What to Do with Frozen Berries: 27 Easy Ideas

Learn what to do with frozen berries and how to use frozen berries in many delicious ways. Get ideas about what to make with frozen berries all throughout the year. Any of these recipes would make a great addition to a berry-themed party. As a berry grower, I’ve accumulated recipes for raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries to make the most of the berry crops harvested on our small Oregon farm. Are you blessed with an abundance of frozen berries? Ready for some berry jam, smoothie, syrup, and baked goods recipes? Let’s get started!

My Frozen Berry Backstory

Years ago, I was tasked with cleaning out a freezer full of frozen berries that had not been cleaned out in a very long time. The messiest part of the task was the berry juice that had gotten all over the inside due to the bags of berries melting then refreezing. Yes, just picture it for a moment. As a result of this experience, I vowed never to let my frozen berry supply carry over from one year to the next. I was determined to use up each year’s berry harvest by the time the next berry harvest came around. If you need to get some easy and tasty ideas for how to use frozen berries, you’re in the right place. These frozen berries recipes are just what you need!

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What to Do with Frozen Berries: Host a Party

Well now it’s almost berry-harvesting time here in Oregon, and it fills me with joy, anticipation, and a bit of dread. I am very thankful for the raspberries and blueberries we are able to grow in our garden, but I have not yet managed to use up last year’s supply using my stash of frozen berries recipes. We already have a shelf full of jam and preserves in the pantry, so now I’m scrambling to turn the frozen berries into something else that is useful so they don’t go to waste. Have you been wondering what to do with frozen fruit besides smoothies?

If you are asking yourself, “What can I use frozen berries for?”, you could always host a berry-themed party. Any of these ideas for using frozen berries would be a great addition to a party table. From appetizers to dessert, and everything in between, you will find ideas here. Make any of these easy frozen berries recipes anytime, whether you are planning a party or not. Have fun experimenting with these simple recipes using frozen berries.

What to Do with Frozen Berries: Give Them Away?

You may be thinking that I could just give the bags of frozen berries to someone else, and I could, but it’s trickier than it seems to get rid of frozen berries without creating a mess. I would have to hand the frozen berries off to someone who could then put them directly into a freezer. Since we live a few miles out of town, by the time I arrived at the house of the berry-recipient, the berries might have started to melt and make a mess. That’s not the kind of thing I like to hand off to a friend. I’d like to keep the friends I have, so here are a few ideas for using up frozen berries that will (I hope) be of help to you if you need to use up your frozen berry supply. Although our berry supply consists mainly of raspberries and blueberries, any kind of berry will work in these frozen berries recipes. Blackberries, huckleberries, marionberries and any other kind of berry you have around would work!

What to Do with Frozen Berries: Breakfast Ideas

Smoothies Galore

Berry smoothies are another delicious way to use frozen berries. Here’s my sister’s favorite recipe for a frozen berry smoothie. Bonus: She adds in some chopped zucchini for even more nutritional value. Not only is it delicious, but it’s a healthy frozen berries recipe. If you’re looking for ways to sneak some extra veggies into your family’s diet, this is an excellent strategy. Delicious, nutritious, and refreshing!

Easy Frozen Berry Smoothie Ingredients

1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries or huckleberries

1 frozen banana

1/2 medium zucchini, chopped

1/2 cup almond milk

Directions for Making an Easy Frozen Berry Smoothie

Chop the zucchini. In a heavy-duty blender, such as a Vitamix, combine all ingredients. Blend until smooth.

 

You could also add flakes of dried kale, which is another one of my favorite ways to sneak extra vegetables into my family’s diet. If you’re interested in reading about my other sneaky vegetable strategies, have a look at the blog post I wrote.

Here’s another easy smoothie recipe. Good news! It’s fat free! The ingredients are simple, and the recipe requires just a simple blender.

Easy Frozen Berry Banana Smoothie Ingredients

2 cups frozen blueberries

1 frozen banana (peel it before you freeze it)

1 6-ounce container of Yoplait nonfat vanilla yogurt

1 6-ounce container of Yoplait nonfat blueberry yogurt

1/2 cup of apple juice

Directions for Making A Frozen Berry Banana Smoothie

Place all ingredients together in a blender and blend. I like to use the Pulse option, because I sometimes have to take the lid off and push the ingredients around a bit for adequate blending. Serves 2-4 people, depending upon the size of your servings. Enjoy!

Mix in With Your Favorite Pancake Batter

Some like pancake mix that comes in a box. Add water and you’re set! Others like to make pancakes from scratch. Whatever your preference, it’s super easy to add in some frozen berries. Blueberries are what I’ve used most, but other frozen berries would work as well. When the pancakes are cooking on the griddle, sprinkle on a few berries before flipping. Yum!

Berry Oatmeal

Mix frozen berries into your morning oatmeal for a colorful and flavorful twist. Use raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, any kind of berry. Sprinkle the berries straight from the freezer (after washing) for a quick way to liven up your morning.

Berry Parfait

Layer frozen berries with yogurt and granola for a healthy breakfast parfait. Use any flavor of yogurt and place in clear glass cups as a colorful addition to a breakfast menu.

Easy Frozen Berry Parfait Ingredients:

1 cup of Greek yogurt

1 cup of mixed frozen berries (such as strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries)

1/2 cup of granola

Honey (optional for drizzling)

Fresh berries for garnish (optional)

Easy Frozen Berry Parfait Instructions:

Start by allowing the frozen berries to thaw for a few minutes, or you can microwave them for about 30 seconds to soften them slightly.

In a glass or a bowl, begin layering your parfait. Start with a spoonful of Greek yogurt at the bottom.

Add a layer of the softened mixed berries on top of the yogurt.

Sprinkle a layer of granola over the berries.

Repeat these layers until your glass or bowl is filled, finishing with a final dollop of yogurt on top.

If desired, drizzle honey over the top for extra sweetness.

Garnish with a few berries for a colorful touch.

Serve immediately and enjoy your delicious yogurt frozen berry granola parfait!

Feel free to customize the ingredients to your liking, and you can also add other toppings like nuts, seeds, or a sprinkle of cinnamon for extra flavor.

What to Do with Frozen Berries: Baking Ideas

Add to Your Favorite Muffin Recipe

A few berries in a muffin can add some healthy pizzazz. When you are mixing the batter, just gently fold in the frozen berries, fill the muffin tin and bake. The berries will make the muffins burst with flavor.

Berry Good Quick Bread

Mix in a few frozen berries with your favorite quick bread recipe. This chocolate chip raspberry banana bread would be great with blueberries mixed in instead of raspberries. You choose!

Superb Scones

My favorite scone recipe lends itself well to variations. Try making white chocolate raspberry scones, lemon blueberry scones, or both for a tea party. Frozen berries are easier to work with when mixing the dough.

Berry Coffee Cake

Create a marvelous dish for breakfast, brunch or dessert when you bake a gorgeous berry coffee cake. Try mixing the frozen berries with another fruit for variety, as in this rhubarb blueberry coffee cake recipe. The streusel topping will fill your kitchen with a wonderful aroma as it bakes.

Berry Bars

Bake berry bars or squares using a mix of frozen berries and a crumbly topping. Here is an easy recipe you could try.

Ingredients for Easy Berry Bars with Frozen Berries:

For the Crust and Crumble Topping:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), cold and cubed

For the Berry Filling:

2 cups mixed frozen berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×9-inch (23×23 cm) square baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.

Allow the frozen berries to thaw for a few minutes, or you can microwave them for about 30 seconds to soften them slightly.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt for the crust and crumble topping.

Add the cold, cubed butter to the dry mixture. Using a pastry cutter, fork, or your hands, work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Take about 2 cups of this mixture and set it aside to use as the crumble topping.

Press the remaining crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to create the crust.

In another bowl, combine the mixed berries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice for the berry filling.

Spread the berry filling evenly over the crust in the baking pan.

Sprinkle the reserved crumble topping over the berry layer.

Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the berry filling is bubbling.

Allow the baked berry bars to cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before cutting into squares or bars.

Once they’ve cooled, serve and enjoy your homemade baked berry bars!

These bars are perfect for dessert or a sweet snack and are a great way to enjoy the flavors of mixed frozen berries.

What to Do with Frozen Berries: Desserts

Create a Cobbler

I happen to have the best recipe for berry cobbler. I use it most often with frozen blueberries, but any combination of frozen berries will do. To get the details and the fabulous recipe, check out the best easy blueberry cobbler. You’ll be glad you took the time to click on over.

Heavenly Hand Pies

 

If you have an air fryer, you could make easy blueberry hand pies. As a bonus, this hand pie recipe also includes a foolproof pie crust recipe. The air fryer makes the pies a snap to make, and won’t heat up the house if you’re making these in the summer.

Berry Pie

Create a homemade berry pie with a flaky crust and frozen berry filling. Use lattice topping or cut slits in the top crust to let the delicious juices bubble up. Serve it topped with whipped cream or ice cream, and sprinkle on a few extra frozen berries for an added touch of color. 

Berry Sorbet

Blend frozen berries with sugar and lemon juice to make a refreshing sorbet.

Bake a Berry Crisp

Top a mixture of frozen berries with a crumbly oat topping for a quick and delicious dessert. You could also mix the frozen berries with another type of fruit, as in this wonderful blueberry rhubarb crisp. Top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a wonderful treat.

Blend Up Berry Gelato

My all-time favorite way to use frozen berries is to make this easy berry gelato recipe (one of many gelato flavors I like to make), which appeared years ago in the Food Day section of the Oregonian. It was adapted from a recipe used at the now-closed Mio Gelato. I could not find links to it anywhere online, so here’s my version. To make this gelato, I just puree all of the ingredients in my food processor and freeze in my Cuisinart 2 Qt. Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt & Sorbet Maker.

 

I received this ice cream maker as a gift from my parents, and it has revolutionized the way I make frozen treats. The recipe below literally takes only five minutes of hands-on time thanks to this machine. The rest of the time, I just let this marvelous creation do its work. The amazing secret to this easy-to-use time-saver is the freezer bowl, which is included with the machine. It may also be purchased separately.

Just keep the freezer bowl in your freezer (we keep ours in there year-round). Whenever you are ready to make a frozen treat, like ice cream or gelato, simply remove the bowl from the freezer and pour in the already mixed ingredients. Put the bowl in the machine, and turn it on. In about 20 minutes, your treat is ready!

Easy Berry Gelato Ingredients

1 pound of fresh berries (I use frozen, 4 cups) 

1 ½ cups granulated sugar, or to taste 

½ cup cold water 

1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional) 

½ cup whipping cream (sometimes I use 2% milk and no one seems to notice)

Easy Berry Gelato Instructions

Add all of the ingredients to the food processor, puree until smooth, then take the freezer bowl component of the Cuisinart ice cream maker out of the freezer where it is stored.

Pour the mixture in, then flip a switch to turn on the machine.

About 20 minutes later, check the progress. If peaks are forming and the gelato has gotten quite thick, remove it from the ice cream maker (it will be very soft).

Scrape it into a plastic freezer-safe container and put it in the freezer to solidify. The whole process only takes about 25 minutes, including the time in the ice cream maker. So simple!

What to Do with Frozen Berries: Sauces and Toppings

Berry Compote

Simmer frozen berries with sugar (add to taste) and a splash of lemon juice to make a sweet berry compote for pancakes, waffles, or desserts. Compote has chunks of fruit in it, so there is no need to use an immersion blender. Just, simmer and serve.

Berry Sauce

Blend frozen berries into a sauce for drizzling over ice cream, cheesecake, or pancakes. Use an immersion blender if you want to have a smoother sauce experience.

Berry Scrumptious Syrup

Blueberry syrup is easy to make. I like this easy blueberry syrup recipe because it is simple to can it and store it for future use. Blueberry syrup is delicious on ice cream, cake, and just about anything which could use some sweetness. I also make raspberry syrup and a friend of mine used the same method to make strawberry syrup. Got blackberries? Try making some blackberry syrup. Berry syrups are an excellent way to use up a large quantity of frozen berries. Serve the berry syrup over pancakes, waffles, ice cream or cake in a mug.

Berry Jam

Cook down frozen berries with sugar to make homemade berry jam. Jam or preserves make excellent gifts to give away during the holidays. I already used many of our berries for jam or preserves, as noted above, but maybe you haven’t. Here’s one of my favorite jam recipes, Easy Raspberry Blueberry Jam. I love it because it uses both raspberries and blueberries, which we have in abundance. 

Looking for jam with a citrusy zing? Make some fabulously flavorful blueberry lime jam. Not a fan of seeds? Get a smooth jam experience when you make seedless raspberry jam.

Berry Glaze

Make a sweet and tangy berry glaze for roasted chicken or pork. Here’s an easy berry glaze recipe that can add a delightful fruity twist to your barbecue dishes:

Ingredients:

1 cup of fresh or frozen mixed berries (e.g., raspberries, blackberries, blueberries)

1/4 cup of barbecue sauce

2 tablespoons of honey

1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar

1/2 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

In a saucepan, combine the mixed berries, barbecue sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, a pinch of salt, and a dash of pepper.

Heat the mixture over medium heat and bring it to a simmer. Stir occasionally.

Let the mixture simmer for about 5-7 minutes, or until the berries break down and the sauce thickens.

Taste the glaze and adjust the sweetness or acidity by adding more honey or vinegar as needed.

Once the glaze reaches your desired consistency, remove it from the heat and let it cool slightly.

If you prefer a smoother glaze, you can use an immersion blender or a regular blender to puree the mixture until smooth.

Once your berry glaze is ready, you can use it to baste grilled chicken, pork, or other barbecue meats during the last few minutes of cooking. Brush it on generously and let it caramelize on the meat.

You can also serve the glaze as a dipping sauce on the side when you’re serving your barbecue dishes.

This berry glaze adds a burst of fruity and tangy flavor to your barbecue, making it a delicious and unique addition to your outdoor meals.

Berry BBQ Sauce

Creating a simple berry barbecue sauce is a delicious way to add a fruity twist to your grilled dishes. Here’s an easy recipe:

Ingredients:

1 cup of mixed berries (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries)

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

In a saucepan, combine the mixed berries, ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, a pinch of salt, and a dash of pepper.

Heat the mixture over medium heat and bring it to a simmer. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.

Let the sauce simmer for about 10-15 minutes, or until the berries break down, and the sauce thickens.

Taste the barbecue sauce and adjust the sweetness or acidity by adding more brown sugar or apple cider vinegar as needed.

Once the sauce reaches your desired consistency and flavor, remove it from the heat.

Allow the sauce to cool slightly, and then use an immersion blender or a regular blender to puree it until smooth. Be cautious when blending hot liquids.

Once your berry barbecue sauce is ready, you can use it to baste grilled chicken, pork, ribs, or even as a dipping sauce for various barbecue dishes.

This homemade berry barbecue sauce offers a unique and fruity flavor that complements grilled meats perfectly. Enjoy your barbecue with this tasty sauce!

Berry Salsa

Prepare a vibrant berry salsa to serve with grilled fish or chicken. Creating a delicious berry salsa using frozen berries is simple and convenient. Here’s an easy recipe:

Ingredients:

1 cup of frozen mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries)

1/2 red onion, finely chopped

1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped

1 jalapeño pepper, finely chopped (adjust to your spice preference)

1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

1 avocado, chopped (optional)

1/2 cup whole kernel corn (optional)

Juice of 1 lime

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Start by thawing the frozen mixed berries. You can do this by placing them in a microwave-safe bowl and microwaving in 15-second increments until they are softened but not completely thawed. You want them to be partially frozen for the salsa.

Once the berries are ready, chop them into smaller pieces and add them to a mixing bowl.

Add the finely chopped red onion, red bell pepper, jalapeño pepper, corn and avocado (if using) to the same bowl with the berries.

Squeeze the juice of one lime over the mixture and add the chopped fresh cilantro.

Gently toss all the ingredients together until well combined.

Season the berry salsa with salt and pepper to taste, and adjust the level of spice by adding more jalapeño if desired.

Refrigerate the salsa for about 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.

Serve your berry salsa with tortilla chips, as a topping for grilled chicken or fish, or as a side dish with your favorite dishes.

This berry salsa is both sweet and savory, making it a delightful addition to a variety of meals.

What to Do with Frozen Berries: Salads and Sides

Berry Tossed Salad

Toss frozen berries into green salads for a burst of color and sweetness. This pear, walnut, blue cheese salad can be tossed with frozen blueberries or raspberries.

Berry Vinaigrette

Blend frozen berries into a homemade salad dressing. Here’s an easy recipe for homemade berry vinaigrette:

Ingredients for Homemade Berry Vinaigrette:

1/2 cup of fresh or frozen mixed berries (e.g., strawberries, raspberries, blueberries)

2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon of honey

2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions for Making Homemade Berry Vinaigrette:

In a small saucepan, heat the mixed berries over low-medium heat. If using frozen berries, you can thaw them in the microwave before adding them to the saucepan.

Mash the berries with a fork or a potato masher as they cook.

Stir in the balsamic vinegar and honey. Simmer for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens slightly.

Remove the berry mixture from heat and let it cool for a few minutes.

Once the mixture has cooled slightly, transfer it to a blender or use an immersion blender to blend until smooth.

While blending, gradually drizzle in the extra-virgin olive oil to emulsify the vinaigrette.

Season with salt and pepper to taste and blend briefly to combine.

Taste and adjust the sweetness or acidity by adding more honey or vinegar if needed.

Transfer the berry vinaigrette to a container, and it’s ready to use as a dressing for your salads or as a flavorful sauce for various dishes.

This berry vinaigrette is not only delicious but also adds a burst of fruity flavor to your salads and other dishes. Enjoy!

Berry Quinoa Salad

Combine frozen berries with cooked quinoa, nuts, and a vinaigrette (see recipe above) for a healthy salad.

What to Do with Frozen Berries: Snacks and Appetizers

Frozen Berry Popsicles

Freeze blended berries and yogurt in popsicle molds. Freeze for 4-6 hours, then enjoy your frozen snack.

Berry Cheese Plate

Serve frozen berries with a variety of cheeses and crackers for an elegant appetizer.

What to Do with Frozen Berries: Beverages

Berry Iced Tea

Add frozen berries to iced tea for a fruity twist.

Berry Infused Water

Drop frozen berries into a pitcher of water for a refreshing and visually appealing beverage.

 

What Are Your Favorite Ways to Use Frozen Berries?

There you go, 27 easy ways to use up your frozen berry supply. So, how about you? What are your favorite berry creations? I’d love to know about them. If you have an abundance of cranberries, I have ideas for using those as well.

More Food Inspiration

Are you now thinking of ways to use your frozen berry supply at meals or parties? It’s always nice to have a plan. If you’re looking for a way to get more organized with your meal or party-planning efforts, I’ve got something for you. Free, editable meal planners! The templates can be used over and over, as often as you need them. You can make as many duplicates as you like, and you’ll be able to save old meal or party food plans for future reference. I hope it simplifies things for you.

Get my digital, editable, printable templates!

I hope you get to try making some of these easy recipes for using frozen berries. If you would like even more recipe ideas, consider following my Easy Recipes board on Pinterest. Here’s to making wonderful creations from frozen berries, and may all of your frozen berry endeavors meet with success!

 

 

 

Lisa Mitchell is a wife, mom, and school librarian who likes to create and share recipes, often using fresh ingredients from her family’s small Pacific Northwest farm. To learn more about what this website has to offer, click on over to the Welcome page.

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