What is a Substitute for Blackberries?

January 9, 2026 •

4 min read

According to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, a single serving of blackberries delivers an impressive 31% of your daily dietary fiber needs. If you're out of these nutritious berries, finding a suitable substitute for blackberries is essential for maintaining the texture and flavor profile of your recipe.

Quick Summary

Several fruits can replace blackberries, with the best choice depending on the recipe's application, like baking or smoothies. Options include raspberries, blueberries, and berry hybrids, each offering a slightly different flavor and texture to consider. Frozen versions of these alternatives are also suitable when fresh fruit is unavailable.

Key Points

Raspberries are the closest substitute: For a similar tart-sweet flavor, raspberries—especially black raspberries—are an excellent alternative for most recipes.
Blueberries work well for baked goods: Blueberries are widely available and hold their shape, making them a reliable swap for muffins, cobblers, and sauces.
Consider flavor and texture for your recipe: Depending on whether you prioritize the berry's tartness, sweetness, or structural integrity, different substitutes like cranberries or strawberries are better suited.
Hybrid berries offer a complex flavor: Hybrids like boysenberries and loganberries provide a nuanced flavor profile that closely resembles a mix of blackberries and other berries.
Frozen berries are interchangeable with a trick: When using frozen substitutes, toss them in flour before baking to absorb excess liquid and prevent them from sinking.
Add lemon juice to balance sweetness: If using a sweeter substitute like blueberries, a splash of lemon juice can provide the characteristic tartness of blackberries.
Mulberries are a delicious, lesser-known option: For jams and pies, mulberries offer a similar sweet and sometimes tart flavor, but must be used quickly.

Top Blackberry Substitutes

When a recipe calls for blackberries, but they are unavailable, several fruits can serve as an excellent substitute. The ideal choice depends on the desired texture and flavor profile. For recipes where the berry is a prominent feature, like a pie or crumble, a close berry alternative is best.

1. Raspberries

Raspberries are one of the most direct and common substitutes for blackberries, as they belong to the same genus, Rubus. They offer a similar sweet-tart flavor, though raspberries are generally a bit sweeter and less earthy than blackberries. Black raspberries, a specific type, are particularly close in flavor, offering a deep, brambly taste.

Best for: Pies, jams, cobblers, and fresh eating. Considerations: Raspberries are more delicate and may produce a runnier consistency in baked goods, so a slight adjustment to the thickener may be needed.

2. Blueberries

Blueberries offer a similar size and shape to blackberries and are readily available year-round, both fresh and frozen. Their flavor is generally sweeter and less tart than blackberries, and they can produce a softer texture when cooked. For a closer flavor, wild huckleberries are a good option, with a flavor that is somewhat comparable but woodsy.

Best for: Muffins, cobblers, sauces, and smoothies. Considerations: Blueberries are not as tart as blackberries, so you may need to add a touch of lemon juice to balance the sweetness in some recipes, like pies.

3. Mulberries

Mulberries are an excellent, though less common, substitute with a flavor profile similar to blackberries. They are cylindrical and can be black, red, or white depending on the variety, with an almost sticky-sweet taste that is sometimes balanced by tartness.

Best for: Jams, pies, galettes, and ice cream. Considerations: Mulberries are highly perishable and do not last long after picking, so it's best to use them as soon as possible.

4. Hybrid Berries

Several hybrid berries combine traits of both blackberries and other berries, making them fantastic substitutes.

Boysenberries: A cross between a blackberry, raspberry, loganberry, and dewberry, offering a juicy, balanced sweet-tart flavor.
Loganberries: A hybrid of blackberries and red raspberries, with a similar size and texture to blackberries but a deep red color.
Tayberries: A cross between a raspberry and blackberry, slightly larger and sweeter than a loganberry.

These hybrids are often more delicate than blackberries and might require adjustments for baking.

5. Other Fruit Alternatives

For recipes where the fruit serves a less dominant role, other ingredients can be considered.

Cranberries: Offer a tangy and tart flavor, best used in cooked dishes where added sugar can balance their sharpness.
Plums or Cherries: Diced stone fruits can provide similar color and sweetness in some dishes.
Strawberries: Sliced strawberries can work in a pinch for fresh applications or as a topping, but they have a very different flavor and texture.

Using Frozen Fruit as a Substitute

Using frozen berries is a practical option, especially when fresh blackberries are not in season. To prevent a watery mess in your baked goods, it is crucial to handle them properly. Experts recommend not thawing frozen berries before use, but instead tossing them in a small amount of flour before adding them to your batter. This helps absorb excess moisture and prevents the berries from sinking to the bottom. Be aware that you may need to increase the cooking time slightly when using frozen berries.

Comparison Table: Blackberry Substitutes


Substitute	Flavor Profile	Texture	Best For	Considerations
Raspberry	Sweet-tart, slightly less earthy	More delicate, softer	Pies, jams, cobblers	Can produce a runnier filling; may need a thickener.
Blueberry	Sweeter, less tart	Holds shape well, softer when cooked	Muffins, smoothies, sauces	Use lemon juice for added tartness; will not have the same color.
Mulberry	Sweet, often with a tart balance	Juicy, cylindrical	Jams, ice cream, pies	Highly perishable; use quickly after purchasing.
Boysenberry	Balanced sweet-tart, juicy	Similar size and texture	Jams, pies	Can be delicate and messy; not widely available.
Cranberry	Tangy, tart	Firm, juicy	Cooked dishes, sauces	Requires more sugar to balance the intense tartness.
Cherry (diced)	Sweet, or tart (depending on variety)	Juicy, firm flesh	Cooked dishes, sauces	Will not provide a classic berry texture or flavor.
Strawberry (sliced)	Sweet	Softer flesh	Toppings, yogurt, fresh uses	Different flavor and color profile; best for fresh applications.

Conclusion

While the unique flavor of a fresh blackberry is irreplaceable, several excellent substitutes can be used in a pinch, depending on the application. Raspberries offer the closest flavor match for baked goods, while blueberries are a versatile, widely available option for a range of recipes. For those who can find them, hybrid berries like boysenberries and loganberries provide a nuanced, similar profile. When working with frozen fruit, a simple toss in flour can prevent a soggy outcome. By understanding the subtle differences in flavor and texture, you can confidently choose the right alternative to keep your cooking and baking on track.

Williams-Sonoma offers more tips on handling berries for fresh and cooked uses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, raspberries are a great substitute for blackberries in a pie. You might find them slightly sweeter and more delicate, so you may need to add a thickener like cornstarch to prevent the filling from becoming too runny.

For smoothies, both frozen or fresh blueberries and raspberries are excellent substitutes for blackberries. Using frozen fruit can also help thicken the smoothie without adding ice.

To use frozen berries, do not thaw them first. Instead, toss them in a small amount of flour before adding them to your batter. This helps prevent bleeding and keeps the berries from sinking.

If you're using a sweeter berry like blueberries, a splash of lemon juice is a simple way to introduce the balancing tartness that blackberries provide.

Yes, other fruits can work depending on the recipe. Diced plums or tart cherries can provide a similar color and sweetness in some cooked applications, while sliced strawberries can work as a fresh topping.

A boysenberry is a hybrid of several berries, including the blackberry, and offers a juicy, balanced sweet-tart flavor. It's an excellent substitute, particularly for jams and pies, though it is more delicate and can be harder to find.

It depends on the berry you choose. Blackberries are often tart, so if you use a sweeter berry like blueberries or mulberries, you might want to slightly reduce the sugar called for in the recipe.