12 Best Berry Recipes for Summertime
It’s a berry bonanza this time of year, with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries all ripening in the sun. Is there anything better than a sun-warmed blackberry straight off the vine? Well, maybe a warm berry pie drowning in vanilla ice cream….
Read on to learn about the health benefits of berries & browse a blend of classic and unique recipes to celebrate summertime!
Health Benefits of Berries
You’ve heard me say it a million times, but I’ll say it again: Each season offers us the exact nourishment we need to both survive the moment and prepare our bodies for the season to come. Berries are no exception!
I’m sure you know by know that berries are high in antioxidants — but what are antioxidants, and why do they matter? Antioxidants are a group of compounds that include nutrients like Vitamin C, carotenoids, flavonoids, and Vitamin E, and are found in most plants. A nutrient gets classified as an antioxidant when it performs the function of binding to free radicals.
What exactly are free radicals?
As your body undergoes constant cellular change, it releases cells called free radicals. In simple terms, free radicals are oxygen molecules that have unpaired electrons in their makeup. These cells seek to bond with another cell because of this, and in doing so can cause damage to the cell they take the electrons from. When the amount of free radicals seeking to bond exceeds the body’s capacity to produce antioxidants, this is known as “oxidative stress”, and is an contributor to inflammatory, cardiovascular, and degenerative conditions.
Antioxidants are able to pair with these free radicals, thus neutralizing them by giving up some of their own electrons to the free radical so it stops seeking to take these electrons from other cells. Your body produces a certain amount of its own antioxidants, but we also receive the ones we need from plant foods. The amount of free radicals we have can increase due to stress, exposure to chemicals, pollution, smoke, poor diet, and many other external influences. Exposure to UV rays also increase our free radical levels, thus, berries and other foods high in antioxidants come in to save the day in summertime!
Antioxidants also play a huge role in strengthening our immune system, so the berries are helping prepare us for the stress of the winter weather on our bodies and increased indoor exposure to viruses. Hooray for berries! All fired up to get your berry on? Keep reading for some banging recipes!
Gluten Free Blackberry Pie
A classic, but for a reason. This recipe includes how to make a flaky, buttery gluten free crust bursting with juicy ripe blackberry filling!
Lemon Berry Ricotta Toast
A hot take on “toast with delicious things on it”, this refreshing summer treat is a delicious blend of sweet and savory.
3. Yogurt-Berry Fruit Pops
This healthy popsicle is sure to delight kids as well as adults on a sweltering day. Made with Greek yogurt and fresh berries, my mouth is watering just thinking of it!
4. Mixed Berry Crumble Bars
These are delicous and healthy, sweetened with maple syrup. These crumble bars are great to-go treat for picnics or packed lunches.
5. Strawberry Salsa
A hot take on summer’s delight: fresh salsa. This recipe is sweet & spicy, and goes great with meats like pork tenderloin or as a unique potluck offering paired with cream cheese and tortilla chips! Yum!
6. Healthy Blueberry Zucchini Cornbread Muffins
Looking for a great way to use up extra zucchini? Try these unique muffins with a sweet twist. Packed with nourishment and absolutely delicious, this is a great summer recipe that can be made in large batches and frozen for when school starts.
7. Low-Sugar Berry Lemonade
This recipe uses blueberries, but any berry can be used to make this refreshing, electrolyte filled summer drink!
8. Honey-Lime Basil Peach Fruit Salad
Yum, yum, and more yum! This salad includes savory herbs to round out the flavor, and makes a great make-ahead dish for a busy weekend. Instantly cooling, the lime adds a bit of punch to the sweetness of this summertime salad.
9. Herbal Honey Berry Iced Tea
Honeybush is one of my favorite non-caffeinated teas, and pairing it with berries in this iced tea recipe has me excited! Honeybush yields a warm, earthy sweet flavor and is oh so refreshing. Sweetened naturally with honey and berries, this iced tea is perfect for a garden party or afternoon pick me up!
10. Blackberry Cordial
This traditional a la Anne of Green Gables recipe is an old favorite of herbalists worldwide. Any type of berry can be used, and cordials can be canned to last the winter.
11. Oatmeal Blueberry Yogurt Pancakes
These gluten-free pancakes are packed with protein, fiber, and antioxidants. Top with more berries and honey or maple syrup to start your day right!
12. Berry Sorbet
This recipe is screamingly easy, it just takes a few minutes to mix the ingredients and some patience while it freezes, and no ice cream machine is required! You can use straight raspberries, or mix 2-3 species of berries together for a true blend of the season.
Berry-Licious, No?
I hope these recipes inspire you to embrace the fruits of the season in both new and familiar ways. And of course, don’t forget that freezing your berries is a great option if you just don’t have time in the moment to make something with your berry haul!
Merry Lammas, and happy berry picking y’all!
Sources:
Understanding Antioxidants - Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-antioxidants#:~:text=Antioxidants%20neutralize%20free%20radicals%20by,other%20cells%20in%20the%20body.