By Lindy Van Schalkwyk, last updated on December 14, 2022
Our blackberry topping for cheesecake has a rich sweet and slightly tangy flavor. It goes well with any type of cheesecake and is easy to make!
And arguably the part we love the most about this berry topping is its versatility. The consistency can be adjusted exactly to your liking! Cheesecake toppings have never been this easy and quick!
Why We Love Our Blackberry Topping For Cheesecake
We have done many toppings for cheesecakes. But few are as good as a fresh fruit option. So, today we’ve gone back to the drawing board and thought of new ways we can make a versatile and easy fresh fruit topping. And one that goes with almost any type of cheesecake. Our results: the ultimate fresh blackberry cheesecake topping.
This topping is extremely versatile. You can adjust the level of sweetness, the lemon you add, and of course, the consistency. And this topping can be whipped up in less than 30 minutes!
You can also make it in advance and store it in several ways. If you are looking for a short-term storage option, simply place it in a sterile glass jar. Store it inside the fridge for up to 4 days.
But, some long-term storage options include freezing the blackberry topping for cheesecake or preserving it in a glass jar.
This sauce is an incredible addition to a blackberry cheesecake no-bake option, creamy lemon baked cheesecake, or regular vanilla New York-style cheesecake.
Some other flavors you should consider pairing with this topping include virtually all types of berries, honey, yogurt, and mint.
It also pairs well with other creamy ingredients such as buttermilk, mascarpone, oat milk, and sour cream. More fruity additions (as garnishes or cheesecake flavors) are peaches, bananas, kiwi, and red apples. Just imagine all the wonderful pairings you can experiment with!
What You Need To Make This Blackberry Topping Recipe For Cheesecake
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh blackberries
- 4 teaspoons of water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 3-4 teaspoons lemon juice
Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowls
- Saucepan
- Blender, optional
- Fork
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Make the base of the sauce
Combine the blackberries, water, sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice inside a medium saucepan. Mix the ingredients so that they are evenly distributed.
Step 2: Cook the blackberry sauce
Place the saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the water to a simmer. Once simmering, reduce the heat. Allow the berries to gently cook over low for roughly 10-12 minutes.
As the berries cook, stir them every couple of minutes. This will help prevent them from sticking to the pan or burning.
Step 3: Adjust the consistency
Here is where this blackberry topping for cheesecake recipe gets fun. You can create any topping consistency that you’d like to. See our tips and trick section.
We like to take half of the cooked berry mixture and blend it up completely.
Then, add the pureed berries back with the whole cooked ones. Mash the berries slightly with a fork. Heat the mixture again over low heat to merge the flavors well.
Remove it from the heat and allow it to cool completely.
Step 4: Serve or store the blackberry sauce for cheesecake
If you need to use this topping immediately, allow it to cool completely first. Then, add the topping on top of your cheesecake and garnish it as you normally would. We like to add more whole fresh blackberries and mint leaves.
If you want to store this blackberry topping for later use, allow it to cool. Then, place it inside a glass jar with an airtight lid. Store it inside the fridge for up to 4 days.
You can also preserve this blackberry topping for cheesecake by jarring it.
Expert tips and tricks
- Many people recommend soaking your blackberries before working with them. This helps remove any small bugs hiding between the tiny bulbs. To soak them, add them to cold salted water. Leave them inside the fridge overnight. The next day, you’ll see tiny bugs float on the water. Drain the berries and rinse them under clean running water. Pat them dry before using them. We would say that this step is only necessary when you don’t know the quality of your berries. Or if you’re using organic berries.
- We highly recommend fresh berries for a blackberry topping for cheesecake. You can also use frozen and thawed berries, which already will be soft. Fresh berries will just have a fresher and more pure flavor. Do not use canned or candied blackberries. They are far too sweet for this recipe. You want a slightly sweet topping where the flavor of the berry and cheesecake is most prominent – not a sugar syrup.
- Another way we like the consistency to be for this topping is just mashed. Don’t blend any of the berries, just gently crush them with a fork so their juices come out. Then, stir them and serve them on your cheesecake.
- You can also create a very thick smooth sauce made from blackberries. To do so, blend the entire cooked berry mixture. Then, add 2 to 3 teaspoons of cornstarch to the saucepan. Slowly add the blended berries while whisking constantly. Once all of the berry juice has been added, place the saucepan back over medium heat and bring the sauce to a simmer. Once simmering, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool.
- The more cornstarch you add to the sauce, the thicker the consistency will be.
Preparations Times And Servings
| Preparation Times | Cooking Times | Servings |
| 5 minutes | 15 minutes | 1 |
Wrapping Things Up – Deliciously Sweet And Fresh Blackberry Topping For Cheesecake
Go ahead! Give this blackberry topping for cheesecake a try. We promise that you won’t regret it. It’s incredibly easy to make and adds a wonderful fresh berry flavor to virtually all types of cheesecake.
Let us know what you think about it in the comments below. And, if you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
Fresh Blackberry Topping For Cheesecake In Under 30 Minutes
Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowls
- Saucepan
- Blender, optional
- Fork
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh blackberries
- 4 teaspoons of water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 3-4 teaspoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Make the base of the sauceCombine the blackberries, water, sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice inside a medium saucepan. Mix the ingredients so that they are evenly distributed.3 cups fresh blackberries, 4 teaspoons of water, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 3-4 teaspoons lemon juice
- Cook the blackberry saucePlace the saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the water to a simmer. Once simmering, reduce the heat. Allow the berries to gently cook over low for roughly 10-12 minutes.As the berries cook, stir them every couple of minutes. This will help prevent them from sticking to the pan or burning.
- Adjust the consistencyHere is where this blackberry topping for cheesecake recipe gets fun. You can create any topping consistency that you'd like to. See our tips and trick section.We like to take half of the cooked berry mixture and blend it up completely.Then, add the pureed berries back with the whole cooked ones. Mash the berries slightly with a fork. Heat the mixture again over low heat to merge the flavors well.Remove it from the heat and allow it to cool completely.
- Serve or store the blackberry sauce for cheesecakeIf you need to use this topping immediately, allow it to cool completely first. Then, add the topping on top of your cheesecake and garnish it as you normally would. We like to add more whole fresh blackberries and mint leaves.If you want to store this blackberry topping for later use, allow it to cool. Then, place it inside a glass jar with an airtight lid. Store it inside the fridge for up to 4 days.You can also preserve this blackberry topping for cheesecake by jarring it.
Notes
Lindy Van Schalkwyk is a culinary specialist with a background in Advanced Cooking, Advanced Pâtisserie, Media Communications and Nutrition. She has gained invaluable experience in the culinary industry having worked in some of the top restaurants in Africa in 2016 and 2017. Her expertise in nutrition has enabled her to develop recipes for special dietary needs. In 2018, Lindy began working in the Food Media industry, focusing on recipe development, recipe writing, food writing and food styling.