3 Delicious Berry Desserts You Can Whip Up At Home

A chocolate overload is undeniably satiating, but that said, the tanginess of fresh berries offers tough competition. Besides, berries such as raspberry, blueberry, and strawberry pack plenty of nutrition and lend the goodness of antioxidants that boost the immune system and lower blood pressure. So, if you come to think of it, these desserts fall in the 'healthy' category, so to speak.

If you're willing to move on from chocolate and try something fresh, bursting with flavour, you've come to the right place. Listed below are three lip-smacking recipes prepared using Happilo's premium dried Californian blueberries and cranberries that are easy to whip up from the comfort of your home. Perfectly scrumptious for when you have guests coming over or are simply having a midnight craving!

 

Blueberry Cake With a Lemony Twist

 

 

Preparation Time: 2 hours

 

Ingredients:

4 tsp of baking powder

2 cups of all-purpose flour

1 tbsp of lemon zest

1.5 cups of castor sugar

1 cup of vegetable oil

4 eggs

1 tbsp of fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup of milk

1/4 cup of dried blueberries

 

Instructions:

1. Lightly grease a cake pan with butter, dust it with all-purpose flour, and line it with parchment paper.

2. Pre-heat your oven to 180°C.

3. Add all-purpose flour, lemon zest, dried blueberries, and baking powder to a bowl, and mix until it’s well combined.

4. Beat sugar and oil for 5-7 minutes, until the mixture becomes light and pale.

5. Add lemon juice and eggs, one by one, and mix well.

6. Fold the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients while alternating with milk using a spatula. Avoid over-mixing.

7. Pour the batter into the cake pan and sprinkle some dried blueberries on top. 

8. Bake at 180°C until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean—approximately 30-45 minutes.

 

Berry Cookie Bars

 

 

Preparation Time: 1 hour

Servings: 16

 

Ingredients: 

1 cup of salted and melted butter

1 cup of brown sugar

1/2 cup of granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 tbsp of vanilla extract 

2 cups of all-purpose flour

1/3 cup of dried cranberries

1/2 cup of dried blueberries

1/3 cup of white chocolate chips

 

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350º F.

2. Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper and set it aside.

3. In a large bowl, whip up butter and sugar until fully combined. Slowly add in the eggs and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.

4. Mix in the flour and fold in the dried blueberries, cranberries and white chocolate chips.

5. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake for 35-40 minutes.

6. Allow it to cool once taken out from the oven and cut in the shape of bars.

 

Cranberry, Almond and Orange Quick Bread

 

 

Preparation Time: 1 hour

 

Ingredients:

3 cups of all-purpose flour

3 tbsp of sugar

1 tbsp of baking powder

1/2 tsp of salt

1 cup of dried cranberries

1/2 cup of roasted and salted almonds

1 large egg

1 cup of fat-free milk

1/3 cup of canola oil

3/4 tsp of grated orange zest

3/4 tsp of almond extract

 

Instructions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F.

2. In a large bowl, whisk 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 3 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of baking powder, and 1/2 a teaspoon of salt.

3. Add in the dried cranberries and roasted, salted almonds.

4. In another bowl, whisk together egg, milk, oil, zest and extract.

5. Combine the dry and wet ingredients and stir until moistened.

6. Transfer to a 9x5 inch loaf pan greased with butter.

7. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean—approximately 40-50 minutes. Do not overbake.