32 Delicious Recipes Using Fresh or Frozen Blueberries

Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.

Blueberries are one of America’s best-loved berries and a favorite for everything from muffins, breads, and cakes to ice cream, yogurt, and dessert sauces. Because blueberries are grown in all kinds of climates—from Canada to South America—fresh blueberries are available in stores year-round.

If you can’t find fresh blueberries, then frozen blueberries are an excellent substitute. Frozen berries are quite wet when thawed and if used right out of the bag, they will tint everything an unattractive blue-gray. To keep tinting to a minimum, there are a few tricks to using frozen blueberries in baked goods. First, put them in a colander and run cold water over them until the water is light blue, or nearly clear. Dump the berries onto a few layers of paper towels and gently pat with more paper towels to dry them as much as possible. If you are folding blueberries into a batter, toss them with flour. Another option is to leave the berries completely frozen right up until you’re ready to add them, then toss them in flour and blend them in quickly.

Whether you are using fresh-picked wild blueberries, store-bought cultivated varieties, or frozen, you’re sure to enjoy them in anything you make. Here are some excellent recipes to choose from.

Blueberry Buckle

Bake this moist, crumb-topped blueberry buckle and be prepared to take a bow. It is that good.

Blueberry Custard Pie With Streusel Topping

This fresh blueberry custard pie makes a great dessert for any occasion. If blueberries don’t happen to be in season, use frozen blueberries in the pie. The sour cream custard filling and crumb topping make this pie extra-special.

Fresh Blueberry Lemonade

Use fresh or frozen thawed blueberries in this easy, refreshing blueberry lemonade drink. The drink takes 2 1/2 cups of blueberries and about 4 medium lemons (enough to make 1/2 cup of lemon juice).

Red, White, and Blue Ice Cream

This patriotic ice cream combines the colors and flavors of blueberries and raspberries in a creamy vanilla ice cream.

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