🍓 Loganberry Recipes: Sweet & Savoury Ways to Use This Underrated Summer Fruit
🏡 Introduction: What Can You Do With Loganberries?
If you’re lucky enough to grow loganberries—or have access to a local supply—then you know how special they are. A cross between a raspberry and a blackberry, loganberries are rich, tangy, and bursting with juice. They’re not as common in supermarkets, but if you’re growing your own or buying from a farmers’ market, loganberries are a versatile summer fruit worth celebrating.
Whether you’re harvesting them in July or using frozen batches, there are endless ways to cook and enjoy loganberries. From classic jams and pies to modern smoothies, sauces, cakes, and cocktails, this article shares a variety of delicious loganberry recipes to make the most of your crop.
Let’s explore sweet and savoury loganberry ideas the whole family will love.
🍯 1. Loganberry Jam
The most traditional way to preserve a glut of loganberries is through homemade jam. With a tart yet sweet flavour and a stunning deep red colour, loganberry jam is perfect on toast, scones, or in sponge cakes.
Ingredients:
- 1kg loganberries
- 1kg sugar
- 150ml water
- Optional: juice of 1 lemon
Top Tip: Use preserving sugar or add lemon juice to help achieve a good set, as loganberries are moderate in pectin.
🥧 2. Loganberry Crumble
Just like blackberries or raspberries, loganberries make an exceptional fruit crumble. Their tartness pairs beautifully with a sweet, buttery topping.
How to Make:
- Mix 500g loganberries with 100g sugar and 1 tbsp flour
- Add to a dish, then top with crumble made from flour, butter, and brown sugar
- Bake at 180°C for 30–35 minutes
- Serve with custard or clotted cream
Optional Add-Ins: Apples, pears, or oats in the topping for extra texture
🍰 3. Loganberry Cheesecake
Loganberries make an excellent topping for both baked and no-bake cheesecakes. Their tart juice balances the creamy filling.
Quick No-Bake Option:
- Make a biscuit base from crushed digestives and butter
- Whip cream cheese, icing sugar, and double cream
- Spoon into the base
- Top with cooled loganberry compote (berries + sugar cooked down for 10 mins)
Perfect for summer entertaining!
🍨 4. Loganberry Ice Cream or Sorbet
Loganberries lend themselves beautifully to frozen desserts. Their flavour is bold enough to stand out in both creamy and icy textures.
Recipe Ideas:
- Ice Cream: Mix stewed loganberries with custard base before churning
- Sorbet: Blend 500g loganberries with sugar syrup and lemon juice, then freeze
Tip: For a cheat version, swirl loganberry jam through vanilla ice cream.
🍹 5. Loganberry Cordial or Syrup
A homemade loganberry syrup is easy to make and can be used in drinks, cocktails, drizzled on pancakes, or even over roast meat.
Ingredients:
- 1kg loganberries
- 750g sugar
- 500ml water
Simmer until fruit is broken down, strain through muslin, and bottle while hot. Keeps in the fridge for 2–3 weeks, or sterilise and seal for longer storage.
Try it in: Prosecco, lemonade, or over porridge.
🍩 6. Loganberry Muffins or Cupcakes
Use loganberries in place of raspberries or blueberries in your favourite muffin recipe for a tangy twist.
Tips:
- Gently fold loganberries in at the end to avoid breaking them
- Combine with white chocolate chips or lemon zest for extra flavour
- Sprinkle with demerara sugar for a crispy top
🍗 7. Loganberry Glaze for Meat
Turn loganberries into a glaze or reduction for pork, duck, or even venison. Their rich acidity cuts through the fat and adds deep colour.
Quick Glaze:
- 200g loganberries
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- Salt and pepper
- Simmer and strain to create a smooth glaze
Brush over roasted meats or drizzle on grilled halloumi for a vegetarian version.
🥂 8. Loganberry Cocktails
Loganberries add colour, acidity, and a unique berry depth to summer cocktails.
Ideas:
- Loganberry Mojito – muddle loganberries, mint, lime, sugar, add rum & soda
- Berry Gin Fizz – loganberry syrup + gin + soda + ice
- Loganberry Mimosa – Prosecco + loganberry purée
Mocktail idea: Mix syrup with lemonade and mint for a non-alcoholic spritz.
🧁 9. Loganberry Victoria Sponge
Swap the usual strawberry or raspberry jam in your Victoria sponge for loganberry jam, or layer fresh whipped cream with stewed loganberries between sponge cakes for a gorgeous summer showstopper.
🥄 10. Loganberry Fool or Eton Mess
Folding whipped cream through stewed loganberries creates a vibrant, light dessert with minimal effort.
Loganberry Fool:
- Stew berries with sugar
- Let cool
- Fold through whipped double cream and Greek yoghurt
For an Eton Mess-style dessert, add crushed meringue.
❄️ Can You Freeze Loganberries?
Yes — and they freeze beautifully.
- Freeze on trays first to avoid clumping
- Store in bags for up to 12 months
- Use directly in recipes without thawing
Freezing preserves the sharp flavour and vibrant colour, making them ideal for jam, pies, and compotes year-round.
🥣 Tips for Cooking with Loganberries
| Tip | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Taste before using | Some batches are sweeter or more tart |
| Combine with apples or pears | Balances out tartness in baked desserts |
| Avoid overmixing in batters | Keeps berries whole and stops streaking |
| Add at the end in custards/creams | Prevents curdling from acidity |
| Pair with vanilla, lemon, mint | Best flavour matches |
💬 Top 10 FAQs About Loganberry Recipes
1. What do loganberries taste like?
A mix between raspberry and blackberry—tart, tangy, juicy, and slightly floral.
2. Can I use loganberries instead of raspberries in recipes?
Yes, in most cases. They’re slightly tarter, so consider adjusting sugar.
3. Are loganberries good for jam?
Absolutely! They make rich, jewel-toned jam with great flavour.
4. Can I mix loganberries with other fruit?
Yes—try apples, strawberries, redcurrants, or blackberries.
5. Do I need to remove seeds?
No. But for sauces or drinks, you may wish to strain for a smoother texture.
6. Are loganberries high in pectin?
They are moderate—combine with lemon juice for better set in jams.
7. Where can I buy loganberries in the UK?
Local pick-your-own farms, farmers’ markets, or grow your own—they’re rarely sold in supermarkets.
8. Can I use loganberries in savoury dishes?
Yes! Great in glazes, chutneys, or paired with cheese boards.
9. Are loganberries healthy?
Yes—rich in antioxidants, fibre, and Vitamin C.
10. How should I store fresh loganberries?
Refrigerate unwashed berries and use within 2–3 days. Freeze any surplus.
📜 Loganberries in British Gardens
Though not native to the UK, loganberries have become a favourite for home gardeners thanks to their hardiness and reliable fruiting. Their long fruiting season and low maintenance make them ideal for allotments and kitchen gardens.
They’re especially popular with growers looking for alternative berries beyond strawberries and raspberries.
🌟 Conclusion: Bring Loganberries Into the Spotlight
Loganberries might be lesser known, but they’re one of the most versatile, flavourful fruits you can grow or cook with. Whether you turn them into jam, fold them into muffins, or mix them into a cocktail, loganberries offer a uniquely British summer experience.
Try these recipes while the fruit is in season—or freeze a batch and enjoy their vibrant flavour all year long.