Newsflash: Blackberries and black raspberries aren't one in the same. Here's how to spot the differences—and why you want lots of both in your diet.
You Never Realized the Difference Between These Two Fruits
Updated Jul. 08, 2020
They’re both small, sweet and delicious, so are blackberries and black raspberries the same? Nope. “Blackberry” is not just a faster, easier way to say “black raspberry.” They are, in fact, two different types of berries. Color us surprised!
Here’s how to tell them apart
- This might sound obvious, but if what you have looks like a raspberry, but it’s black, it’s a black raspberry. Like red raspberries, black raspberries have a hollow center and tiny “hairs” on the outside.
- If your berry has a white or green core where it was attached to the stem, and smooth, glossy flesh, it’s a blackberry.
- Blackberries tend to be bigger than black raspberries.
- In a side-by-side taste test, you should find that black raspberries are sweeter while blackberries are more tart.
To boost your health, choose both
All kinds of berries get gold stars for their health benefits – they are nutritional powerhouses. And blackberries and black raspberries deserve their stellar reputation. A cup of either blackberries or black raspberries packs 8 grams of fiber and about half of the vitamin C you need daily. Fiber is linked to a slew of health benefits including lower risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some digestive conditions. And vitamin C helps all parts of your body replenish and heal.
Black raspberries contain antioxidants and can help fight inflammation. They may also help improve your cholesterol levels and slow the development of heart disease. (Here are more heart-healthy foods you should always have on hand.)
The vitamin K in blackberries may help keep your bones strong, and its high manganese levels can help your blood pressure in check.
Wow! Talk about a lot of benefits.
Pack your summer meals full of delicious berries
Of course, all kinds of berries are always a treat by themselves, topped with whipped cream or served along with your favorite breakfast cereal. But there’s so much more you can do with black raspberries and blackberries. Start by checking out our favorite healthy recipes for all sorts of berries. and then move on to our more indulgent desserts.
Need more ideas? Try these 40 blackberry recipes bursting with juicy flavor.
Blackberry Crisp
I adapted this comforting dessert from a recipe my mother-in-law gave to me. Hers fed a family with nine growing kids who were never full, so there was never any left. There aren't any leftovers when I make my downsized version, either! —Marliss Lee, Independence, Missouri
Blackberry Apple PieMy mother made this pie so often, she could do it with her eyes closed! We picked the berries ourselves, and the apples came from the trees in our orchard. I can still taste the delicious combination of fruits encased in Mother's flaky pie crust. —Fran Stanfield, Wilmington , Ohio
Berry-Beet SaladHere's a delightfully different salad that balances the earthy flavor of beets with the natural sweetness of berries. If you prefer, substitute crumbled feta for the goat cheese. —Amy Lyons, Mounds View, Minnesota
Berry WhirligigBlackberries are an Oregon treasure. We love to go out and pick our own. Whatever we don’t eat fresh, we freeze to enjoy whenever we start dreaming of this irresistible treat. —Pearl Stanford, Medford, Oregon
Blackberry Apple JellyAugust is the busiest month of the year on our small farm—that's when we're harvesting sweet corn, pumpkins and pickling cucumbers for our stand. But I always make time to put up this jelly. The apples come from our old-fashioned orchard, while the blackberries grow wild along our creek...and the jelly's usually gone by January! —Liz Endacott, Matsqui, British Columbia
Blackberry Frozen YogurtYou could also use boysenberries, raspberries or strawberries for this delicious dessert. — Rebecca Baird, Salt Lake City, Utah
Cookies ‘n’ Cream Berry DessertsThis sweet berry dessert makes an especially pretty final course in the spring. With berries, a creamy topping and a sprinkle of meringue cookies, it always earns praise. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Blackberry Beer CocktailThis refreshing hard lemonade has a mild alcohol flavor; the beer adds just enough fizz to dance on your tongue as you sip. Sorry, adults only! —Ginger Sullivan, Cutler Bay, Florida
Wild Berry Freezer JamOne year, I decided I wanted to make a wild berry jam but couldn't find a recipe, so I invented my own. — Barbara Hohmann, Petawawa, Ontario
Lemon-Berry ShortcakeThis simple lemon shortcake is tender and not overly sweet. Enjoy this summertime classic with a generous layer of whipped topping and berries. —Meryl Herr, Overland Park, Kansas
Rise and Shine ParfaitStart your day with a smile. This fruit, yogurt and granola parfait is so easy to make. If you like, use whatever favorite fresh fruits are in season and are looking best at the supermarket. —Diana Laskaris, Chicago, Illinois
Four-Berry Spinach SaladNature's candy abounds in the berry-filled salad. The slightly tart dressing contrasts deliciously with the sweet in-season fruit. —Betty Lise Anderson, Gahanna, Ohio
Blackberry Cheesecake BarsSugar cookie dough is a speedy way to turn ricotta and mascarpone cheeses topped with blackberries into beautiful bars. — Terri Crandall, Gardnerville, Nevada
Berry Granola PancakesMy son and I like to make this breakfast favorite together. You can leave the berries out of the mix and sprinkle them on top, or sub in chocolate chips or nuts instead. —Elizabeth Stewart, Crab Orchard, West Virginia
Berry BBQ SauceOn weekends, I jazz up our favorite BBQ sauce with berries. This blackberry-blueberry BBQ sauce makes a marvelous spread for basting and saucing grilled baby back ribs. —Janet Hix, Austin, Texas
Honey-Yogurt Berry SaladI wanted my family to eat more fruit but not more sugary ingredients. This berry salad lets you play with different low-fat yogurts and fruits. —Betsy King, Duluth, Minnesota
Berry Nectarine BuckleI found this recipe in a magazine a long time ago, but modified it over the years. We enjoy its combination of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and nectarines, particularly when the cake is served warm with low-fat frozen yogurt. —Lisa Darling, Rochester, New York
Mixed Berry SangriaThis is a light, tasty beverage to serve with spoons so everyone can enjoy the fresh berries once the sangria is gone. — Linda Cifuentes, Mahomet, Illinois
Berry Coulis with Dutch PancakesMy husband makes his mom's crepe-like Dutch pancakes with our kids on Saturdays. I came up with the berry sauce, and the dish is now our brunch standard. —Shannon Koene, Blacksburg, Virginia
Four-Berry SpreadFor a big berry taste, you can't beat this tasty spread. With a flavorful foursome of blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries, this lovely jam brightens any breakfast. —Marie St. Thomas, Sterling, Massachusetts
Black and Blue CobblerIt never occurred to me that I could bake a cobbler in my slow cooker until I saw some recipes and decided to try to make my favorite fruity dessert. It took a bit of experimenting, but the tasty results are "berry" well worth it. —Martha Creveling, Orlando, Florida
Blackberry-Orange CakeMy grandmother made luscious fruit pies and cobblers using blackberries from her garden. I decided to follow her lead and create a blackberry cake that's always lovely with a summer meal. —Lisa M. Varner, El Paso, Texas
Sweet-Chili Salmon with BlackberriesMy garden is often my cooking inspiration. Because I have a large berry patch, I especially enjoy using just-picked berries in savory dishes to add natural sweetness and sometimes a bit of tart. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California
Blackberry CobblerBlackberries abound in fields and alongside country roads in late summer around here. It's fun to pick them, especially when we know this dessert will be the result.
Mixed Berry Sundaes for 2These delightful yogurt sundaes are an easy way to add fruit and calcium to your diet. Berries star in the dish, which I enjoy as a simple breakfast or healthy dessert for two. —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah
Berry Breakfast ParfaitsExpecting brunch company but short on time? Parfaits are the perfect solution. Feel free to mix and match with whatever berries you have on hand. —Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida
Blackberry-Topped Sponge CakesThe recipe for my blackberry cakes is easy to play with. You can replace the sponge cake with angel food, pound cake or ladyfingers. And any fruit that has liquor with the same flavor can be used. —Karen Robinson, Woodbury, Connecticut
Slow Cooker Spiced Poached PearsSome of the many reasons I love this dessert recipe are: it's on the healthy side; it's easy to make; the recipe can be mostly prepared in advance of company arriving; and the presentation is lovely.—Jill Mant, Denver, Colorado
Blackberry Brandy SauceFresh ingredients make a rich-tasting blackberry brandy sauce to serve over ice cream, cheesecake, pancakes, angel food cake ... the possibilities are endless, and it makes everything look gorgeous. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado
Originally Published: July 16, 2018
