Growing raspberries at home is a wonderful choice. They are relatively easy to grow, they are so healthy to eat, and there are so many different recipes with raspberries to try in your kitchen.
Why We Love Raspberries
We love raspberries here, so much so that I not only grow a number of cultivated raspberries, but also allow many wild raspberries to grow on my property. They are one of our favourite fruits, so healthy, surprisingly versatile – a highlight of the summer harvesting period.
I have already picked several kilograms of raspberries and the season is still in full flow.
When are Raspberries in Season?
Raspberries, depending on the type and specific variety, can be harvested from June right through to the first frosts.
Summer fruiting raspberries are typically ready to harvest from June (for the very earliest cultivars, in the south) to late August or even early September. Wild raspberries fruit in July, into August. Autumn-fruiting raspberries begin ripening from early to mid August and often continue fruiting until the first frosts.
When growing your own raspberries at home you can extend the harvesting season by:
- Growing different varieties that fruit early, during the mid season, and later on.
- Growing some raspberries in a polytunnel where they will ripen a little sooner.
- Growing some raspberries in full sun and delaying the ripening of others with a little light shade. (Remember, some raspberry varieties are more tolerant of shade than others.)
The Health Benefits of Raspberries
Raspberries provide a range of health benefits. They are rich in antioxidants and immune-boosting vitamin C, a good source of dietary fibre, and have a low-glycaemic index so won’t cause spikes in blood sugar.
Harvesting Raspberries
When we are in raspberry season, it is important to keep a close eye on your raspberries and to harvest ripe berries promptly.
You will find that raspberries are not a one-and-done type fruit. Rather, you will find that you need to harvest frequently through the harvesting period, looking out for fully coloured and soft ripe fruit. When raspberries slip easily of the centre portion, or rasp, they are ready to harvest.
Try to harvest on a dry, sunny day if possible, and aim to use up or preserve your crop as quickly as possible.
Here are some things to do with the raspberries you harvest:
Savoury Recipes with Raspberries Dishes:
With a lot of raspberries to eat, I often find that I like to find some more unusual recipes to prevent boredom from setting in. Most people, when they think about raspberries, will think of sweet recipes – and in this article we will get to those. Personally, however, some of my favourite ways to eat raspberries involve using them in savoury recipes. Here are just some savoury raspberry ideas to consider:
1. Raspberry Glazed Salmon
Raspberries tartness work very well alongside oily fish like salmon. To make the glaze you can combine raspberries with several other simple ingredients – adjusting to taste.
One combination to glaze salmon for four people involves:
- 150g raspberries
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey (or date syrup)
- Optional: 1 small glove of garlic, minced.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
Other spices can be added to ring the changes – a pinch of cayenne pepper, for example. You might also add some fresh herbs – like a teaspoon or so of fresh thyme, for example.
2. Raspberry Glazed Grilled Cheese
The same kind of glaze can work well not only on fish, like salmon, but also on cheese for vegetarians. Raspberry glaze is perfect on halloumi, for example, for a barbecue. It can also be lovely in a grilled cheese sandwich, with a cheese like brie.
3. Chipotle Raspberry Sauce
With a little twist, it does not take much to turn a simple raspberry glaze into a condiment or dipping sauce. Here is one spicy recipe to consider:
- 150g raspberries
- 3 tablespoons vinegar (e.g. apple cider vinegar)
- 2 tablespoons honey or other sweetener
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 jalapeno peppers
- Chipotle or adobo paste to taste.
4. Raspberry Nut Roast
There are so many variations on the nut roast for vegetarians and vegans, and in many recipes, raspberries can be used to add a piquant addition – just like cranberries are commonly used at Christmas. The fresh raspberries can simply be incorporated into the nut roast itself, or, again, used as a glaze.
5. Raspberry Barbecue Sauce and other Condiments
Raspberries are great for making a range of condiments that help you move away from basic tomato ketchup, ring the changes, and make full use of your summer fruits.
For example, here is a recipe for raspberry barbecue sauce:
- 150g raspberries
- A dash of Olive oil (for roasting)
- 1 large onion (roasted, blended)
- 3 cloves garlic (roasted, blended)
- 1 red pepper (roasted, blended)
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1-2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste.
Raspberry Desserts
Of course, there are even more ways to enjoy raspberries in a series of sweet treats, and to indulge in raspberry desserts. Here are just some suggestions:
6. Raspberry Syrup
The simplest way to enjoy raspberries as dessert is simply to eat them fresh as part of a fruit salad. But if you have a sweet tooth, the next easiest way is to combine raspberries with sugar, honey or another sweetener to create a simple raspberry syrup.
You can then use that syrup in a range of different ways – including on ice cream or over other desserts.
7. Raspberry Jam Without Pectin
Another simple way to preserve raspberries, of course, involves making raspberry jam. And this is another first step towards a range of desserts – as well as giving you something to spread on your toast in the morning.
I often use homemade raspberry jam as the filling for simple sponge cakes or chocolate cakes, for example, or use it to make jam filled biscuits, or jam tarts.
8. Canned Raspberries
If you want to preserve raspberries you can also can them whole in a simple sugar syrup. These canned raspberries can also become the basis for a range of desserts – enjoyed on their own, with ice-cream, or as part of a range of puddings to bring a taste of summer throughout the rest of the year.
9. Raspberries & Chocolate
Raspberries and chocolate can be a wonderful combination. And there are a great many sweet recipe ideas that combine them. Raspberry coulis with chocolate mousse is just one delightful option to consider, and there are even vegan variants to consider.
10. Raspberry Cheesecake
A simple no-bake raspberry cheesecake is a go-to dessert for special occasions in our house. This is simply a base made from crushed digestive biscuits and butter, a middle of cream cheese mixed with cocoa powder and sugar, and a topping of raspberry syrup and fresh raspberries.
11. Raspberry Sorbet
Another very simple dessert is raspberry sorbet, which can be as sweet or as tart as you prefer. A mix of raspberries and sweetener is simply placed into the freezer for a few hours until part frozen, then stirred up with a fork before being placed back in the freezer. This process is repeated a few times before the sorbet is served.
12. Raspberry Ice Lollies
You can also make raspberry ice lollies with a simple raspberry syrup, or with a mix of raspberry syrup and yogurt for a frozen yogurt option. Both can be wonderful treats on a hot summer’s day. And as long as you don’t use too much sugar, they can get some healthy vitamins into kids.
13. Raspberry Cake
As well as using raspberries, typically in jam form, to join two halves of various different cakes together, I also sometimes bake fresh raspberries into the cakes themselves. Raspberries can work well in a range of different cake recipes.
14. Raspberry Pie
Raspberries can be made into pies too, as long as you turn them into a jam first, or thicken the sauce you make with some flour or another thickening agent so the mix is not too watery. It is also best to blind-bake the pie crust before filling so you don’t get a soggy bottom.
15. Raspberry Banana Bread
Another of my favourite recipes, and one that is a little healthier than some others on this list, is raspberry banana bread, sweetened with the banana and just a little honey and low in fat. The tart raspberries and sweet bananas go rather well together, and you can throw some nuts in there too.
Raspberry Drinks
You can also consider making a range of different drinks in order to use up some of your raspberry harvest. Here are some ideas for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages:
16. Raspberry Gin
To create raspberry gin (for adults only!), you’ll need the following
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle (70cl) of store-brand gin
- 300g fresh raspberries
- 100g sugar
Instructions:
- Place the raspberries into a 1-litre sealable bottle or jar.
- Add the sugar, then pour the gin over the top.
- Secure the lid and shake the container well to help dissolve the sugar.
- For the next week, shake the container daily to ensure the sugar continues to dissolve and the raspberries infuse with the gin.
- After 4-6 weeks, strain the mixture using a muslin cloth or fine sieve to remove the fruit. Serve your homemade raspberry gin over ice with tonic water, and enjoy!
17. Lemon Margarita with Raspberry
Quick to make and vibrantly pink thanks to Chambord liqueur, this refreshing cocktail is perfect for sipping all summer long.
Ingredients:
- 50ml silver tequila
- 25ml lemon juice
- 25ml Chambord
- Raspberries, for garnish.
18. Raspberry Daiquiri
This vibrant red cocktail offers a fruity twist on a classic, combining fresh raspberries, plenty of lime juice, and white rum. It’s a refreshing and delicious drink, ideal for summer.
Ingredients:
- 50ml white rum
- 20ml lime juice
- 5 fresh raspberries
- 3 tsp caster sugar
19. Raspberry Wine
If you are feeling more ambitious, you might even make your own raspberry wine. To do so, start by mashing 2.7 kg of fresh raspberries in a large fermenting vessel. Add 1.8 kg of sugar and 3.8 litres of water, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
Sprinkle wine yeast over the mixture and cover the vessel with a cloth. Let it ferment for a week, stirring daily. Strain the liquid into a clean fermenter, leaving sediment behind.
Attach an airlock and ferment for 4-6 weeks until bubbling stops. Siphon the wine into bottles, seal, and age for at least 3 months before you drink it.
20. Raspberry Mocktail
If you don’t drink, or just don’t fancy an alcoholic drink right now, this mocktail could be an alternative:
- Handful of fresh raspberries.
- 1 tablespoon honey.
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- Sparkling water.
- Mint leaves and fresh raspberries to garnish.
Find out more innovative recipes on our blog.
FAQs
What are the benefits of eating raspberries?
Eating raspberries with their fibre, vitamins and antioxidants, and low glycaemic index, can help to keep you healthy as part of a balanced diet.
What is special about raspberries?
Raspberries not only taste delicious, they are also high in fibre, relatively low in calories, full of vitamins and antioxidants, and won’t spike your blood sugar.
How many raspberries can I eat a day?
It is perfectly safe to eat about a cup or two of raspberries in a day, to gain their health-giving properties without ingesting too much sugar or too many calories.
What are three facts about raspberries?
Most raspberries are red, but raspberries can also come in black, purple and golden hues.
Raspberry plants are in the Rose family, and are closely related to several other soft fruits.
There are a number of raspberry hybrids like Tayberry, Boysenberry etc. that can also be good to grow in your garden, and which can be used in the same ways.
Sources
Sachdev, P., (2022) Health Benefits of Raspberries. WebMD. [online] Available at: https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-raspberries [accessed 21/08/24]
