What to do with raspberries: 75 recipes & flavor pairings

Wondering what to do with raspberries? Let's start by looking at some flavors that pair well with strawberries, like white chocolate, lemon, basil, cardamom, and coffee, to name a few.

Then I'll share even more recipes so you have plenty to choose from. Of course, desserts are the easiest way to use raspberries, but don't overlook salads, and even some savory pairings with meat (like raspberry BBQ pulled pork).

Jump to:

• Raspberry flavor
• Chocolate
• Citrus
• Rhubarb
• Floral
• Coffee
• Herbs & spices
• Nuts
• Other fruit
• Black raspberries
• Savory
• DIY jams, sauces & more
• Using up lots of raspberries
• More resources

Raspberry flavor

Let's start with a quick overview of what raspberries taste like, so we know why it pairs well with other ingredients.

Very ripe raspberries picked from the vine taste incredibly sweet, and a little tart. They're tarter than strawberries, but not nearly as tart as blackberries. The most noticeable flavors (besides raspberry!) are floral, citrus, and peach or cherry, sometimes with barely detectable hints of clove or cinnamon.

The longer they were left to ripen on the vine, the stronger they taste. When picked only once they are perfectly ripe, they are so delicate they will fall apart even in your own hand.

In order to get raspberries to you at the farmers market and grocery store, they have to be picked earlier so they can survive the transportation. This also results is less overall flavor, and a higher concentration of tartness.

You can use that tartness to your advantage since it balances out the sweetness of most dessert recipes. It also livens up dairy-forward recipes like ice cream or cheese cakes (similar to adding acid, like lemon to salads or soups).

So when you're wondering what to do with raspberries, you can start with a recipe that highlights how they taste before pairing them with other flavors.

Chocolate

How let's figure out what to do with raspberries that involve some fun flavor pairings. Chocolate is at the top of most people's lists since both white chocolate and dark chocolate pair with raspberries (but for slightly different reasons).

White chocolate

White chocolate goes together with raspberries because the fruit's tartness wakes up the creamy, mellow sweetness of white chocolate. The vanilla flavoring in the chocolate also complements the floral notes in the raspberries.

The raspberry white hot chocolate by Sugar Hero is probably the most true version of this flavor pairing. Pureed raspberries are added to hot milk (and heavy cream) with melted white chocolate.

Try using raspberries and white chocolate together in any of the other recipes below, or add white chocolate chips to your favorite raspberry baked goods, like muffins or cakes.

Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate is bitter, which is balanced from both the sweet and tart flavors in raspberries. Premium dark chocolate often has fruity notes, depending on the origin, which also goes well with raspberries.

I like raspberry and chocolate pairings better than strawberries. I find the flavor to be more complex and like the boldness of the chocolate's bitterness and the raspberries' tartness.

When it comes to chocolate, there's no shortage of ideas for what to make with raspberries. Here's a bunch of recipes I've gathered from other bloggers.

Citrus

Another popular idea for what to do with raspberries is to pair them with citrus. One of the flavor compounds that chemists identified in raspberries is limonene - the main flavor of lemons and other citrus fruits. That explains why citrus and raspberries go so well together.

Lemons

Lemons are tart and mouth-puckering, but also sweet. They aren't bitter like some other citrus fruit can be (like grapefruit). All of these traits combine to make them the most popular citrus to pair with raspberries.

A lot of classic lemon desserts taste great when you add raspberries, like a lemon tart or lemonade. Here are a few recipes worth making:

• Lemon raspberry layer cake from Baker By Nature
• A mixed berry & lemon cake from Julia's Album
• Lemon raspberry tartlets from Kneed Some Sweets
• Raspberry lemonade from Sugar Spun Run

Alternatively, mix lemon and raspberries together in other types of recipes:

Limes

This pairing isn't as classic as lemon-raspberry, but it's just as good. Limes are less sweet than lemons, so they work best in desserts and sweetened drinks, like raspberry limeade, where added sugar can tame the tartness.

Oranges

Oranges are not as common of a pairing, but that doesn't mean they should be overlooked. Oranges are sweeter and less tart than lemons and limes, so they are a good option for those of you who don't want a super tart punch in the face.

Valencia oranges are a popular option, in season throughout summer. Try making one of these recipes when raspberries are in season:

• Raspberry orange layer cake by Life Love & Sugar
• Raspberry orange streusel bars by Just a Little Bit of Bacon
• Raspberry orange crumble top muffins from Oregon Berries (flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom)

Rhubarb

Continuing a little more with the tart theme is to make something that combines raspberries and rhubarb. Their tartness has slightly different qualities - raspberries have a tart flavor, whereas rhubarb is more of a sour flavor.

There are two ways to use this flavor pairing in recipes. One is to keep them separate to enjoy their differences in each bite, like the scones or breakfast pastries below).

You can also combine them to blend their flavors together, creating a more mellow taste, similar to combining strawberries with rhubarb. Try combining them in a pie or a syrup.

Floral

If you want to bring out the subtle floral notes of raspberries, make something that uses edible flowers. Raspberries work well with fresh lilacs, lavender, rose petals, and hibiscus.

For a simple summer party recipe, make a crowd-favorite fruit salad that includes raspberries and fresh flowers. The floral flavors will also compliment most summer fruit, including peaches and melons. Here's a recipe from Vegetarian Times to provide inspiration.

Rose

Roses have a very perfume-y essence that can be added with rose petals or rosewater. This pairing can add flavor back to dull-tasting raspberries, a trick that also applies to strawberries, by the way.

Make a floral sangria with a prosecco or sparkling rosé. Try this recipe from Heather Christo that uses a chilled bubbly prosecco, raspberries, peaches, and rose petals.

Lavender

While both roses and lavender are common perfume-y aromas, lavender is more subdued and good culinary lavender should not taste soapy. It should be refreshing with citrus or minty undertones.

Don't just take my word on this pairing, Oregon Raspberry & Blackberry commission also think it's a great pairing and combine them in a scone recipe.

For a really true pairing, try this recipe from Rhubarb & Lavender that mixes raspberries with a simple, yet elegant lavender cream. Or try this black raspberry & lavender cobbler from Kitchen Lane that was inspired after touring a lavender farm.

Hibiscus

Hibiscus flavor is much more complex than most flowers, in my opinion. While they taste floral, it doesn't dominate their flavor since they also taste noticeably tart with similarity to cranberries.

According to Michelin-starred chef Peter Coucquyt, hibiscus and raspberries both share spicy clove-like aromas, making for an interesting pairing. The flowers are often dried, and sometimes jarred. Here are a few recipes for inspiration:

• Raspberry & hibiscus pink drink (uses hibiscus tea), from The First Mess
• Raspberry & hibiscus sorbet from Food & Wine (uses dried hibiscus flowers)
• Raspberry & hibiscus chocolate tarts from Nirvana Cakery (vegan & grain-free)

Coffee

It might seem surprising, but coffee goes well with raspberries too. In fact, 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.

You don't even have to add coffee to the recipe - you could just make a raspberry muffin or other baked good with a cup of coffee.

Herbs & spices

For an unexpected thing to do with raspberries, make a recipe with some herbs and spices. When added for a very subtle flavor, it leaves people trying to identify the unique flavor they're enjoying but can't quite put a finger on - a secret ingredient, if you will.

Thyme & basil

Thyme and basil are the most common herbs that go with raspberries, bringing their characteristic herbal-spiciness to recipes. Try making one of these raspberry recipes:

• Raspberry honey & brie crostini with basil oil, recipe from Half Baked Harvest
• Raspberry basil vinaigrette from Sweet Peas & Saffron
• Raspberry basil lemonade from Washington Red Raspberry Commission (they note you can substitute mint or thyme)
• Lemon raspberry coffee cake with sweet basil whipped cream, recipe by Yummy Crumble
• Raspberry thyme smash cocktail recipe from BLT Market in NY
• Raspberry thyme fruit rollups from The Paleo Diet

Mint

Most people like minty desserts and drinks, and it pairs pretty well with raspberries. I like to say this combo is competitively complementary. The flavors work together, but each one is competing to be the star.

• Raspberry mint brownies from Bakerita (pictured above)
• Raspberry mojito (a cocktail made with mint) - from Joyful Healthy Eats
• Raspberry mint sorbet recipe from Spoonful of Flavor

Cardamom

Cardamom hails from Sri Lanka, Guatemala, and India, but has become a defining characteristic of Scandinavian cuisine. It tastes of eucalyptus or mint, ginger, floral, and citrusy. It's easily become one of my favorite spices.

Cynthia from Two Red Bowls describes this pairing so perfectly, "To me the best kinds of flavor pairings are the ones that don't taste like x-and-y together, but become a whole new taste of their own, and I think cardamom does exactly that to raspberry - the result isn't a duet of flavors, but a deeper, richer raspberry jam that evolves as you taste it."

A little bit goes a long way, as freshly-bought cardamom is very strong. Add it to raspberry baked goods, jams, smoothies, or make one of these recipes:

• Spiced vanilla-maple raspberry & blackberry crisps from Martha's Vineyard
• Raspberry cardamom almond tarts, a recipe by Two Red Bowls posted on Adventures in Cooking
• Swedish raspberry cardamom buns by Cecilia Tolone

Rosemary

Rosemary adds complexity when paired with raspberries, contrasting the fruit's bright & tart profile with an earthy, piney flavor. It's unexpected, and when used as a subtle background flavor, rosemary can be a very intriguing pairing.

• Raspberry & rosemary almond cake from Whisk & Whiskers
• Rosemary-raspberry jam from The Primal Desire
• Pork medallions with raspberry rosemary sauce on Food.com

You can also try making rosemary raspberry truffles from Sugar Hero. The recipe has to use freeze-dried raspberries to make the chocolate truffle, but it was too good to pass up, even though this post focuses on using fresh raspberries.

Other herbs & spices

Bay leaves, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves also go well with raspberries. These types of recipes aren't as abundant, but you can always try to adapt a favorite. Here's a few more fun things to do with raspberries:

• Bay leaf custard with summer berries, a recipe from Sons of Norway
• Strawberry bay leaf jam (as inspiration for a raspberry jam) from Driscoll's
• Raspberry-ginger baked salmon from Healthful Pursuit
• Raspberry & ginger smoothie from Food with Feeling
• Raspberry cinnamon rolls from Oh Sweet Basil
• Spiced raspberry syrup with ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves - recipe from Completely Delicious

Nuts

Nuts are a classic pairing with almost any fruit, but two stand out with raspberries: pistachios and almonds. When eating raspberries, you get an immediate bright, tart pop of flavor. On the other hand, nuts are more subtle with a lingering finish that shows up as the tart raspberry flavor disperses.

Pistachios

Pistachios are fairly savory for a nut, with a fresh, green flavor. Here are a few pistachio recipes to make with raspberries:

They also work well together in muffins and other baked goods, or as a raspberry sauce over pistachio-crusted fish.

• Pistachio crusted sea bass by Always From Scratch (top with fresh raspberries)
• Raspberry pistachio salad from Simply Scratch
• Raspberry pistachio cake from Pies & Tacos

Almonds

Almonds are pretty mild, slightly buttery, and a tiny bit bitter. Their fattiness balances out the bright, acidic flavor of raspberries without any chance of stealing the show.

Try adding almonds to raspberry muffins, tarts, and other baked goods.

• Raspberry almond bars by The View from Great Island (pictured above)
• Raspberry crunch salad with raspberry-almond oil vinaigrette, recipe by A Zest for Life
• Raspberry glazed almonds from Amy's Healthy Baking (she uses freeze-dried raspberries, but it was another recipe too good to pass up while focusing on fresh raspberries).

Other fruit

Last, but not least, raspberries go with a lot of other fruit, most notably other summer berries and peaches.

Berries

Strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries have a lot of overlap on flavor and acidity, making them easy to mix with raspberries.

• Strawberries are the most fragrant of the berries, with notable floral aromas
• Blueberries add more tartness
• Blackberries bring in some earthy and tannic flavors (sometimes blackberries can be bitter)

If you're wondering what to do with raspberries before they go bad, mix them with other summer berries in a quick fruit salad or crisp. Or make one of the recipes below:

Peaches

Peaches are complimentary to raspberries - the fruits balance and enhance each other, rather than blending together like other berries.

Peaches add a smooth sweetness and texture, while raspberries bring acidity that brightens peaches. They both share floral flavor compounds, as do many of the other stone fruits.

Black raspberries

Black raspberries taste similar to red raspberries, but with some notable differences. Black raspberries usually have a more intense, jammy flavor that leans toward black cherries or plums, whereas red raspberries contain hints of citrus and rose. Black raspberries also taste sweeter and less acidic.

Black raspberries will pair well with the same flavors, and you can use the pairings to bring out the desired characteristics.

Savory

Raspberries work well in savory dishes because they add a tart pop of flavor to balance out salt and fat (like in meat and cheese). While savory recipes aren't as common, I still found a bunch of things to make with raspberries.

Salads

The best salads have a little of everything: salt, fat (like cheese or olive oil), sugar (often fruit), and acidity (typically from salad dressing). The greens have varying levels of bitterness that are balanced with all of the other flavors.

Raspberries work well in salad recipes because they bring both sweet and acidic flavors to the dish. Their seeds even add a welcomed crunch.

Meat

A bland dinner is often fixed with the addition of an acid, like a splash of vinegar. Raspberries can take on that role and create a very flavorful meal, even if their flavor isn't specifically identifiable, like in the raspberry chipotle chicken recipe below.

I also like the creativity of the raspberry herb chicken-sausage patties, using the raspberries to make a slightly sweetened breakfast sausage instead of sugar.

DIY jams, sauces & more

We've spent a lot of time talking about flavor pairings - now you should try to make your own jam, sauce, or liqueur.

One reason raspberry jams are so popular is the tart flavor balances out the large quantities of sugar needed to make jam. It's also why strawberry-rhubarb jams are so good - the sour bite of the rhubarb cuts through the sugar.

Using up lots of raspberries

For those of you wondering what to do with a lot of raspberries, I have some recipes for you. I looked through them all to find ones that use 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.

More resources

I hope I helped you figure out what to do with raspberries and that some of the recipes grabbed your attention. Check out my other summer fruit recipe guides below.