These easy Blackberry Dumplings are the best summer dessert. Made with just 7-ingredients and only 15 minutes of prep time, you can have a dessert on the table in no time. It's a tried and true Southern classic recipe, that's simple enough for anyone to replicate.
Rich and flavorful, and filled with sweet blackberries and tender, fluffy dumplings, this is THE summertime dessert you've been waiting for. Blackberry Dumplings are beyond simple to make, assembled in just one pan, and extra satisfying to indulge in.
One of my favorite Southern staples, soft homemade dumplings are cooked in a mixture of sweet, syrupy blackberries. They're truly the ultimate simple, yet decadent treat. This Blackberry Dumplings recipe is a foolproof classic that hits all the right texture and flavor notes, and it's so easy to make. You can whip it up for dessert any night of the week ...and believe us, you just might!
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If you like this simple sweet treat, try some of our other easy desserts. We love this sweet and tangy Lemon Blueberry Poundcake, our delicious Strawberry Peach Cobbler, and this Mixed Berry Cobbler is always a hit. Enjoy!
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- A cobbler meets a pie. Blackberry dumplings are extra delicious because they're almost a cross between a cobbler and a pie - you get the best of both worlds in one dessert. First, juicy blackberries are cooked down to a sweet, syrupy pie filling-like mixture. Then soft, chewy dumplings are added for that cobbler component. But instead of being crispy on top, the whole thing is soft, tender and chewy. The fluffy dumplings almost act like a deconstructed crust paired with the sweet fruit filling. Need we say more?!
- One pan dessert. With just a few ingredients and assembled in only one pan, this dessert comes together super fast, and super easily, with minimal clean-up.
- Traditional Southern Sweet: Using simple, humble ingredients and a traditional cooking method, this is a old fashioned Southern dessert recipe that's been served up for years and years. There are several variations of it, but this one is as authentic as it gets.
Ingredients
Scroll down for recipe amounts and instructions in the printable recipe card.
For The Blackberries:
- Blackberries: Use fresh or frozen here. If you've got fresh and they're in season, go with these - they'll have the most flavor. But if you're in a pinch, frozen definitely works too.
- Water: Helps to create a nice syrupy consistency for the blackberries as they simmer.
- Sugar: Adds sweetness to the blackberries and also key in creating the thickened, syrupy consistency.
For The Dumplings:
- Self-Rising Flour: Helps to give the dumplings their soft, fluffy, tender texture.
- Granulated Sugar: Perfectly sweetens the dumpling dough without making them overly sugary.
- Chilled Butter or Crisco: The fat for the dumplings, use butter or shortening here. This makes the dumplings rich and delicious, and holds them together to give them their consistency.
- Milk: Helps to bring the dumpling mixture together. It adds a slight creamy flavor and ensures they're just moist enough.
- Optional Toppings: We recommend topping with either vanilla ice cream, fresh whipped cream, and/or a sprinkle of chopped fresh mint.
Tools You’ll Need
How To Make Blackberry Dumplings
- In a large pot, combine the blackberries, sugar, and water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes until the blackberries release their juices and the mixture thickens slightly.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Cut in the shortening or chilled butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add the milk and stir until just combined. The dough will be sticky.
- Drop one tablespoon spoonfuls of the dumpling batter into the simmering blackberry mixture. You should get about 10-12 dumplings. Gently stir so that the dumplings are submerged in the blackberry sauce.
- Simmer for 8-10 minutes, or until the blackberry mixture has thickened slightly, and the dumplings are cooked through and have absorbed some of the blackberry juice.
- Serve the blackberry dumplings warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.
Expert Tips and Substitutions
- Use A Cookie Scoop For Dumplings. Two spoons is the old school way, but to get nice uniform dumplings that are all the same size, use a small cookie or ice cream scoop. This way they'll all look the same and will cook evenly.
- Switch Up The Fruit. We love blackberries here for tradition, especially when they're in season, but you could definitely swap in any of your other favorite fruit, too. Peaches, strawberries or blueberries would work just as well (and be just as delicious!)
- Try Different Dumplings. Traditional homemade drop biscuits in this recipe are our favorite because they're classic, soft, and chewy. You could also definitely use cut up canned biscuit dough if you wanted a different texture and a shortcut. Or you can even use your preferred boxed biscuit mix if that's something you have in your pantry. All of these options work!
- Don't Skimp on Toppings Or Flavor. Take the fruit mixture to the next level by adding a dash of cinnamon, some lemon juice, or a splash of vanilla extract. And then don't be shy about the toppings, cool vanilla ice cream and fresh whipped cream are really the cherry on top of this dessert.
- Fresh Whipped Cream: In a large bowl on high speed, blend together 1 cup heaving whipping cream or whipping cream, 2-4 tablespoons powered sugar, and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract until stiff peaks form, about 1-2 minutes.
Storage Instructions
For the Fridge: If you have leftovers, great news! Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. When you're ready to eat them, reheat covered with foil in an oven-safe dish at 350ºF until warmed through. You can also microwave leftovers in a pinch. Serve with your desired toppings and enjoy!
Freezing: We don't recommend freezing the blackberry dumplings as it changes the texture of the dessert.
FAQs
Blackberry dumplings are a traditional Southern dessert recipe where blackberries are first simmered into a sauce. The sauce is topped with dumplings that cook in the mixture until soft and tender. It's almost like a cobbler, without the crispy topping. This recipe is usually served warm, with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Blackberry dumplings are best enjoyed warm, with a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream. This can be enjoyed as a dessert, or a sweet treat at any time of the day!
Avoid over-mixing your dumpling dough. A light mix of the ingredients until they are just combined will keep them fluffy and airy. And avoid overcooking them, too. Follow the recipe cook time and they should be perfect.
Fresh blackberries usually have the best flavor, especially if they're in season. If you don't have fresh, frozen blackberries work just as well, too.
Reheat blackberry dumplings in an oven-safe dish, covered with foil, at 350ºF until warmed through. If needed, you can microwave any leftovers in 30 second intervals, checking them periodically.
More Easy Dessert Recipes
Blackberry Dumplings
Ingredients
Blackberry Base
- 32 ounces fresh or frozen blackberries
- 2 cups water
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
Dumplings
- 1 cup self-rising flour
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- pinch of salt
- 3 tablespoons shortening or chilled butter
- 5-6 tablespoons milk
- Optional Toppings: vanilla ice cream, fresh whipped cream, fresh mint
Instructions
- In a large pot, combine the blackberries, sugar, and water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes until the blackberries release their juices and the mixture thickens slightly.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Cut in the shortening or chilled butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add the milk and stir until just combined. The dough will be sticky.
- Drop one tablespoon spoonfuls of the dumpling batter into the simmering blackberry mixture. Gently stir so that the dumplings are submerged in the blackberry sauce.
- Simmer for 8-10 minutes, or until the blackberry mixture has thickened a little more and the dumplings are cooked through and have absorbed some of the blackberry juice.
- Serve the blackberry dumplings warm. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.
Video
Notes
- For the Fridge: If you have leftovers, great news! Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. When you're ready to eat them, reheat covered with foil in an oven-safe dish at 350ºF until warmed through. You can also microwave leftovers in a pinch. Serve with your desired toppings and enjoy!
- Freezing: We don't recommend freezing the blackberry dumplings as it changes the texture of the dessert.
- Use A Cookie Scoop For Dumplings. To get nice uniform dumplings that are all the same size, use a small cookie or ice cream scoop. This way they'll all look the same and will cook evenly.
- Switch Up The Fruit. We love blackberries here for tradition, especially when they're in season, but you could definitely swap in any of your other favorite fruit, too. Peaches, strawberries or blueberries would work just as well (and be just as delicious!)
- Try Different Dumplings. Traditional homemade drop biscuits in this recipe are our favorite because they're classic, soft, and chewy. You could also definitely use cut up canned biscuit dough if you wanted a different texture and a shortcut. Or you can even use your preferred boxed biscuit mix if that's something you have in your pantry. All of these options work!
- Don't Skimp on Toppings Or Flavor. Take the fruit mixture to the next level by adding a dash of cinnamon, some lemon juice, or a splash of vanilla extract. And then don't be shy about the toppings, cool vanilla ice cream and fresh whipped cream are really the cherry on top of this dessert.
Ellen
My husband loves blackberries so when I found this recipe I knew I had to make it for him. He devoured it and has asked me to make it again! Definitely a keeper.
Laura Ashley
SOOOO sweet! I love that you made it and that your sweetie liked it so much! Thank you!
Kathleen
DROOLing!! I have a big bag of frozen blackberries that will be perfect for this recipe!
Laura Ashley
OH that'll be PERFECT!! 🙂