Red, White, And Blueberry: Patriotic Berry Desserts
Regardless of your plans this Fourth of July, there's no better way to end your meal than with a patriotic dessert. Berries are in season during the summer months, so strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries are the perfect ingredients for delicious red, white, and blue-inspired sweets. Whether you prefer fresh berries between layers of whipped cream or a rustic berry pie, we've got a Fourth of July recipe for you.
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Fresh berries can be used in a number of different ways; try layering them in a glass trifle dish with whipped cream and pieces of pound cake for an easy last-minute dessert. Though they require a little bit of planning because they're made ahead, another no-bake, fresh berry option is red, white, and blue popsicles. And, fresh berries are a delicious way to top desserts like pavlova (a large, chewy baked meringue) or plain cheesecake.
If you have more time to prepare your dessert, sprinkle the berries with sugar and some freshly-grated lemon zest and allow them to macerate (soften and become syrupy). They'll make a delicious accompaniment to biscuits or angel food cake. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a red, white, and blue mixed berry shortcake. Just be sure to macerate each type of berry separately so that their colors don't combine.
Berry pies are another great way to celebrate the Fourth of July. Berries are naturally juicy so be sure to toss your berries with some cornstarch before adding them to your pie filling; the cornstarch will help thicken the juices that are extracted from the berries during baking. And, if you have star-shaped cookie cutters, you can easily make a patriotic pattern for the top of your pie; try covering it with star-shaped pie crust cut-outs in assorted sizes.
Ready to start baking? Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Mixed Berry Shortcake
A twist on strawberry shortcake, mixed berry shortcakes take advantage of summer berries and looks festive on your Fourth of July table.
Pie
Rustic, homemade pie is always a summertime hit. Give your favorite fruit pie recipe a patriotic twist by using red or blue berries.