Vanilla Cupcakes with Blackberry Frosting

Fluffy blackberry buttercream frosting piped high over a soft, made-from-scratch vanilla cupcake tastes like spring in your hand. The sweet and slightly tangy flavor of the frosting perfectly complements the vanilla base, creating a light and colorful combination.

Blackberry Buttercream

When it comes to frosting, the perfect balance of tangy and sweet can take a cake or cupcake to the next level. Unfortunately, traditional buttercream frosting can often be too overwhelmingly sweet.

Luckily, there’s a solution – pair it with a luscious blackberry puree that’s thick and bursting with sweet-tart flavor. The combination of the two creates a delectable blackberry buttercream frosting that will leave your taste buds singing with joy.

Blackberry Sauce

Although I adore the sweet taste of blackberries, the hard seeds can be a bit of a nuisance. Fortunately, the large size of the seeds makes them easy to catch with a fine mesh sieve, resulting in a seedless puree.

To create a silky smooth blackberry sauce, there are a few essential steps to follow. First, heat the blackberries, lemon juice, and water over medium heat in a small saucepan.

As the berries start to soften, gently crush them with a flat edge or spoon to release as much juice as possible.

Continue simmering the blackberry mixture until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon. This ensures a perfect texture for your puree, allowing it to blend seamlessly into the frosting.

To remove the seeds from the mixture, pour it through a fine mesh sieve, using a spoon to press out all the juices. This step guarantees a smooth and velvety puree, essential for creating a smooth and creamy blackberry frosting.

Blackberry Frosting

You’ll need the following ingredients:

• fresh blackberries
• water
• lemon juice
• butter
• powdered sugar
• heavy cream or milk
• vanilla
• salt

Blackberry Buttercream Frosting

Once the puree has been strained, it is crucial to allow the puree to cool completely before making the frosting. I can’t overemphasize the importance of fully cooling the puree before making the frosting.

If you try to add the puree while it is still even a little bit warm, it will melt the butter, and the frosting will be ruined. You may be able to use it as a pourable glaze, but it will not be a light and fluffy pipeable frosting.

To make the frosting, whip the butter until light and fluffy, then slowly add the powdered sugar and blackberry puree. Add the sugar gradually to avoid creating a mess in the kitchen with sugar dust. Take it from me; I’ve been there before!

The amount of milk or heavy cream needed will depend on the consistency of both the blackberry sauce and the buttercream itself. Typically, I’ll use about 2 tablespoons of cream or milk, but there are times when the frosting requires twice as much.

Drizzle the milk gradually into the frosting mixture while beating it constantly. Adding only as much as is needed in order to achieve a spreadable or pipeable frosting.

Blackberry Desserts

Blackberries are one of my favorite berries due to their naturally tart and tangy flavor. That tartness adds a unique flavor that helps balance the sweetness in many desserts. Blackberries pair exceptionally well with a hint of lemon, creating a refreshing combination.

Fresh blackberry frosting and citrusy lemon combine in this super moist Lemon Blackberry Cake. Every bite of this cake reminds me of summer.

These cheery, blackberry crumb bars are a summertime favorite and make a perfect afternoon snack or simple dessert.

This Blackberry Coconut Crisp begins with tart blackberries that have been sprinkled with sugar and then layered inside a coconut and oat crust. Served with a scoop of ice cream, this is a summer classic.

Cute mini blackberry cheesecakes made in a muffin tin with blackberry filling on top. Perfect-sized portions to take with you for picnics, potlucks, and parties.

{originally published 7/13/2016 – recipe notes and photos updated 3/23/2023}