What Are Raspberries and How Can I Use Them?

Raspberries is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store them, what to substitute, and 381 recipes to get you started.

What are raspberries?

Raspberries are hollow, jewel-red berries built from dozens of tiny beads called drupelets, each holding its own seed, all clinging around a hollow core. That structure is why they feel so delicate.

They crush if you look at them wrong, and they go moldy faster than almost any fruit in the produce aisle.

The flavor is the payoff. Bright and perfumed, tart in a way strawberries never manage, with just enough sugar to keep it from puckering. Red is the common type, but you will also see golden raspberries and the deeper, jammier black raspberry.

Most of the year, the frozen ones are the smarter buy. Fresh raspberries are at their best for only a day or two, so save them for eating out of hand or scattering raw over something.

Cooking With Raspberries

Raw is where raspberries earn their keep. Tumble them over yogurt or a bowl of ice cream and they need nothing else. The same goes for finishing a cake or a stack of pancakes, like the Breakfast Crepes with Warm Berry Sauce, where the berries stay mostly whole.

Cook them down and they collapse into sauce almost instantly. A coulis is little more than raspberries and sugar with a squeeze of citrus, pushed through a sieve. Raspberry Lime Coulis is the template: simmer, blend, strain, done in fifteen minutes.

They fold beautifully into dairy and chocolate. Easy Chocolate Raspberry Mousse leans on that classic pairing, and the tartness keeps rich desserts from feeling heavy.

For jam, raspberries set well because they carry decent natural pectin and acid. Berry Kiwi Jam and Citrus Cranberry Raspberry Preserves both ride on that.

When you bake them into a pie like Jumbleberry Pie, toss the berries with a spoonful of cornstarch first so the filling thickens instead of flooding the crust.

What They Go With and Where People Slip Up

Raspberries love chocolate, vanilla, cream cheese, almond, lemon, and peaches. A splash of liqueur such as Chambord or kirsch deepens them. Black pepper and balsamic sound odd but cut the sweetness in a savory glaze.

The seeds are the thing most people forget about. They are edible and fine in a pie, but in a smooth sauce or custard they feel gritty. Strain through a fine sieve and you lose nothing but the crunch.

The other classic mistake is washing them too early. Wet raspberries turn to mush and mold within hours. Rinse only the handful you are about to use, and do it gently under a slow stream rather than dunking them.

Swaps That Work

Blackberries are the closest match. Same drupelet build, similar tartness, a touch earthier and seedier, and they slot in one for one in pies, jams, and sauces.

Frozen raspberries replace fresh in anything cooked or blended, no thawing needed for a sauce or smoothie. A cup of frozen equals a cup of fresh by volume.

Strawberries work in a pinch but run sweeter and milder, so add a little lemon to bring back the edge. Boysenberries and loganberries, both raspberry-blackberry crosses, give you that same tart-bramble note.

Choosing and Keeping Them

Look at the bottom of the container before anything else. Stains or juice or any fuzz means the berries underneath are already going. The good ones sit dry and plump and deep in color, with no green or white caps still attached, since those mean underripe fruit.

Keep them cold and dry. Spread them in a single layer on a paper-towel-lined plate, leave them uncovered or loosely covered, and they hold two to three days in the fridge.

A quick bath in a weak vinegar-and-water solution, then a thorough dry, can stretch that a little by knocking back mold spores.

To freeze, spread the berries on a tray so they are not touching and freeze them solid before tipping them into a bag. Frozen this way they stay loose instead of clumping into one brick, and they keep their shape and flavor for up to a year.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find raspberries: Raspberries are usually found in the produce section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Raspberries are a member of the Fruits and Fruit Juices US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

山莓

British (UK) term

Raspberries

en français

framboises

en español

frambuesas

How much do raspberries weigh?

Related

Fruits and Fruit Juices

Recipes using raspberries

There are 381 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Granola with Fresh Fruit

Granola with fresh fruit is the no-cook breakfast bowl done right: crunchy granola topped with blueberries, raspberries, banana, and sliced almonds, then milk or yogurt. Ready in 5 minutes, high in fiber.

Berry Dutch Baby

Puffy, golden berry Dutch baby pancake baked with fresh raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries. This dramatic oven pancake rises sky-high in 25 minutes for a stunning weekend brunch.

Buttermilk Waffles with Raspberry Sauce

Buttermilk waffles with raspberry sauce trade syrup for a bright purple-red puree spiked with orange zest. The tang of buttermilk and lift from baking powder give crisp-edged waffles a fluffy interior.

Cheescake Pancakes with Berry-Lemon Syrup

Cheesecake pancakes fold small-curd cottage cheese and vanilla into buttermilk pancake mix for protein-rich, slightly tangy breakfast stacks. Topped with a warm raspberry-lemon zest syrup that mimics cheesecake's classic berry sauce.

Chocolate Raspberry Toasted Hazelnut Ice Cream

Chocolate Raspberry Toasted Hazelnut Ice Cream recipe

Canada Day Maple Leaf Cake with Raspberry Coulis

Celebrating Canada Day with some maple leaf cakes and raspberry coulis, delicious, light and impressive dessert.

Angel Food Cake & Raspberries

Classic fluffy and light Angel Food Cake topped with juicy raspberries.

Raspberry Streusel Muffins

Whole-wheat raspberry muffins folded with fresh berries and lemon zest, crowned with a brown-sugar pecan-cinnamon streusel. Hearty breakfast muffins that lean nutty and lightly sweet.

Brandied Raspberry Sauce

Brandied raspberry sauce made with frozen raspberries, sugar, and cornstarch thickened with brandy. A quick dessert topping for cheesecake, ice cream, or pound cake.

Almost Whole Wheat Lemon & Berry Muffins

Almost whole wheat lemon berry muffins blitz fresh lemon zest into the sugar for bright citrus flavor, then fold in raspberries or blueberries. Light, tangy buttermilk muffins with a wholesome whole-grain base.

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

This is a perfect recipe. I'm in love with the red velvet flavoring and the icing is just delectable. Fabulous.

Red Raspberry Jam

Red raspberry jam is a no-cook freezer jam made with fresh mashed raspberries, sugar, and powdered pectin. Captures summer berry flavor with bright, fresh color that cooked jam cannot touch.

No-Cook Raspberry Apple Jam

No-cook raspberry apple freezer jam combines crushed raspberries with finely chopped apples, sugar, lemon juice, and liquid pectin. A 30-minute hands-off jam that captures fresh berry flavor without simmering.

Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake Squares

Creamy cheesecake bars with fresh raspberries and a chocolate crust.

Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake Squares

Creamy cheesecake bars with fresh raspberries and a chocolate crust.

Bo's Low Fat Berry Muffins

Low-fat berry muffins studded with fresh raspberries and warm cinnamon, finished with a tart lemon glaze. A lighter breakfast bake with crisp tops and tender, fruit-flecked crumb.

Warm Crepes with Berry Sauce

Warm, juicy and fruity. These warm crepes are served with freshly made blueberry-raspberry sauce. Delicious and also good for you.

Chocolate Pancakes with Chocolate-Raspberry Sauce

Chocolate Pancakes with Chocolate-Raspberry Sauce recipe

Berry Yoghurt Ice Cream

This ice cream is my favorite one, I always use low-fat yogurt, sometimes mixing more kinds of berries, very tasty and healthy!

Swedish Pancakes with Berry-Cardamom Topping

First time to make Swedish pancakes, it was so much fun to watch this petite pancakes being browned and puffed in the pan. I made a blueberry sauce that tasted fruity, refreshing and delicious with these warm pancakes. With a cup of orange juice, our breakfast was well served.

Raspberry Jam

Homemade raspberry jam made by macerating fresh raspberries in sugar, then cooking with pectin and lemon to a glossy set. Water-bath canned for the pantry, with a bright, fruit-forward flavor.

Raspberry Sherbet

Three-ingredient raspberry sherbet made with frozen raspberries, buttermilk, and sugar. No ice cream maker needed. Just blend, freeze, and scoop. Tangy, fruit-forward, and lighter than ice cream.

Chocolate Raspberry Muffins

Chocolate raspberry muffins with a homemade raspberry jam swirl, melty chocolate chips, and a tender buttermilk crumb. Bakery-style breakfast muffins from a few pantry staples.

Fruit Smoothies

We can use different kinds of fruits in this recipe, and even frutis they are ovesr ripe, and kids always enjoy drinking fruit smoothies, very tasty and healthy!

A1 Raspberry Ice Cream (like Ben & Jerry's®)

A rich and creamy classic. The tartness of the raspberries balances the rich and creamy sweetness as it melts in your mouth.

Crepes with Fresh Berry Sauce

Delicate sherry-kissed crepes wrapped around vanilla ice cream with a fresh blueberry-raspberry sauce and whipped cream. A berry-loaded summer dessert.

No-Cook Georgia Peachberry Jam

No-cook freezer jam with Georgia peaches and raspberries, fresh-tasting fruit set with Certo liquid pectin and lemon juice. No stove required. Ready overnight.

Raspberry Crepes with Creamy Orange Syrup

These mouth-watering crepes are filled with raspberry sauce and drizzled with creamy orange syrup. No one can resist these deliciously warm crepes to be a starter of the day.

Gluten-Free Casein-Free Lemon Raspberry Muffins

Delicious Lemon-Raspberry Muffins that are sensitive to the toughest of dietary limitations.

Framboise Raspberry Jam

Forget about buying jam at the store, use this simple recipe to make a delicious batch that you can use for toast, crackers and more!

English Berry Trifle

Light fluffy cake with delicious berries and creamy, rich custard. A perfect dessert when you have a company to serve.

English Berry Trifle

Light fluffy cake with delicious berries and creamy, rich custard. A perfect dessert when you have a company to serve.

Nectarine & Raspberry Preserves

Old-fashioned nectarine and raspberry preserves with whole fruit suspended in a glossy, lightly thickened syrup. No commercial pectin, just sugar, lemon, and time.

Raspberry Creme Brulee

Light custard made with skim milk and egg substitute bakes over fresh raspberries in custard cups, then gets topped with caramelized sugar for a low-fat crème brûlée.

Almond Raspberry Layered Cake

This delicious almond raspberry layered cake is fluffy and moist. Raspberry jam and fresh raspberries make the cake so deliciously fruity. It's also much lower fat, which makes you enjoy it without feeling guilty at all.

Cherry & Raspberry Jam

Homemade cherry and raspberry jam with citrus zest and a hint of almond extract. A no-pectin small-batch preserve that captures peak summer fruit in glossy, ruby-red jars.

Lemon Raspberry Muffins

Lemon raspberry muffins bake up tender with bright lemon extract, jammy raspberry pockets and a golden bakery-style dome. A bright weekend breakfast treat.

Mixed Berry Dutch Baby

A dutch baby is a german pancake that is baked in a skillet. This version adds summer fruits to make a recipe that serves as a dessert as well as a breakfast treat.

Skinny Raspberry Lemonade Cake

This cakes uses low fat yogurt so you don’t have to use any oil or eggs, only egg whites, which cuts down on fat and calories. A refreshing summer treat!

Razzle Dazzle Raspberry Sherbet

Raspberry sherbet with whipped egg whites, half-and-half, and pureed raspberries for a fluffy, brightly-pink frozen dessert. The lighter-than-ice-cream summer treat with a tangy lemon edge.

Raspberry & Vanilla Semifreddo

Semifreddo is another popular dessert in Australia besides pavlova that I made a few days ago. Semifreddo is basically made with egg yolks and heavy cream, it's rich, silky and decadent. Fruits, chocolate or nuts all can be added into the base, pour into a loaf pan, then simply freeze it until it's firm. It's usually served with fruits, or fruit sauce, or candied nuts.

Chocolate Layer Cake No Guilt Low Fat

Chocolate cake without guilty, making a rich chocolate flavor cake, eat it no need to worry about high calories and huge fat, tasty and light, enjoy the cake and relax yourself.

Jumbleberry Pie

Jumbleberry pie loaded with fresh blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries in a double-crust pastry with warm cinnamon and nutmeg. A triple-berry showstopper served with ice cream.

No Bake Raspberry & Ginger Cheesecake

An easy to make no bake raspberry topped cheesecake with gingersnaps for the crust. Disappears quickly, light and fluffy dessert.

Berry Kiwi Jam

Berry kiwi jam, a no-cook freezer jam with crushed raspberries, chopped kiwi fruit, sugar, and pectin. Bright fresh-fruit flavor that tastes like summer in a jar, no canning equipment required.

Raspberry Lime Coulis

A bright, silky smooth fruit sauce bursting with raspberry flavor. Perfect to dress up ice cream or cheesecake and especially good with angel food cake or chiffon.

Breakfast Crepes with Warm Berry Sauce

Instead of pancakes, try these delicious crepes with warm berry sauce and a cup of orange juice or coffee for breakfast.

Citrus Cranberry Raspberry Preserves

Citrus cranberry raspberry preserves: tart cranberries and sweet raspberries cooked with orange juice and zest into a glossy ruby jam with no added pectin. Holiday gift jar perfection.

Easy Chocolate Raspberry Mousse

A very chocolatey raspberry easy chocolate mousse recipe. A simple dark chocolate mousse that uses just 3 ingredients and is unbelievably smooth, rich and decadent.

Chocolate Fudge Bundt Cake with Raspberry-Cream Cheese Filling & Chocolate Ganache

This is not your classic bundt cake that's packed with not-so-good-for-you ingredients. The cake is made with 100% whole wheat flour, grapeseed oil, Greek yogurt, low-fat cream cheese, and fresh raspberries. The ganache doesn't have any butter or cream, it contains cocoa powder, honey, grapeseed oil and Greek yogurt. Super chocolaty, fudgy, moist and packed with goodness.

All 381 recipes