25 Blackberry Recipes to Enjoy All Summer Long

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Make the most of this seasonal fruit in our favorite sweet recipes.

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Sweet yet tart, blackberries hold their own in a number of recipes. Whether tossed into salads or smoothies or served alongside cheese, they're simply delicious. When given the spotlight—in pies, muffins, jams, or simply served plain as a healthy snack—their flavor evokes hikes in deep forests and summer strolls down country roads. Ahead, we're sharing some of our favorite blackberry recipes that make the most of this summer fruit in unique ways.

Blackberries are at their best from June to September. Since berries don't ripen once plucked, choose ripe ones either at an orchard or in the grocery store; they should be bright and aromatic. Avoid packages with juice showing or with bruised or moldy fruit. Once you bring them home, refrigerate berries in their original container and use within a few days. Berries are sensitive to moisture—so it's important that you do not store in plastic bags. That means you'll also want to wash them just before use.

It's no secret that berry pies, crumbles, cobblers, and buckles are some of our favorite ways to make use of the plump, juicy fruit. Some versions are classic—like a simple filling made from blackberries, cornstarch, sugar, and lemon juice, topped with either biscuit dough, a buttery brown sugar and flour crumble, or pie crust. In other recipes, we're amping up the flavor with fresh herbs, lime, or spices.

We also have blackberry cocktail and mocktail recipes that your whole family can enjoy when they want to cool off. Celebrate summer with a spritz or toast with a mint julep-inspired drink that uses the berries. Get creative in the kitchen with our favorite blackberry recipes.

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Blackberry-and-Sage Shrub

fruit and herb shrubs
Jake Stangel

Sip on this tart, big-batch mocktail recipe made with an entire pound of blackberries, sugar, fresh sage leaves, and two kinds of vinegar.

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Blackberry-Oregano Pie

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Jonathan Lovekin

This blackberry recipe is stunning on the outside, but the real magic happens beneath the crust where a jammy combination of fresh blackberries, lemon juice, cornstarch, and fresh oregano work together to create a fragrant summer dessert.

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Blackberry Forest Cake

Strawberry-Cream-Pie Cake
Johnny Miller

A combination of cake flour and Dutch-processed cocoa powder form the base for this light and fluffy blackberry cake recipe that's layered with black currant simple syrup, chocolate ganache, whipped cream, and fresh berries.

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Spiked Blackberry-Marjoram Limeade

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Relax with this tart blackberry recipe. It calls for the juice of two limes and fresh marjoram leaves, which has a delicate earthy and citrus flavor similar to thyme.

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Blackberry Buckle

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Bryan Gardner

Not quite a cobbler, crisp, or a cake, this blackberry recipe is one-of-a-kind. It's a family-friendly dessert that can be made directly in a cast-iron skillet.

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Mango and Blackberry Salad with Mozzarella and Frisée

mango blackberry salad pink bowl
Christopher Baker

Sweet summer fruit like mangoes and blackberries pair so well with creamy mozzarella cheese and wild frisée lettuce in this colorful salad that serves four.

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Plum-and-Blackberry Cornmeal-Almond Crumb Bars

plum and blackberry cornmeal almond crumb bars
Kate Mathis

The combination of juicy plums and tart blackberries shine in these buttery, crumbly bars. They're just the thing to serve at a backyard barbecue or picnic with your close family and friends, COVID-19 guidelines permitting.

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Mustard-Rubbed Pork with Blackberry-Mustard Sauce and Spiced Oven Fries

Mustard-Rubbed Pork with Blackberry-Mustard Sauce and Spiced Oven Fries
John Blais

A little something savory to add to your blackberry recipe repertoire, these mustard-rubbed pork medallions with blackberry-mustard sauce are the ideal combination of sweet and savory.

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Blackberry Ice Cream

Blackberry Ice Cream with brownie

Chill out with homemade blackberry ice cream that offers a sweet-tart scoop on a hot summer's day.

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Blackberry-Plum Smash with Basil

Blackberry Plum Smash
Ren Fuller

Here's a bright cocktail for summer! This blackberry recipe is made with lemon soda, fresh basil leaves, and a lovely pairing of stone fruit and berries.

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Pavlova Wreath with Berries and Creme Fraiche

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Mike Krautter

How beautiful is this festive version of pavlova? Formed in the shape of a wreath and adorned with mixed fresh berries, this is exactly what we want to serve for a special occasion.

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Berry Layer Cake

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Mike Krautter

Swirls and twirls of a two-toned purple buttercream top a moist yellow cake studded with fresh blueberries. The frosting gets its intense hue and fruity flavor from black raspberry jam and is topped with plenty of fresh blackberries, black raspberries, and blueberries.

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Blackberry-Raspberry Hand Pies

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David Malosh

These portable pastries are simple and rewarding to put together. Plus, they taste great!

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Blackberry-Oat Bran Muffins

Blackberry-Oat Bran Muffins

Moist buttermilk muffins studded with blackberries and oat bran ensure you start your day with a healthy (and delicious!) dose of fiber.

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Plum Blackberry Galette

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A rustic galette makes you feel like a hero, though it's really one of the most forgiving desserts you could possibly put together. Any combination of stone fruit and berries tossed with sugar, butter, and a squeeze of lemon yields delicious results.

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Blackberry-Swirl Pound Cake

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Purée fresh blackberries with a bit of sugar to create the fruity filling that's swirled throughout this sour cream pound cake. Try warming slices of cake on the grill and serve with dollops of whipped cream for a memorable treat.

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Blackberry Crisp

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Orange juice and zest add a fresh twist to this blackberry crisp. If you like, use a combination of berries in this recipe.

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Mixed Greens Salad with Sugared Walnuts, Blackberries, and Feta

Mixed Greens Salad with Sugared Walnuts, Blackberries, and Feta
Victoria Pearson

Something about a berry salad with feta just makes the mouth water. Add sugared walnuts and you'll be incorporating this simple salad into your menu.

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Jam and Blackberry Tart

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Kirsch-kissed blackberry-raspberry jam—said to be called "old bachelor's jam" because it is simple to make and comforting to eat—sweetens the fresh blackberries and toasted almonds in this summer tart. The cornmeal pâte-brisée crust has a pleasing crunch and beautiful golden hue.

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Best Berry Cobbler

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Yossy Arefi

This cobbler is topped with simple biscuit dough that lets the berries shine. A dash of cinnamon rounds out the flavor of the fruit.

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Blackberry-Mint Julep

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Like the original, our julep features bourbon infused with mint. But this drink's signature sweetness is tempered by the tartness of blackberries, which tints it a gorgeous shade of purple. Another twist: our cocktail is blended with—rather than served over—ice, creating a slushy texture.

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Apricot-Blackberry Puff Pastry Tart

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Apricots and blackberries come together seamlessly in this delicious tart. It uses frozen puff pastry to cut down on prep time.

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Pork Medallions with Blackberry Chutney

Pork Medallions with Blackberry Chutney

Pork pairs perfectly with blackberries, as evidenced by this delicious main that's ready to eat in just 45 minutes.

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Genoise Roll with Lemon-Blackberry Semifreddo

Genoise Roll with Lemon-Blackberry Semifreddo
Steve Baxter

Only a handful of ingredients—one of which is, of course, blackberries—goes into this summery dessert recipe.

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Gluten-Free Blackberry-Cornmeal Muffins

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Lennart Weibull

These cornmeal muffins make use of juicy, sweet-tart blackberries in this gluten-free recipe option.

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