Several summers ago, I went blueberry picking with a friend whose sister lived down the road from a U-pick blueberry farm. I knew I’d be leaving with a ton of berries, of course, but I didn’t understand at the time that I’d be adding blueberries to almost everything I made for the next couple of weeks! Muffins, smoothies, breakfast, desserts. Thankfully you can stash them in the freezer if you aren’t able to use up a blueberry haul before they start going bad, but there’s just something about fresh berries.
If you happen to find yourself in a similar situation, whether you filled your own bucket at a u-pick farm or picked up a basket at the farmers’ market, here are a few recipes on our must-make list for the summer. A couple of these recipes, like the salad and the spoon cake, are also just great options for those times when you have a carton of berries from the grocery store in the fridge and you don’t want them to go to waste! But refreshing lemonade, ice pops, and grilled wings are all things you should try while blueberries are currently in season.
Blueberry-Thyme Lemonade
Try this flavorful twist on classic lemonade. It starts with muddling fresh ingredients, letting the sugar dissolve, and then letting all those bright and fruity flavors meld together for an hour. And that’s about it! Whether you’ve got bountiful blueberry bushes, a haul from a U-pick farm, or just enjoy picking up a fresh basket of berries from the grocery store, this refreshing beverage is a delightful treat for summer soirées and all kinds of warm weather occasions.
Get the recipe for Blueberry-Thyme Lemonade.
Cucumber and Blueberry Salad
This is the quick, refreshing, and healthy side dish you need this summer. With tons of refreshing cucumber, this side dish is bursting with flavor. It gets bright and tangy notes from pickled shallots, a hint of savory nuttiness from Stilton cheese, and fruity sweetness from fresh blueberries. It’s a great side for summer cookouts, but it’s also a good one to keep in mind for easy weeknight dinners too.
Get the recipe for Cucumber and Blueberry Salad.
Blueberry Spoonbread
This might just be my favorite quick and easy dessert of the summer. As a baker living in the South, I try not to turn on my oven unless I absolutely have to. But I’m here to tell you that the 30 minutes it takes to bake this skillet cake is worth it! The recipe itself is easy to whisk together, and the blueberry topping is spooned over the top before it goes in the oven. As the name suggests, this is one of those easy cakes that you can scoop right out of the pan with a spoon. This cake is best served warm in a bowl with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
Get the recipe for Blueberry Spoonbread.
Blueberry-Apple-Ginger Ice Pops
These ice pops are a fun summer treat because they’re basically homemade fruit punch in a refreshingly frozen form. With fresh blueberries, apple juice for sweetness, and fresh ginger for a little kick, they’re a sweet way to cool down on a sweltering summer afternoon. They’re perfect for any summer occasion too, from returning home at the end of the day from summer camp to relaxing by the pool or after a day spent at the lake.
Get the recipe for Blueberry-Apple-Ginger Ice Pops.
Fried Goat Cheese Balls with Blueberry Compote
Move over charcuterie boards. There’s a new favorite summer appetizer in town. If you like mozzarella sticks, meet its fancier, seasonally appropriate cousin. These goat cheese balls are melty and creamy on the inside and perfectly crisp and salty on the outside. And then there’s the blueberry compote, which is the perfect complementary dipping sauce. Present a tray of these cheesy bites at your next summer get-together or backyard cookout and we can guarantee they’ll fly right off the plate.
Get the recipe for Fried Goat Cheese Balls with Blueberry Compote.
Grilled Chicken Wings with Blueberry BBQ Sauce
Just trust us—this is a berry good twist on chicken wings. There’s something extremely satisfying about a fruity and savory flavor combo, especially when you add that smokiness from the grill. Of course, wings are a grilling favorite, but the star of the show here is really the homemade blueberry sauce. If you’re looking for a new barbecue standout to serve this summer, this is it.
Get the recipe for Grilled Chicken Wings with Blueberry BBQ Sauce.
