Blackberry Topping for Cheesecake (Fresh or Frozen Berries)

A mini cheesecake with blackberry sauce drizzled over it from a spoon.

5 from 1 vote

Blackberry Topping for Cheesecake (Fresh or Frozen Berries)

This Blackberry Topping For Cheesecake is absolutely bursting with sweet berry flavor that tastes truly incredible paired with any cream cheese dessert! You can have this sauce ready in under 10 minutes with just 5 simple ingredients, including fresh or frozen blackberries. Plus we'll share our go-to method to get that perfectly thick texture full of drippy sauce and soft fruit.

Cook Time10

Total Time10

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: Enough for 1 cheesecake

Calories: 293kcal

Author: Misty

Equipment

small saucepan

Ingredients

12 oz frozen (or fresh) blackberries divided
2 ½ tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
2 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in an additional 1 tablespoon water

Instructions

In a small or medium saucepan, add about ⅔ of the berries, the sugar, the lemon juice, and the water. Cook at a simmer over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes, stirring often with a rubber spatula or spoon.
12 oz frozen (or fresh) blackberries, 2 ½ tablespoon granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 2 tablespoon water
Once the berries are softened and starting to fall apart, use the spatula or spoon to slightly smush the sauce. You want to help it break down a little, but you don't want it to be perfectly even.
Next, reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the remaining whole berries and the dissolved cornstarch mixture. Gently stir the mixture together, then continue cooking until the mixture thickens and the new berries soften slightly, 2-3 min. Stir gently but constantly during this part.
1 tablespoon cornstarch
At this point, avoid any smushing motions so you can preserve the chunky texture. Once the whole berries are slightly softened, remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature before serving.

Notes

Tips and Tricks

Choose great fruit. The riper your berries, the better the final flavor!

If using fresh blackberries, keep in mind that they may cook slightly faster than frozen. Reduce the cooking time slightly if needed.

Don't turn the heat too high... it changes the texture and doesn't allow the sauce quite enough time to deepen in flavor.

Storage: Cool completely, then store in an airtight container or lidded jar in the fridge for for 5-7 days.

Freezing instructions: Once the sauce is cool, store it in an airtight and freezer-safe container, making sure to leave a little extra room so that it can expand as it freezes. Store in the freezer for up to three months, then thaw at room temperature or overnight in the fridge.

Nutrition