The Best Berry Recipes for Summer

Berry season has arrived and there's nothing sweeter than freshly picked berries. I have a wonderful childhood memory of annual raspberry picking on Cape Cod. Fresh fruit is easy to use in berry recipes because they pack serious flavor. Here is a roundup of my personal favorite recipes that I've created over the years.

1. Homemade Sangria

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Ingredients

• Bottle of red wine, merlot works best
• 2 liter bottle of ginger ale
• 2 cups of strawberries
• 1 lemon
• 1 lime
• 2 chopped apples (you can use your favorite kind)
• 1 cup of raspberries
• ½ - ¾ cup of Brandy (optional)

Instructions

1. Cut all fruit into small, bite-size pieces and pour into a punch bowl
2. Pour the red wine over the fruit and stir
3. Add ½ cup of brandy and stir
4. Add ½ bottle of ginger ale and stir (save this step until you're ready to serve)
5. Garnish your cups with a fresh piece of fruit and enjoy!

*To sweeten the sangria you can add more ginger ale. I usually use about 3/4 of the bottle.

2. Dairy & Gluten Free Strawberry Shortcake Biscuits with Homemade Whipped Cream

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of flour (I use Bobs 1-1 because we have a gluten sensitivity in our family)
• 2 pints of strawberries
• 3 tbsp. of sugar
• 1 tbsp. baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup butter (earth balance is my choice for a dairy-free option)
• 1 cup milk (I use almond milk since my son can't have dairy, and it comes out wonderful)
• 1/2 cup sugar for whipped cream
• 1/2 pint whipping cream. You can use So Delicious Coco Whip as a dairy free option

Instructions:

1. Combine your flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a bowl
2. Cut in the butter and add milk
3. Stir until your dough forms and drop heaping tablespoons onto a greased cookie sheet
4. Bake for 12-15 minutes at 425 degrees
5. For the whip cream, use a mixer to whip the whipping cream and sugar. It takes about 3-5 minutes on low. You will be able to tell when it's done because it will form a beautiful whipped texture
6. Once your biscuits are cool, halve them and add the chopped strawberries and whipped cream

*You can also garnish with fresh mint

3. Daily Red Berry Smoothie

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Ingredients

• 1/2 banana
• 3/4 cup of frozen or fresh rasperries and strawberries
• 1 cup of almond milk
• protein powder (option) Aria is my daily choice

Instructions

1. The directions here are simple - add your fruit, almond milk, and protein powder to a blender or magic bullet. This recipe makes for a delicious breakfast will serious lasting nutrition.

4. Dairy Free Homemade Berry Pops

Photo Credit: Pixabay

In an effort to have my son eat healthier desserts, I've mastered a delicious homemade popsicle. You do need a mold, but they're fairly cheap online - this is the one I use. In terms of a recipe you can modify ingredients to please your little ones.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of fresh strawberries and mango mixed.
• 2 cups of yogurt - we use So Delicious Coconut Milk (this article is not sponsored by the brand, I'm just a huge fan!)
• 1/4 cup of sugar

Instructions:

1. You can't mess these up! Blend all ingredients, pour into the mold and freeze for about 6 hours.
2. Enjoy outside because they get messy!

5. Berry & Corn Salad

Photo Credit: Pixabay

I was making dinner the other night and wanted a healthy and refreshing side dish. Before I knew it I had made up something new, yet delicious!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of feta cheese
• 2 cups of chopped watermelon and strawberries mixed
• 1/4 cup chopped mint
• 2 cups roasted corn - Trader Joes sells an excellent one

Instructions:

1. Pick out a brightly colored bowl because this dish is so fun and easy!
2. Add your cheese, watermelon and strawberries into your bowl
3. Roast your cornfor 4-5 minutes in a skillet pan with about 1 tbsp. of olive oil
4. Once the corn is cool add it to the bowl
5. Mix all ingredients together and garnish with fresh mint

* You can also beef up this side dish with a jar of black beans and/or 2 cups of shredded chicken

6. Berry Oatmeal Cookies

Photo Credit: Pixabay

So this recipe isn't exactly mine -- I've modified it from the  Quaker Oats box. I think fresh blueberries or raspberries add a lovely seasonal flavor.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. cinnammon
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 cups quaker oats
• 1 cup fresh blueberries or raspberries

Instructions

1. Cream butter and sugars either by hand or with a mixer
2. Add eggs and vanilla and continue to mix
3. Add your flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt
4. Gently stir in berries
5. Drop dough onto cookie sheets (I generously fill a tablespoon) and bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

I hope you are able to try these fresh berry recipes throughout your summer. Happy picking!