Tag Archives: blackberries

Lemon Berry Pavlova Parfaits

The prettiest parfaits layered with lemon whipped cream, fluffy meringue and fresh berries.

Lemon Berry Pavlova Parfaits! Making these for my next dinner party

I’d love to say that I had this big “creative” idea to turn a pavlova into a parfait but that would be a lie. In fact, I had all intentions of sharing a perfectly pretty pavlova with you until mine crumbled a bit too much and looked like an all around hot mess.

But while it looked eh it tasted perfect. The baked meringue was light and crispy on the outside and fluffy and soft on the inside. It was way too delicious to throw away. And while the resulting dessert wasn’t exactly what I planned, it actually worked out better. I really enjoyed serving the individual glasses to friends. It’s not my usual serving choice but it was just right.

Lemon Berry Pavlova Parfaits <-so pretty for summer entertaining

 

Lemon Berry Pavlova Parfaits
 
The prettiest parfaits layered with lemon whipped cream, fluffy meringue and fresh berries.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 6 individual servings
Ingredients
  • 6 cocktail glasses or glass bowls
  • 1 pavlova broken into bite sized pieces (can substitute broken meringue cookies as well)
  • 355 milliliters (1½ cups) heavy whipping cream
  • 44 milliliters (3 tablespoons) lemon juice (~1 lemon)
  • 53g (~1/4 cup) granulated sugar
  • 2½ cup fresh berries washed and dried (I used a mix of raspberries, blackberries and sliced strawberries)
Instructions
  1. Prepare lemon whipped cream; in the large bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat cream and lemon juice at medium speed until foamy; increase speed to medium-high, and slowly add granulated sugar, beating until stiff peaks form
  2. Put about ⅓ of a cup of whipped cream on the bottom of each glass; layer with ⅓ cup of berries in each glass; follow that layer with crumbled pavlova (enough to reach the rim of each glass)
  3. Dollop remaining whipped cream on top of each parfait along with a couple of berries
  4. Serve immediately or chill in refrigerator until ready to enjoy
Notes
Pavlova can be baked up to three days in advance. Just store in an airtight container and break into pieces right before putting together parfaits
Parfaits prepared and served on same day but can be enjoyed within three days

Lemon Berry Pavlova Parfaits - SO light, refreshing and delicious!

Get some of everything at once for the perfect bite!

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Summer Berry Skillet Crisp

Summer Berry Skillet Crisp

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Blueberry Rhubarb Shortbread Bars

No Bake Blueberry Pie

No Bake Blueberry Pie

Lemon Berry Pavlova Parfaits

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes

Perfect fluffy vanilla cupcakes stuffed with a homemade blackberry jam filling and topped with creamy peanut butter frosting.  These peanut butter and jelly cupcakes would be perfect for a summer potluck!

These are the BEST Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes I've had!

Lately it feels like the productive hours in my day are decreasing on a regular basis.  I’m not knocked out tired like I was in my first trimester, but I’m definitely feeling some new afternoon exhaustion creep in.  I guess lugging around a growing baby and somewhere around 20 extra pounds in front of my body will do that to you!  It’s a little annoying because I still have a lot I’d like to do in the next couple of months, but I’m learning to work around the exhaustion and do what I can.  Namely that means being as productive as possible during the first six or seven hours of my day.  Because come 2pm, it’s a very good day if I am still on my feet and getting things done.  I try to push myself to do some dinner prep a bit later in the afternoon, but that second wind doesn’t always come through.

Homemade Blackberry Chia Jam for the BEST PB&J Cupcakes!

Anyway, it’s a good thing I still have enough energy to get a couple of baking projects done in the mornings!  These cupcakes are definitely not the simplest of desserts, but when you separate all the components and make one of the three ahead of time (the jelly), they really aren’t too bad.  And when you have a dessert come out like these peanut butter and jelly cupcakes did (read: seriously delicious), the extra bit of work and time is very much worth it.  The moist vanilla cupcakes are stuffed with a homemade blackberry jam and topped with a hefty serving of peanut butter buttercream.  I dare you to resist.

Fluffy PB&J Cupcakes with serious peanut butter frosting AND homemade jam!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes
 
Perfect fluffy vanilla cupcakes stuffed with a homemade blackberry jam filling and topped with creamy peanut butter frosting. These peanut butter and jelly cupcakes would be perfect for a summer potluck!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 12 cupcakes
Ingredients
  • 1 batch Vanilla Cupcakes (recipe below), cooled
  • ¼-1/2 cup jelly or jam of choice (recipe for homemade Blackberry Chia Jam below), cooled
  • 1 batch Peanut Butter Buttercream (recipe below)
Instructions
  1. Prepare jam and chill in refrigerator as directed below
  2. Bake cupcakes as directed below; allow to cool for one hour
  3. When cupcakes are completely cool, use a small paring knife to cut about one teaspoon out of top center of cupcake
  4. Fill whole of cupcake with a teaspoon jam and repeat with remaining cupcakes (refer to this blog post on stuffing cupcakes for tips and photos)
  5. Prepare Peanut Butter Buttercream as directed below; pipe or spread buttercream over stuffed cupcakes
  6. Store cupcakes in a covered container in refrigerator up to three days (best within 24 hours of making); bring to room temperature before serving
Notes
I recommend making the jam up to one week in advance and cupcakes one day prior to putting everything together and serving.

 
Vanilla Cupcakes
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Ingredients
  • 120 milliliters (1/2 cup) milk, at room temperature separated (skim, low fat or whole will work)
  • 60g (~2 large) egg whites, at room temperature
  • 20g (~1 large) egg yolk, at room temperature
  • 15 milliliters (1 tablespoon) pure vanilla extract
  • 175g (~1½ cups) cake flour, sifted
  • 150g (~3/4 cups) granulated sugar
  • 10g (2 teaspoons) baking powder
  • 3g (1/2 teaspoon) salt
  • 43g (3 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • 43g (3 tablespoons) vegetable shortening
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees; grease and flour two regular sized cupcake tins OR fill them with cupcake liners; set aside
  2. In a medium bowl whisk together the egg whites, egg yolk, 2 tablespoons of milk and vanilla; set aside
  3. In the large bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, combine the sifted flour, sugar, vanilla bean, baking powder and salt together on low speed for just 30 seconds
  4. Add the butter and shortening; mix on low speed for 30 seconds; add remaining milk and mix again on low speed until just moistened, about 30 seconds
  5. Increase mixer to medium speed and beat for 1½ minutes
  6. Scrape the sides of the bowl add the egg/milk mixture in 2 separate batches; beat on medium speed for 20 seconds after each addition; do not overmix
  7. Pour batter evenly into cupcake tins (about ⅔ the way full for each cupcake); I like to use a large cookie dough scoop or small ladle
  8. Bake for 16-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean; set aside to cool before filling and frosting
Notes
Slightly adapted from Sweetapolita

 
Backberry Jam Filling
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 1½ cups
Ingredients
  • 460g (~4 cups) fresh or frozen blackberries
  • 45 milliliters (3 tablespoons) real maple syrup
  • 20g (2 tablespoons) chia seeds
  • 2 milliliters (½ teaspoon) vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. In a medium heavy duty pot, place blackberries and maple syrup over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until berries soften
  2. Use the back of a wooden spoon to smash about ⅔ of the blackberries; stir in the chia seeds
  3. Cook on low heat, stirring occasionally for about fifteen minutes or until jam is thickened to desired consistency
  4. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and vanilla
  5. Store jam in an airtight container in refrigerator up to two weeks
Notes
Source: Two Peas and Their Pod
This jam is very seedy from the fresh blackberries. If you prefer something different you can buy a seedless jam to use for the filling instead.

 
Peanut Butter Buttercream
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Ingredients
  • 85g (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter softened at room temperature
  • 485g (1¾ cup + 2 tablespoons) creamy peanut butter (do not use natural)
  • 120g (3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons) powdered sugar
Instructions
  1. Beat butter until light and creamy; beat in peanut butter until creamy and smooth
  2. Mix in confectioners’ sugar on low speed just until combined and then beat for a couple of minutes until light and fluffy

PB&J Cupcakes with everything made from scratch, OMG

 

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

{Gluten-Free} Summer Berry Skillet Crisp

A summer berry crisp topped with buttery oat crumble.  It just so happens to be gluten-free!

Gluten-Free Summer Berry Skillet Crisp - full of the best summer berries

I know I’ve talked about this before, but I have a serious issue when I see summer fruit at Costco.  I can NOT buy enough.  A few weeks ago, I needed food for five days, just five.  Now, given my current insatiable pregnancy hunger, I do eat enough for an extra person, but I’m pretty sure that either way, Matt and I can not possibly consume 4 pounds of blueberries, 4 pounds of strawberries and 1 pound of blackberries in just five days.  Believe me, I’ve tried.  So what’s a person to do when they have an excessive amount of fruit?  Bake of course.

{Gluten-Free} Summer Berry Skillet Crisp - just dig in with a spoon!

I generally don’t let a season pass without making at least one warm fruit crumble of sorts.  They are almost too easy to make and compared to some of my typical baking, they are definitely on the lighter side.  Of course a generous helping of ice cream is always necessary, but hey, a pregnant lady needs calcium!  This might be one of my favorites because it is heavy on the blueberries.  There was one summer where I swear, we made blueberry crisp multiple times a week throughout the entire season.  So between the nostalgia, and the wonderful bursts of flavor, this crisp definitely made me happy.

 

{Gluten-Free} Summer Berry Skillet Crisp
 
A summer berry crisp topped with buttery oat crumble. It just so happens to be gluten-free!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 6 servings
Ingredients
Topping:
  • 55g (~1/2 cup) oat flour* (I pulsed my oatmeal in the food processor until it was the consistency of flour)
  • 40g (~1/2 cup) old fashioned oatmeal*
  • 70g (~1/3 cup, tightly packed) light brown sugar
  • 55g (1/4 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
Filling:
  • 450g (~4 cups) blueberries
  • 370g chopped strawberries (from 465 grams / 1 pound whole)
  • 400g (~4 cups) blackberries
  • 57g (~1/4 cup) granulated sugar
  • 15g (~2 tablespoons) oat flour* (I pulsed my oatmeal in the food processor until it was the consistency of flour)
  • 15 milliliters (1 tablespoon) fresh lemon juice (~1/2 lemon)
  • 14g (1 tablespoons) unsalted butter, chilled, cut into small pieces
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
  2. In a medium bowl, prepare topping; mix together oat flour, oatmeal and brown sugar
  3. Add butter and use fingers to combine until mixture is slightly lumpy; set aside
  4. Prepare filling; in 10 or 12-inch skillet, stir together fruit, granulated sugar, oat flour, lemon juice and butter; sprinkle evenly with topping
  5. Bake for about 30 minutes or until filling is bubbling and topping is lightly browned, if you see that topping has started to get to brown early, lightly cover with tin foil for remainder of baking time
Notes
Adapted from my Winter Fruit Crisp and Blackberry, Peach and Pistachio Crisp*
If serving to someone with a gluten allergy make sure your ingredients are labeled gluten-free
You can replace fresh berries with frozen but cooking time may increase
This warm berry crisp is best served family style with generous scoops of ice cream
The entire dish can be made ahead of time and kept in refrigerator until ready to bake; may require extra cooking time if cold

{Gluten-Free} Summer Berry Skillet Crisp - so delicious!

 

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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No Churn Blueberry Crisp Ice Cream

No Churn Blueberry Crisp Ice Cream

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Lemon Berry Pavlova Parfaits

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Brown Butter Blueberry Chocolate Chunk Blondies

 

 

Blackberry, Peach and Pistachio Crisp {Gluten-free}

A summer fruit crisp topped with buttery crumb topping and crunchy pistachios.  It just so happens it is gluten-free!

Blackberry, Peach and Pistachio Crisp {Gluten-free} from KeepItSweetDesserts.com

I don’t know if I mentioned this on here, but my sister was living with us for a few months.  Her NYC lease ended in April, she relocated to my Parents this past weekend and then she moves to Boston in August.  She is going to Harvard for grad school, no biggie. Ahem, huge biggie!

Blackberry, Peach and Pistachio Crisp {Gluten-free} from KeepItSweetDesserts.com

Jessica has about ten times the social life that I do, so she wasn’t around all that much while she lived here.  Given the tight space (her “bed” aka air mattress was surrounded by packaging materials), I don’t blame her.  It wasn’t the most glamorous of places to live.  When she was around, though, it was really nice.  The apartment is already feeling empty in her absence!  Really, New York is feeling empty in her absence!  I’ve been here for seven years, and minus her semester abroad, so has she.  I have a feeling there will be a ton of trips to Boston in my near future.

Blackberry, Peach and Pistachio Crisp {Gluten-free} from KeepItSweetDesserts.com

Over the last month or so I’ve tried to spend extra time with her.  Between girl’s night, days at the pool, Glee marathons and going away parties it has been a blast.  Last week we even had a couple of her friends over for a mid-week barbeque.  The best part of mid-week entertaining?  Dessert.  I stuck with something easy, summery and light-ish.  This fruit-filled dessert is topped with an oatmeal based crumb topping that I added pistachios to for a salty contrast and crunch.  You can use any fruit, really.  I used some lackluster blackberries that were better off in a dessert and giant juicy peaches.  Oh, and I am way too lazy to peel off the skin, so you can peel it if you prefer.

Blackberry, Peach and Pistachio Crisp {Gluten-free} from KeepItSweetDesserts.com

Blackberry, Peach and Pistachio Crisp {Gluten-free}
 
A summer fruit crisp topped with buttery crumb topping and crunchy pistachios. It just so happens it is gluten-free!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 6 servings
Ingredients
Topping:
  • 2 ounces (~1/2 cup) oat flour* (I pulsed my oatmeal in the food processor until it was the consistency of flour)
  • ¾ ounces (~1/4 cup) old fashioned oatmeal*
  • 1½ ounces (~1/3 cup) salted pistachios, roughly chopped
  • 2.5 ounces (~1/3 cup, tightly packed) light brown sugar
  • 2 ounces (1/4 cup /  ½ stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
Filling:
  • 1½ pounds (3 large / ~4 cup yield) peaches, thinly sliced, peeling the skin is optional
  • 14 ounces (~4 cups) blackberries
  • 2 ounces (~1/4 cup) granulated sugar
  • ½ ounces (~2 tablespoons) oat flour* (I pulsed my oatmeal in the food processor until it was the consistency of flour)
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • ½ ounce (1 tablespoons) unsalted butter, chilled, cut into small pieces
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees; grease a 9-inch baking dish (or one of comparable volume) and set aside
  2. In a medium bowl, prepare topping; mix together oat flour, oatmeal, pistachios and brown sugar
  3. Add butter and use fingers to combine until mixture is slightly lumpy; set aside
  4. Prepare filling; in a very large bowl, stir together fruit, granulated sugar, oat flour, cinnamon, lemon juice and butter
  5. Spread filling into prepared baking dish; sprinkle evenly with topping
  6. Bake for about 35 minutes or until filling is bubbling and topping is lightly browned, if you see that topping has started to get to brown early, lightly cover with tin foil for remainder of baking time
Notes
Adapted from my Winter Fruit Crisp
*If serving to someone with a gluten allergy make sure your ingredients are labeled gluten-free
Best served warm with vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt.
The entire dish can be made ahead of time and kept in refrigerator until ready to bake; may require extra cooking time if cold

 

Blackberry, Peach and Pistachio Crisp {Gluten-free} from KeepItSweetDesserts.com

Blackberry, Peach and Pistachio Crisp {Gluten-free} from KeepItSweetDesserts.com

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Summer Berry Skillet Crisp

Summer Berry Skillet Crisp

Apple and Pear Crisp

Obsessed with this pear and apple crisp!

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