To help you pick a new favorite raspberry recipe, I found ones with the best flavor pairings, from white chocolate to floral to lemon. I also organized them by meal type (breakfast, dinner, etc).
All of the recipes use fresh raspberries while they are in-season (not frozen, and not from jam or preserves).
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Raspberry flavor
Very ripe raspberries picked from the vine are incredibly sweet, the tiniest bit tart, and full of flavor. They also fall apart by the time you get them from your back yard into your house (speaking from experience!).
Raspberries found in the store are picked much earlier than that, to survive shipping. Earlier picking results in a tarter flavor. Raspberries are more tart than strawberries, but less tart than blackberries.
White chocolate
Tart raspberries wake up the creamy, mellow, sweetness of white chocolate. Most white chocolate is flavored with vanilla as well, giving an additional floral note to it that pairs incredibly well with the delicate floral aroma of raspberries.
Lavender & rose
If you like the subtle floral flavor of raspberries, try pairing them with edible flowers. The combination will bring that flavor to the forefront. Lavender and roses work especially well, and lilacs could also be worth a try.
Lemon & lime
If mouth-puckering tart flavor is your jam, give one of these recipes a try. Pairing already tart raspberries with lemons or limes will be sure to delight.
Rhubarb
Rhubarb & raspberry recipes are another tart-on-tart pairing worth a try. When raspberries and rhubarb are kept separate (like the scones or breakfast pastries below), you will get bites of sweet-tart raspberries, and others with sour-rhubarb.
When combined into a pie or syrup (etc), their flavors blend together and mellow each other out a bit (similar to strawberry-rhubarb pairings).
Coffee
Coffee, milk, and raspberries create a very balanced flavor. Coffee's bitterness is tamed by the milk (or cream), and raspberries add a sweet-tart flavor to liven it back up.
Breakfast
Raspberries are one of the best breakfast ingredients, in two different ways.
First, raspberries pair well with dairy like yogurt (or milk in coffee). The sweet-tart raspberries brighten up a plain yogurt or cream cheese, but are also balanced by dairy's creaminess.
Second, raspberries add pops of flavor to baked goods that can otherwise be just buttery & sweet.
Salads & sides
In salads and appetizers, raspberries add a pop of flavor, and pair incredibly well with creamy cheeses.
Dinner
A bland dinner is often fixed with the addition of an acid, like a splash of vinegar. Raspberries take on that role and create a very flavorful meal, even if their flavor isn't detectable.
Drinks & cocktails
These drink recipes cover a little bit of everything: creamy milk & tart pairings as well as tart loving lemon and limeades.
Desserts
From classic chocolate-raspberry desserts and ripple ice creams, to bars, brownies, and banana breads. This recipe collection is sure to have a new favorite to offer (mine is the raspberry truffle s'mores tart).
Pies & tarts
Cakes & bars
Mousse, meringue & curd
Frozen desserts
DIY jams, sauces & more
Using up lots of raspberries
All of these recipes user 1.5 cups (or more) of fresh raspberries. Since they don't last long, even in the fridge, I hope this is helpful. You can also see the section above (DIY Jams, sauces, and more) which all use a ton of fruit.
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Have a question? Leave a comment so I can help 🙂
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