It’s Almost Berry Time Again

It’s almost that time of year again – when berries, nature’s greatest gift, are in season. While it’s always delicious to eat blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and many other types of berry on their own, there are also plenty of ways you can incorporate them into your baking and pastry arts dishes. While many recipes taste best with fresh berries, don’t hesitate to try your hand at preparing your dishes with some of your favorite frozen berries as well.

Turn them to “ice cream”
If you’re looking for a way to indulge in all of the ice cream you could ever way, guilt-free, well, your prayers have been answered. Simply blend your berries in a food processor with some Greek yogurt and honey. Add some mint or rosemary for more flavor. You can eat it right away or stick it in the freezer to harden up a bit. You can do this with any of your other favorite fruits as well. Get creative and mix in your favorite combinations.

Freeze them in ice cubes
The only thing more refreshing than an ice cold glass of lemonade is a glass of strawberry lemonade. Consider freezing fresh or frozen berries into ice cubes to plunk into your favorite lemonade recipe. You can also use these ice cubes in your favorite summer cocktails, or even just add them to water to make the drink fruity and refreshing.

Make berry butter
Chances are, you put either butter or jam on your toast. Have you ever thought about combining the two? Behold, berry butter. Simply whip a stick of butter with an electric mixer until it’s light and fluffy and add in some berries. Cover it in plastic wrap and stick it in the freezer to harden. Then, move it to the fridge so it’s ready to eat next time you make toast, waffles, or any other dish that would benefit from some berry butter.

Dry them
Dried fruits from the grocery store are full of sugars and other additives that you don’t need. If you enjoy homemade trail mix, try taking it a step further and drying your own fruit. Simply soak your berries in lemon juice for a few minutes, line them up on a baking sheet and bake them in a 150 degree oven. Bake them for as long as it takes to get them to feel leathery, and rotate them every couple of hours. Enjoy your freshly dried fruit in your oatmeal in the morning!

Keep it simple
If you find that you have an abundance of berries at your disposal, you may worry that there’s just no way you’ll be able to eat them all before they go bad. Never fear! Consider drizzling your berries with a variety of chocolates – white, dark, milk – and putting them in a freezer-safe containers. You can keep these in the freezer for months and add them to your yogurts and cereal, or even pop them in your mouth for a snack!