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Basket overflowing with fresh mixed summer berries.

Guide to Summer Berries for the Best Seasonal Desserts

From strawberries to elderberries, learn how to select, store, and use summer’s sweetest gifts in desserts like raspberry spuma, berry tarts, sorbets, and more.

  • Total Time: 10 minutes (plus optional freezing or preserving)
  • Yield: Varies by recipe

Ingredients

  • Fresh summer berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries)
  • Lemon or lime juice
  • Sugar, honey, or sweetener of choice
  • Whipped egg whites (for spuma)
  • Pastry cream or mascarpone (for tarts)
  • Whipping cream (for fools)
  • Mint, basil, or other herbs
  • Optional: balsamic vinegar, rose water, spices

Instructions

  1. Select ripe, vibrant berries based on season—strawberries (early summer), raspberries and blueberries (mid-summer), blackberries (late summer).
  2. Inspect berries for even color, plumpness, and no signs of mold or juice stains. Check the bottom of the container.
  3. Store unwashed in original ventilated container or shallow paper towel-lined container. Refrigerate immediately at 32–36°F.
  4. For long-term use, flash freeze cleaned and dried berries on a tray before transferring to freezer-safe bags.
  5. Prepare berries based on dessert use: macerate for compotes, toss in flour for baking, or blend for spuma or sorbets.
  6. Make berry spuma using your choice of berries, adjusting sugar and straining if needed (especially for blueberry or mixed berry).
  7. Create tarts, fools, sorbets, and granitas using prepared berries and flavor pairings like lemon, chocolate, basil, and ginger.

Notes

Choose berries in season for best flavor and value. Use frozen berries for cooked or blended recipes. Mix and match flavors with herbs, citrus, or spices. Handle raspberries gently, don’t wash berries until ready to use, and avoid airtight storage containers. Try drying, preserving, or freezing berries to enjoy them year-round.

  • Author: Alexandra Roa
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: No Bake / Fresh / Frozen
  • Cuisine: Seasonal

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 portion
  • Calories: 90
  • Sugar: 10g
  • Sodium: 5mg
  • Fat: 1g
  • Saturated Fat: 0g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 1g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 14g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 2g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg

Keywords: summer berries, berry desserts, raspberry spuma, seasonal fruit, berry storage, berry selection