Fresh Blackberry Topping For Cheesecake In Under 30 Minutes
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!
Servings: 1 cheesecake
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
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.