What have you made with your wild blackberries?

[bymoonlight]

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've had a bumper crop of blackberries in our garden this year. Usually we just get a few and we eat them as is, but this year there are tons so I made my first ever apple and blackberry crumble. I used this recipe from the BBC website, it was pretty good! I'm not generally a massive fan of cooked fruit (hence never having made a crumble before) but it was pretty damn good.

I like the idea of the pear and blackberry combo mentioned above...will go and google some recipes for that I think. Still plenty more blackberries ripening away outside for this weekend...

Just made some amazing blackberry cordial. So easy and tastes better than ribena. Looking forward to having it as a burst of vitamin c in the colder months! Yummy

Good luck Avon.

I can't take any credit for the recipe- it's on the back of the pack for the jam sugar

Oh recipies for cordial and vodka please!

How do you make blackberry cordial, please blackpoppy?

I use the first blackberry wine recipe here: Blackberry Wine it's easy!

Thank you, FurryDogMother

Always make masses of Hedgerow Jelly so have frozen some for when elderberries/sloes/rose hips etc are ready but have tried blackberry sorbet so far this year - DELICIOUS :o

Made blackberry gin last year....it's lovely.

I want to pick sloes but I am worried I could be picking a poisonous berry by mistake.

Blackberry Cordial (River Cottage Hand Book)

Place berries in pan with water (100mls for every 1kg) Bring slowly to the boil while crushing occasionally with wooden spoon or potato masher. Usually takes up to 30-45 minutes.

Remove from heat and either place in to jelly bag (I only do this if I'm making a "special reserve" to keep for winter months or give as Christmas gifts but if its to drink over the following months I just sieve it) If using the jelly bag I leave it overnight to strain. Sieving is much faster.

Measure resulting juice and pour into clean pan. For every litre juice add 700grms sugar. Heat the mixture gently to dissolve the sugar, then remove from heat. Pour immediately into warm sterilised bottles, leaving a 1cm gap at the top of bottle. Seal lid.

It will keep for several months.

I often make small batches of this and use it as a summer drink with sparkling water, a winter drink with a splash of brandy or a family favourite, drizzled over vanilla ice cream - yummy!

Blackberry muffins (same method as blueberry muffins) worked well
Made blackberry ice cream yesterday so we'll see whether it works. Not brave enough for jam yet!

Thank you blackpoppy! I hope I get the chance to go out blackberrying and make some of that soon (and some blackberry jelly, which is made in a similar way).

Blackberry whisky?
Blackberry muffins?
Blackberry fritters?
Blackberry and banana smoothie?