“What do you do with those berries of yours?” This is one of the most frequently asked questions we get. So when we had an opportunity to participate in the Warren County Farm Bureau’s first ever farm-to-table event in Hartford, we participated.

The meal preparation was for 300 and I’m not sure, but I bet those numbers were surpassed! We had offered Aronia juice to be mixed in with lemonade. Aronia lemonade is one of the most common (and easiest) ways we use Aronia berries. How do you make it? We have squeezed the raw berries with a garlic press and added them to the lemonade, we have run some through the Vitamix and added them to lemonade, we have added powdered Aronia, and we have used the juice we make with our steam juicer and can. All are very good and viable methods. When we use the juice, we add about. 2-3 ounces to a 2-quart pitcher of homemade lemonade.

If you’d like to see how it’s done…visit us on You Tube at Fogle Family Farm.

Woody’s Homemade Lemonade:

Juice of 2 large lemons or 3 smaller ones.

1-1/2 cups of sugar

2 quarts of cold water

Add your Aronia to taste (2-3 oz per pitcher)

It’s a very refreshing, unique way to have lemonade!

We’d talked about doing a couple of other items and decided on a dessert to offer. Because of numbers and warm temperatures, this didn’t get used last night. I was prepared to make it for 300 so you know it’s super simple. It’s a rich, refreshing way to introduce Aronia!

Strawberry-Aronia Layered Dessert

For Cookie Crust: 

36 golden sandwich cookies 

1/2 cup butter,  melted 

Process cookies in a food processor to make fine crumbs.  In a bowl, melt butter & stir in cookie crumbs until evenly moistened.  Press into bottom of 9×13” pan.  Set in freezer to firm while making the next layer. 

Aronia Cheesecake Layer: 

1 1/2 cups chopped Aronia Berries

1/2 cup butter

1 cup powdered sugar

8 oz softened cream cheese

1 1/4 cups whipped cream 

Put Aronia berries in food processor (can be frozen) and pulse a few times quickly, doesn’t have to be fine.  Cream together butter, powdered sugar and cream cheese.  Add whipped cream to the cheesecake mixture and combine.  Fold in the chopped berries.  Spread mixture over the chilled crust.  Refrigerate.

Strawberry Gelatin Layer: 

3 oz package strawberry gelatin

1/2 cup boiling water

1 cup strawberry Greek yogurt

4 cups whipped cream

In a large bowl, combine gelatin and boiling water; stir to dissolve.  Cool to room temperature.  Whisk in yogurt until combined with gelatin.  Add whipped cream and mix until evenly combined.  Pour mixture over cream cheese layer, smoothing the top.  Refrigerate 2-3 hours until set. 

Top Layer:

Top with whipped cream and a berry.  

If you’d like to try these and aren’t close to the local Fareways or Gateway Markets we serve, contact us at MyAroniaBerry.com and we can get berries to you.