful dessert is her mama’s recipe. —Lisa Allen, Joppa, Alabama
33/38
Mixed Berry Sundaes for 2
From the Recipe Creator:
These delightful yogurt sundaes are an easy way to add fruit and calcium to your diet. Berries star in the dish, which I enjoy as a simple breakfast or healthy dessert for two. —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah
34/38
Berry Breakfast Parfaits
From the Recipe Creator:
Expecting brunch company but short on time? Parfaits are the perfect solution. Feel free to mix and match with whatever berries you have on hand. —Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida
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Maple Blackberry Mojito
From the Recipe Creator:
This refreshing blackberry cocktail is how you take advantage of prime berry season during the summer months. I've also used other types of fruit, including raspberries, kiwi and strawberries. —Donna Noel, Gray, Maine
36/38
Blackberry-Topped Sponge Cakes
From the Recipe Creator:
The recipe for my blackberry cakes is easy to play with. You can replace the sponge cake with angel food, pound cake or ladyfingers. And any fruit that has liquor with the same flavor can be used. —Karen Robinson, Woodbury, Connecticut
37/38
Slow Cooker Spiced Poached Pears
From the Recipe Creator:
Some of the many reasons I love this dessert recipe are: it's on the healthy side; it's easy to make; the recipe can be mostly prepared in advance of company arriving; and the presentation is lovely.—Jill Mant, Denver, Colorado
38/38
Blackberry Brandy Sauce
From the Recipe Creator:
Fresh ingredients make a rich-tasting blackberry brandy sauce to serve over ice cream, cheesecake, pancakes, angel food cake ... the possibilities are endless, and it makes everything look gorgeous. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado
Blackberry Recipes FAQ
How do I choose ripe blackberries for recipes?
For the best blackberry recipes, look for plump, deep purple-black berries that are soft enough to yield slightly when pressed, without being mushy or leaking juice. Avoid pale or overly soft berries, as they are underripe or past their prime. Since blackberries don’t ripen after harvest, it’s worth choosing carefully. Make sure you know how to wash berries correctly, as it will help preserve their texture. Once you’ve got a good batch, they’re perfect for easy recipes with blackberries like scones, yogurt bowls or a quick blackberry vinaigrette.
Can I use frozen blackberries in these recipes?
Frozen blackberries work well in most recipes, especially baked goods, sauces, smoothies and compotes. Use them straight from the freezer for recipes like blackberry muffins or crisps to reduce color bleeding or toss them with a bit of flour to help keep them suspended in batter. For salads, drinks or chilled desserts, thaw and drain first to prevent excess moisture. While their texture softens after freezing, the flavor stays bold, making them ideal for warm oatmeal, glazes or any dish where presentation isn’t the focus.
What savory dishes pair well with blackberries?
Blackberries add a vibrant, sweet-tart contrast to rich proteins like pork, chicken or salmon. They work well in glazes for grilled pork chops, sauces for roasted chicken or spooned over fish with herbs and citrus. The juice brings brightness to salads with arugula, creamy goat cheese or toasted nuts. For something different, try a blackberry chutney alongside sharp cheese or roast meats.
