Last Updated on October 8, 2022
Our blackberry topping for cheesecake is the perfect all-in-one recipe you need. You can adjust the flavor and consistency with ease!
And, in this jam-packed article, we will even have a look at how to correctly clean and prepare these fruits. This way, you can guarantee you get the best and freshest berry topping you possibly can.
Preparing The Fruit For This Blackberry Topping For Cheesecake
We love making fruit toppings for cheesecake. They are refreshing, easy to make, and don’t take up a lot of time. They are also usually extremely versatile.
So, when we saw some delicious fresh blackberries at our local market, we instantly knew how we were going to use them!
However, after a couple of minutes of research, we quickly realized that not many people talk about how to correctly prepare fruits for cooking – especially berries! And no, it’s not as simple as just cooking them and adjusting the consistency.
Blackberries specifically have to be very thoroughly cleaned before they can be cooked. Flies and other bugs are very attracted to them and get into the smallest nooks and crannies. Often, areas that you cannot even reach! And, once the flies lay eggs, you can soon have tiny maggots off over your berries.
So, if you simply cook your berries, you’ll be getting an extra bite or two of protein!
Now, how exactly should you prepare blackberries? The technique we use we learned from a chef friend. It has been tried and tested over many years and we must say, it’s never failed us before.
How to prepare blackberries
So, first what you need is to place the blackberries in a large flat tray and cover them with cold water. Then, add about 1 to 2 teaspoons of fine salt over the top. Leave the berries to soak overnight (at room temperature).
The salt will kill any bugs and even get rid of some bacteria growing on their surface. These particles will rise to the top. This is how we know the technique works – we see bugs every time!
Next, drain your blackberries under cold running water and pat them dry roughly. While you pat them down, make sure to inspect the berries to see if any dead bugs didn’t get stuck on the edges.
What You Need To Make This Blackberry Topping For Cheesecake
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh blackberries
- 1-2 tablespoons granulated white sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons of water
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Medium saucepan
- Wooden spoon
- Fork or blender, optional
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Prepare your blackberries
Blackberries have to be cleaned before you can use them. Soak them in salt water overnight to kill all bugs. Then, drain them and wipe them clean. You can have a look at a more in-depth explanation above.
Step 2: Bring the berry mixture to a boil
To make the blackberry topping for cheesecake, first, combine all of the ingredients in a medium saucepan. Then, bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
Lower the temperature to medium-high and boil the berries for roughly 3-5 minutes. Keep stirring the ingredients to prevent them from burning.
Step 3: Simmer the mixture
After your berries have boiled for a while, reduce the heat even more to low. Allow the berries to simmer for about 10 minutes. As it cools, it will become slightly thicker but still soften over the low heat.
Step 4: Adjust the consistency
Now, here is where you can play around with this blackberry topping for cheesecake recipe. You can make it chunky (like a compote) or runny (like a puree).
You can also combine textures to make a runny sauce with a few chunks of blackberry. It is up to you!
Step 5: Cool and serve
Once you have the perfect consistency, allow the blackberry topping for cheesecake to cool before garnishing the cake. You don’t want it melting a hole in your beautiful cheesecake.
Expert Tips And Tricks
- When cleaning your berries, you can also shorten the time they soak considerably. However, just ensure that the berries are completely clean. You can also look here at some other cleaning methods for blackberries.
- You can use frozen blackberries if you need to. You may just need to add less water to the mixture. You also don’t have to thaw the berries before using them. The high heat will help soften them quickly without creating too much water.
- You can of course adjust the flavor of this recipe. Alter the amount of sugar and lemon juice you add to do so. Always start with a small amount and add more if you want to. Remember, you can always add, but you cannot take away.
Preparations Times And Servings
| Preparation Times | Cooking Times | Servings |
| (5 minutes prep) 8 hours soak | 15 minutes | 1 cheesecake |
In Conclusion
If you have any other questions about this blackberry topping for cheesecake recipe, let us know in the comments below. And, make sure to share this topping recipe along to your fellow cheesecake lovers!
FAQs
How do you prepare blackberries?
Blackberries are on the firmer side of the spectrum. So, you can clean them in a few different ways. We rest them overnight in salt water so any worms, flies, maggots, and bacteria can be killed. You can also manually remove these, but this is tedious and not very thorough. Once rested, rinse the berries under cold running water and allow them to dry on a piece of paper towel.
What to do with lots of blackberries?
The best way to use a ton of blackberries at once is to preserve them or make them into a juice or smoothie. Both of these recipes use a ton of berries. And, what's even better is that you can use older berries too. Alternatively, you can also just freeze them for a couple of months.
What kind of cheese pairs well with blackberries?
Blackberries go exceptionally well with strongly flavored cheeses. Their texture doesn't really matter, making it a versatile pairing. We recommend aged cheddar (at least 6 months), goat's cheese, blue cheese, and Stilton blue. Some feta cheeses will also do well because of their saltiness.
How do you get the most juice out of blackberries?
The best way to extract as much juice from blackberries as possible is to first heat them before processing them further. Bring the berries to a boil before lowering the heat. Then, allow them to simmer for a while so they can soften. Once they are cooked, mash them with a fork or potato mashed. Finally, strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to extract the juice.
1 Versatile & Easy Blackberry Topping For Cheesecake Recipe
Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Medium saucepan
- Wooden spoon
- Fork or blender, optional
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh blackberries
- 1-2 tablespoons granulated white sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons of water
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Prepare your blackberriesBlackberries have to be cleaned before you can use them. Soak them in salt water overnight to kill all bugs. Then, drain them and wipe them clean. You can have a look at a more in-depth explanation above.
- Bring the berry mixture to a boilTo make the blackberry topping for cheesecake, first, combine all of the ingredients in a medium saucepan. Then, bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.Lower the temperature to medium-high and boil the berries for roughly 3-5 minutes. Keep stirring the ingredients to prevent them from burning.2 cups fresh blackberries, 1-2 tablespoons granulated white sugar, 1-2 tablespoons of water, 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- Simmer the mixtureAfter your berries have boiled for a while, reduce the heat even more to low. Allow the berries to simmer for about 10 minutes. As it cools, it will become slightly thicker but still soften over the low heat.
- Adjust the consistencyNow, here is where you can play around with this blackberry topping for cheesecake recipe. You can make it chunky (like a compote) or runny (like a puree).You can also combine textures to make a runny sauce with a few chunks of blackberry. It is up to you!
- Cool and serveOnce you have the perfect consistency, allow the blackberry topping for cheesecake to cool before garnishing the cake. You don't want it melting a hole in your beautiful cheesecake.