Blackberries

[beela]

We've got a massive blackberry bush in our garden and it has produced a bumper crop this year, so I'm on the search for good blackberry recipes.

So far I have made:
Blackberry and apple crumble (of course)
Bramble jelly
Blackberry muffins

I've had blackberries and yoghurt / granola for breakfast every day this week, the freezer is full of blackberries, and I've given some away. But they are still coming!

How else can I use (or preserve) them?

[beela]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

This week I've made blackberry and apple cake, and blackberry leather. I've also eaten lots of frozen curry to make space in the freezer for the next lot. They keep coming!

I think I'm going to move onto the alcohol based recipes next. The creme de mure sounds interesting

[Redshoeblueshoe]

I did the frozen yogurt, it was lovely.
I want to do the creme de mure, sounds delicious

[redskyattwilight]

Redshoe I'm so pleased my suggestion didn't result in a waste of blackberries and your time. I must try it!

[Redshoeblueshoe]

Red it didn't even take long.

[quince2figs]

Blackberry purée frozen in cubes for morning porridge or yogurt.
Frozen or jarred blackberry and Bramley apple compote.

The creme de mures recipe is delicious - I made an enormous amount 3 or 4 years ago which is still going strong to drink or give away as gifts with a bottle of prosecco. Tastes even better after a few years. Even better if use half and half blackberries and blackcurrants - I think I followed the River Cottage recipe.

[Redshoeblueshoe]

Quince that does sound good.
I also need to get rid of some pears !

[JingsMahBucket]

@KellyHall would you be able to share the recipe for blackberry and almond cakes, please? That sounds right up my alley.

[quince2figs]

Pear butter? Or maybe pear brandy or vodka.

I love making these as v easy (mostly fruit, sugar topped up with booze). I invariably forget them but think supposed to be strained and bottled after 3 months. Longer does not hurt!

The liquor above is considerably more work but absolutely worth it.

[FrenchBoule]

@GnomeDePlume and @quince2figs thank you very much, you’ve just got me sorted for Christmas prezzies!

[beela]

@GnomeDePlume thank you! I've just made that creme de mure recipe, very delicious. I think I'm going to have to go blackberry again so I can make some more!

[Mintjulia]

My ds loves blackberries so I bottle them and he eats them through the winter with ice cream or French toast.

I’ve done 20 jars so far this year. It’s really easy.

[Stravapalava]

I cook mine into porridge. You can make a lovely autumnal one with pear, blackberry and ginger.

[beela]

How do you bottle blackberries @mintjulia?

That porridge sounds perfect for an autumn morning.

[Mintjulia]

Sterilise a few jars in the over. Make a medium sweet sugar syrup. Pack the jars with blackberries, pour the hot syrup over them to the top the jar. Put on the lids, loosely, put them back in the over for a few minutes, then remove them with oven gloves, stand them in a chopping board and tighten the lids, leave them to cool.
We eat them with shortbread or pancakes or put them in apple pies through the winter.

[Mintjulia]

When you put them in the oven, stand them on newspaper in an oven tray or the jars can crack.
I got it all out of the river cottage preserving book. I’ve been preserving honied hazelnuts today

[Grambler]

I've got the creme de mure cooling - although I think something went wrong as it smells like sour wine. Is that normal? I can't drink it as it's hot and I have to drive later.

[Grambler]

Oh I have drunk it It still smells rank but tastes nice enough- not as fruity as I would have expected though.

[DotBall]

As aside i heard you should soak blackberries in salt before using them? Is this true

Catquest if you have foraged wild blackberries they can have fruit fly worms in them. If you cover your berries with water and chuck a tablespoon or so of salt in and leave overnight, the critters will die. Rinse thoroughly (I do it in batches using a colander, so the critters get washed through the holes).

I make blackberry jam every year, Last year I had loads of worms, this year only 2. It varies.

[beela]

My creme de mure was lovely, didn't smell rank! But quite sweet. I might have to mix it with some prosecco...