Grandma’s Blueberry Delight – this no-bake, layered dessert is made of Nilla wafer crust, whipped cream filling and a blueberry compote.
Grandma’s Vintage Dessert
Hi friends! I’m so excited to share with you another new recipe today! Instead of cake, however, this week’s recipe is my grandma’s Blueberry Delight bars. This recipe is over 60 years old and one my mom remembers having at every Christmas dinner growing up. She actually just discovered the old recipe card when going through my grandma’s recipes not too long ago. She snatched up all the cards with my grandma’s writing and plans to make copies and recipe books with them for her siblings. Don’t you worry, I’m asking for one too! Old family recipes are treasures! Hold on to them forever.
Blueberry Delight
This Blueberry Delight dessert is incredibly easy to make and it’s no-bake! Perfect for the end of summer when it’s too hot to turn on our ovens. Here’s what you need:
- One 11 oz. box of Nilla wafer cookies
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1 pint blueberries
- ½ tsp. cinnamon
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
- 2 tbsp. corn starch
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 9″x13″ baking pan
Step-by-Step Picture Tutorial for Blueberry Delight Bars
Helpful Tips
While this recipe is pretty foolproof, here are a few tips I think will be helpful to you while you prep and make these bars.
- Make the compote first – the compote is the only thing you’ll be “cooking.” You’ll heat the compote ingredients over the stove to thicken the mixture. This means the mixture will be hot and it for sure needs to cool completely before adding to the bars. I think it’s best to make the compote a day or two early, or at least a few hours before you want to assemble the bars.
- Use a cold stainless steel bowl – about a half hour before you whip your cream, place your stainless steel bowl in the freezer. Starting with a cold stainless steel bowl before whipping your cream helps the cream to thicken faster.
- Chill the bars for a few hours before serving – when mom and I made these bars a couple of weeks ago, we dug in right away. However, mom said they didn’t quite taste the same as they did when she was little. The reason being – we didn’t chill the bars long enough. Give the bars at least three hours in the fridge to chill and set before serving.
That’s it! There are really no other tips to offer because Grandma’s Blueberry Delight is so easy to make.
And stay tuned for next week’s recipe! I’ll have a new cake based on these bars.
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Blueberry Delight
Ingredients
Blueberry Compote
- 1 pint fresh or frozen blueberries I prefer fresh
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tbsp. corn starch measured and then sifted
Nilla Wafer Crust
- 11 oz. crushed Nilla wafers One 11 oz. box
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
Whipped Cream Filling
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions
For the Compote
- Combine all of the ingredients in a medium saucepan. Heat to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. You want the blueberries to burst and the liquid to thicken. It should coat your spoon well.
- This is best made ahead of time and can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a couple weeks.
For the Wafer Crust
- In a food processor or blender, pulverize the cookies to a fine crumb.
- Add the melted butter and stir until the crumbs are wet.
- Pat the crumbs firmly into place in a 9"x13" pan. Refrigerate until ready to use.
For the Whipped Cream
- Combine the whipped cream and powdered sugar. Beat to stiff peaks.
Assembly
- Evenly spread the whipped cream over the crust.
- Gently spread the blueberry compote over the whipped cream.
- Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving.
These bars are AMAZING. Simple to make and the flavors are so delicious. I don’t think I can ever use a graham cracker crust again after eating this nilla wafer crust!
Yay I’m so glad!
If using frozen berries, do you let them thaw first?
Yes.
Could you replaceanother fruit for the blueberries?
Of course!
Can I use frozen blueberries?
Yes!
If we have any leftover, how long does it stay good? Store in fridge?
Yes store it in the fridge, covered, and it’s good for about 3-4 days.
So amazing! My family’s traditional take is cherry delight, with the canned cherry pie filling as the topping. I’ve never known anyone else to make a “delight.” This blows it out of the water! Can’t wait for my extended family to try it.
These are the perfect summer dessert! Way easier and way more delicious than pie!