Make the best of the blueberry season with my favorite Blueberry Recipes. I’m sharing delicious blueberry desserts, baked treats, breakfast ideas, and more. Plus, handy tips for picking and storing fresh blueberries!
22 Best Recipes to Make With Blueberries
The one time of the year I look forward to more than the holiday season? Berry season! Summertime is when many of my favorite ingredients come out to play. After sharing my favorite Strawberry Recipes, I figured it was blueberries’ turn in the spotlight.
Ah, fresh blueberries. You can bake them into delicious desserts, turn them into sauces, freeze them for later, or devour them by the handful. There are an infinite number of ways to enjoy seasonal blueberries. I’m here to try them ALL. I’m also sharing all my best tips for choosing and storing blueberries. Let’s get into it!
Why You’ll Love These Blueberry Recipes
- Variety. I’ve rounded up mouthwatering blueberry desserts, breakfast recipes, and baked treats to try. From cobblers to cakes and crumbles, all you need is a scoop of homemade ice cream.
- Easy to make. Who doesn’t love a delicious dessert recipe that’s also simple to make? These blueberry recipes are approachable and beginner-friendly.
- Fresh or frozen. The blueberry recipes below taste incredible when they’re made with fresh blueberries. However, many turn out perfectly delicious with frozen blueberries, too. Enjoy your favorites all year round!
When Are Blueberries in Season?
In the US, blueberry season falls between April and September. The peak months vary by state, but this is when the blueberries that you find in the stores and at your local farmer’s market will be at their best ripeness and juiciness.
Tips for Choosing the Best Blueberries
Same as with picking the best strawberries, there are some tell-tale signs that indicate you’re getting the best blueberries for your buck. Whether you’re picking them right from the plant or selecting blueberries at the store, here are my tips for picking perfect ripe blueberries:
- Look for dry, plump, and smooth berries that are dark blue or purple in color. It’s normal to see blueberries with a silvery film/coating.
- Try to find blueberries that are even in size.
- Avoid blueberries that are shriveled or wrinkled.
- Avoid reddish-colored berries, as these are underripe and blueberries won’t ripen further once they’re off the bush.
Blueberry FAQs
The best way to tell is by their appearance. Sweet, juicy blueberries will be plump, firm, and darker in color. Usually, the darker blue the berry is, the sweeter it is.
Yes, fresh blueberries should be refrigerated. Properly storing your blueberries is key to keeping them fresh, see the section below for storage tips.
I prefer to buy fresh blueberries locally when they’re in season. They always taste the best! That being said, it’s fairly easy to find imported berries year-round in most places. You can also make many of the recipes below with frozen blueberries.
Blueberries that have gone off will be soft or mushy to the touch, with signs of discoloration or bruising. Make sure to pick out blueberries that show mold, leaky juices, or signs of decay so that they don’t spoil the rest of the pack.
How to Store Fresh Blueberries
Leave fresh blueberries unwashed for storage. Washing them breaks their natural protective barrier and leads to moisture, which can cause the berries to spoil faster. Store your clamshell of blueberries in the fridge as soon as you’re back from the store, and don’t leave them at room temperature for too long.
Store hand-picked blueberries in a single layer, in a shallow container lined with paper towels. I recommend using additional paper towels in between layers if needed. Cover the container loosely and refrigerate the blueberries for up to 1-2 weeks.
Freezing Blueberries
Freezing is a great way to ensure that you have real, fresh blueberries on hand all year round. Spread out your blueberries on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover them with foil, and pre-freeze them prior to storing.
Once the berries are frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag. They will keep fresh for up to 6-8 months in the freezer. Thaw blueberries overnight in the fridge before using them.
My Best Blueberry Recipes
These recipes really blue me away the first time I made them. I’m all about revisiting these bright and zesty blueberry recipes every summer when blueberries come into season. I can’t wait for you to try them, let me know your favorites!
Homemade Blueberry Crisp
Bursting with blueberries beneath a baked buttery oat crumble, this easy blueberry crisp recipe is the perfect summer dessert. It’s like the yin to fall apple crisp’s yang!
Blueberry Crumble Bars
These sweet and crumbly blueberry crumble bars are perfect for sharing. I love taking these bright berry dessert bars along to family potlucks and picnics. They’re always a huge hit!
Easy Banana Blueberry Muffins
These soft and fluffy banana muffins are filled with fresh blueberries. They’re one of my favorite make-ahead breakfast ideas! Bake these muffins to eat right away, or stash them in the freezer for later.
Blueberry Cobbler
Summertime treats don’t get more classic than a fabulous and buttery homemade blueberry cobbler. Fresh blueberries take the flavor of this cobbler to a whole new level of delicious!
Sour Cream Blueberry Bundt Cake
This blueberry bundt cake recipe is a keeper! It’s ultra-moist and tender, made with sour cream with bright pops of berries. Every soft, fruit-filled bite melts in your mouth.
Lemon Blueberry Whoopie Pies
You have to try these soft, cake-like sandwich cookies filled with blueberries and lemon cream cheese frosting! These homemade lemon blueberry whoopie pies are simple to make and taste like summer.
Blueberry Banana Bread
Blueberries and bananas are a match made in baking heaven, and one bite of this tender blueberry banana bread is here to prove it. Enjoy a slice with your morning coffee. It’s the BEST way to start the day!
Easy Blueberry Muffins
Light and fluffy blueberry muffins are a breeze to make and taste incredible spread with butter. This is the only recipe for homemade blueberry muffins you’ll ever need.
Blueberry Pancakes
A quick and easy recipe for the fluffiest-ever blueberry pancakes! These are so delicious, you’ll want to make them every morning. Luckily, these homemade pancakes need simple ingredients and come together in minutes!
Pound Cake Trifle
The next time you’re feeling fancy, make this perfect pound cake trifle loaded with fresh mixed berries and cream! The real secret is that this classic dessert is SO easy to make from scratch.
Blueberry Cream Cheese Biscuits
What do you get when you mix a buttery biscuit with a blueberry muffin? You get blueberry cream cheese biscuits, and they are DELICIOUS. These easy homemade biscuits are crisp at the edges and soft in the middle, with blueberries in every bite.
Berry Ambrosia Salad
Creamy and filled with fresh blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries, this berry ambrosia salad is the perfect picnic dessert. It’s a fruit salad like you’ve never had before!
Blueberry Muffin Cookies
All the flavors and softness we love about a blueberry muffin wrapped up a delicious and easy cookie recipe! I even topped these irresistible blueberry cookies with a buttery streusel. Perfection.
Blueberry Cobbler Bread
This tender blueberry cobbler bread is the best way to take a favorite blueberry dessert on the go. It’s a sweet quick bread recipe filled with blueberry puree and topped with a crumble cobbler topping.
Blueberry Mousse Cheesecake
Looking for an impressive and easy dessert to make for a special occasion (or any occasion)? Look no further than this rich and creamy cheesecake recipe topped with blueberry mousse and plump fresh blueberries.
Blueberry Muffin Cake
I love this blueberry muffin cake because it’s exactly what the name suggests: a soft blueberry muffin in the form of a light, fluffy cake! This dessert is loaded with blueberries, complete with a crunchy streusel topping.
Blueberries and Cream Muffins
These blueberry muffins have a decadent surprise in the form of a sweet cream cheese filling. The tang of cream cheese combined with the sweetness of blueberries in these fluffy homemade muffins is unreal.
Angel Food Cake with Wine Soaked Berries
Gather your favorite medley of fresh summer berries, because you’re going to want to make this dessert ASAP! This is an easy angel food cake recipe with an adult twist. Wine-soaked berries – need I say more?
Berry Crisp
This bright berry crisp is the ultimate dessert to make during berry season, and it’s just as easy to make with frozen berries at any other time of the year. Perfect to serve with a scoop of ice cream!
Berry Slab Pie
I love making this berry slab pie with any type of berry, but especially fresh juicy blueberries! It’s a simple dessert that’s absolutely popping with summertime flavor.
Glazed Berry Sugar Cookie Bars
These blueberry-filled cookie bars are an easy shortcut to soft home-baked sugar cookies. There’s no need for portioning or rolling out the dough, here. Drizzle them with glaze for extra sweetness!
Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole
Have breakfast ready for the oven the night before with this delectable overnight blueberry French toast bake. Each slice is filled with the flavors of cinnamon and blueberries and drizzled with blueberry sauce.
Craving more easy summer recipes? Check out my recipe finder for more tasty ideas!
