What have you made with your wild blackberries?

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I have just a crumble and it was delicious. The dc enjoyed eating something they had picked and helped to make so it was a win all round.

We have loads in the freezer and I am going back for some more once they have ripened.

So I was wondering what else (other than pies and crumbles) everyone has made.

I was thinking of making Jam (or chutney for Christmas) but I don't have a preserving pan or a thermometer.

We're drowning in brambles but all I've made is crumble. Can't seem to make a dent in them though, so I've given away a lot to be turned into jam.

I have made jam for the first time, have 6 jars ready to give as presents over christmas and a tub we're eating out of atm.

Crumble and jam. You don't need a preserving pan or a therm

Ometer for jam. Just a saucepan and a fridge.

And I didn't use a preserving pan or thermometer! I used my huge huge saucepan, water and caster sugar until the sugar was melted, half the blackberries and the apples (to make up to the 2k weight) for half hour, then the rest of the blackberries for 15/20 mins till the wrinkle test worked. Oh and a squirt of lemon juice for pectin.

Not picked ours yet ('cos I shan't be home until the 17th) but they are destined, as always, for wine!

Made jam for the first time, which was very successful.

Now planning on hedgerow jelly using up some more and contemplating whether blackberry vodka is any good (or whisky/brandy?) as sloes look very disappointing round here.

Pear and blackberry frangipane.

I might add some chocolate to it.

of the alcohol suggestions - I am 20wks pg so will have to wait till next year.

Didn't realise I could make jam without the equipment, does it always set? I don't want to waste any of the berries. What is the wrinkle test?

Pear and blackberry frangipan sounds delicious, I was thinking of doing a pear and blackberry crumble

Blackberry and apple jelly. I bought a special Lakeland strainer gizmo and everything - then I bloody overboiled it so it's more of a wine gum consistency.

Whats the difference between jam and jelly.

Whats the gizmo worth it Hassled?

Make the wine THIS year - it will be drinkable by next year :) Takes a while to mature - 6 months is good, a year is better!

We're making bramble ice-cream this weekend!

We made our blackberrys into ice lollys with a bit of mint and lemon. They tasted like a fancy cocktail minus the alcohol. Messy though..

Blackberry ice cream - tis yummy, I freeze the blackberries, add a bit of sugar and cold milk and liquidize - ready to eat instantly ...

Jam! Same amount of jam sugar to fruit (BB low in pectin and jam sugar has it added, will help a good set). Cook in a pan for 10-15mins with a bit of water so it reduces. Add sugar then fast boil for 6-7 mins. Take a cold saucer that's been in the freezer for about 10mins, put a blob of jam on it, wait 30secs or so then push your finger thru it. If it wrinkles its reached setting point, if not may need another minute or so. Put into jars and allow to cool.
Sterilise jars first by washing in hot soapy water and placing in an over about 150deg or gas mark 5 for 10-15mins. Enjoy!!!

No special equipment needed for jam! Sterilise everything you will need (in dishwasher is easiest if you have one) buy jam sugar as it has pectin to help it set. 1kg of fruit to 1kg of sugar and just double up/ halve depending on amount if fruit.

1kg of each makes 9-10 standard jam jars.

Get it to boiling and simmer for 6 minutes then jar it up. You can use normal lids if you don't have film lids.
Screw when jam is hot and they reseal and buttons pop down.

Very easy!

The difference is seeds, basically. Seeds and texture. Gizmo was fun - basically a giant sieve. My mother used to suspend blackberries from the ceiling in a muslin cloth bag - that was way more fun.

blackberry and apple cake - I didn't make it but at work we have both apple tree and wild blackberries and a colleague make this and it was delicious !

Fab thread - we have 1Kg of blackberries in the freezer, and I wanted to do something other than crumble. I'm definitely going to try Ivytheterrible's recipe.

Blackberry ice cream and blackberry and apple crumble. There is an 'apple and blackberry with sponge cake on top' thing in the oven at the moment but I'm expecting it to go horribly wrong.

It's been blackberry and apple crumble X 3. Six take away cartons of pure simmered blackberries, which have then been frozen for use with the Bramley apples, which are not quite ready to pick.

The blackberry and apple cake is on the BBC Good Food page and made in a loaf tin. A firm favourite here. Cook double a loaf can vanish in one day!

A new one DD tried yesterday involved blackberries, yoghurt, lemon and other normal cake ingredients (except oil for butter IIRC). She's not here to ask atm but it came from a blog with the word with the word 'Brighton' in it.

It was moister than the blackberry and apple loaf, and fresher tasting (not as wintery).

None is left

I've just been looking at the Lakeland strainer gizmo too! But none in York when I went to the shop this morning.

How do you make blackberry wine?

Stewed with pears and custard - can't get it down my 9mo fast enough! I made a blackberry and apple crumble cake for MILs birthday which was luuuuurvely (bbc good food website iirc) and i want to try pasties, with a tsp elderflower cordial too.