I can appreciate the masterpieces that can be created from a recipe with multiple steps. However, give me the easiest recipe with only one ingredient AND it is incredible – you had better believe I will make that little beauty pronto! This recipe I stumbled upon when trying to figure out different ways to offer blueberries to my younger daughter when it was her only FPIES ‘safe food’. Roasted Blueberries have been the most delicious and rewarding unintentional recipe I have ever stumbled into enjoying.
These sweet little ordinary blueberries experience some sort of magic in the oven and become sweet gems full of concentrated blueberry flavor. Not only are these magically gems delicious on their own, but they easily elevate anything you eat them on. Yogurt, buttered biscuits, ice-cream, cake, cheesecake, brownies, crostini with cream cheese – the possibilities are endless. I should know, as I haven’t run out of options yet, nor have I been anything but delighted with any of my trialed options.
As I mentioned previously, roasting blueberries does something magical to these purple berries. Can we just all agree that these berries, especially when squished, cooked, or frozen, only resemble purple? BLUEberries? Really? Or am I the only stuck on this because there are purple fingerprints and smears over so many things in my house thanks to blueberry puree and powder.
Okay back to the blueberry magic. Yes, I know it really isn’t magic because where is the top hat, white bunny, and wand? I am sure chemistry is involved much as in baking. Thankfully there are people like those at King Arthur Baking to explain.
“Be it fresh or frozen, roasting fruit at a high temperature concentrates the sugars, and therefore the flavor. Excess moisture is released in the oven leaving you with a highly flavorful bite of fruity goodness.”
In summary, roast your blueberries: fresh or frozen, sweet or a bit tart, and you will end up with tasty, sweet pops of blueberry every time.
If you’ve ever baked with blueberries, you probably know they can sink to the bottom of the pan. It creates a tasty blueberry burst, but sometimes you just want that even distribution throughout! Here are a few simple ways to get a consistent boost of blue throughout your dish.
Fresh or Frozen Blueberries for roasting?
Fresh or frozen blueberries both work for Roasted Blueberries. The typical blueberries roasted in our home are the incredibly huge Costco frozen blueberries because they are always present in our freezer.
I have also roasted batches of fresh blueberries. Roasting fresh blueberries is a great option, especially when the fresh blueberries maybe weren’t the sweetest or didn’t have the PERFECT texture your preschooler is looking for. The resulting roasted blueberries are ALWAYS sweet enough for her and she eats them like they are candy. No more uneaten ‘not sweet enough’ blueberries AKA ‘baking blueberries for Mom’.
How Do I Roast Blueberries?
Line your baking pan with foil to minimize your clean-up and either use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat on top so blueberries are easily removed when finished roasting.
If you don’t have parchment paper or a silicone baking mat you can spray your foil with nonstick cooking spray and that does work, just make sure to remove the blueberries and blueberry juice from the pan while still fairly hot so the blueberries don’t cool and stick to your foil.
Pour blueberries onto your prepared pan in a single layer. Bake at 350 for 15-25 minutes depending on your blueberry size and if you are using fresh or frozen blueberries.
Roast Blueberries until the blueberries are nice and plump and look well, roasted, and the released blueberry juice is nice and bubbly.
How to Bake Perfect Blueberry Bread | Juicy Berries & Easy Glaze
FAQ
Do blueberries lose nutrition when baked?
What happens if you cook blueberries?
Are baked blueberries healthy?
Why do blueberries turn purple when cooked?
Are blueberries good for baking?
Blueberries bring delicious flavor and an unmistakable pop of color to any dish or meal. We love them because they’re a no-fuss, no-stress food – easy to rinse, eat and enjoy. If you enjoy a boost of blue in your kitchen adventures, you’ll find tips and ideas here to elevate your baking game.
Can blueberries damage your health?
Blueberries have a pleasant, sweet taste. They are often eaten fresh but may also be frozen or juiced. They can be used in a variety of baked goods, jams, and jellies, as well as for flavorings. A half-cup serving of blueberries contains 42 calories, 1 gram protein, 11 grams carbohydrates, and 2 grams fiber. Moreover, blueberries are rich in antioxidants and beneficial plant compounds, including anthocyanins, quercetins, and myricetins. Blueberries will not damage your health, in contrary it may decrease your risk of heart disease, boost brain health, lower blood sugar levels, and improve insulin sensitivity.
Why do blueberries taste so sweet when baking?
The flavor of blueberries (and other berries, for the matter) is concentrated when they bake which makes them taste even sweeter than they already do (via Bon Appetit ). But, if fans of Great British Bake Off have learned anything, it’s that you want your berries to be mixed throughout your batter rather than sinking to the bottom.
Can You bake with frozen blueberries?
A stash of blueberries in the freezer means summertime baking is possible all year long. But pie is one thing. Muffins, scones, cake, and coffeecake are quite another, frozen berries bleeding juice into batter to turn these golden-hued beauties a sickly shade of purple-green. This doesn’t have to happen, you know. There’s a simple solution.