Our cabin sits at a lower elevation in the Blue Mountains of Eastern Washington. And right now it’s blackberry season. So when we go to the cabin I like to pick a bowlful to use in my meals.
Our particular type of blackberry is not the plump variety that you get in stores. It’s a seedier variety that is okay if eaten fresh. But just try to bake with it you end up with a mouthful of wood. Not very enjoyable eating. But I love blackberries and I also enjoy being able to pick them outside my door. So over the years I have come up with some good ways to use them in my autumn meals.
Ideas for using blackberries…
- Eat the berries fresh in salads, fruit bowls and desserts.
- Incorporate small amounts into baked goods. For example I would never make a blackberry pie with these berries, but I could add some into a mixed berry pie or cobbler.
- Freeze the berries and then use them to make a fruit smoothie.
- Make Blackberry syrup for pancakes, waffles and desserts.
- Mix a few tablespoons of syrup with club soda for a refreshing spritzer
- Use the syrup in a Vinaigrette for a refreshing salad dressing
- Mix up a signature cocktail using your syrup
- Make blackberry ice cream
Tips for gathering blackberries…
- Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Most wild blackberries are loaded with thorns. So you want to protect your arms and legs. Believe me when I say that short sleeved tops are not a good idea for picking wild berries.
- Wear gloves. Not big bulky he-man gloves but if you have some form fitting garden gloves this will help to protect your hands as well.
- Gather berries in smaller buckets rather than one large container. This helps to prevent them from getting crushed.
- Remember that in the wild you will be sharing the berries with critters. Bears enjoy blackberries as much as you do and they are trying to fatten themselves up for the winter. So be very aware of your surroundings and always keep an eye out for them. If you notice any signs such as fresh bear scat or broken branches you might want to find another berry patch.
A nice fruity syrup to use on pancakes, waffles, pound cake and ice cream. The recipe makes about 1 1/2 cups of delicious syrup.
- 4 cups blackberries, fresh or frozen
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup water
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Place all ingredients into a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 10-15 minutes. Stir periodically.
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Mash the berries with a potato masher or a fork. Continue to simmer for another 5-10 minutes.
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Pour through a strainer into a bowl. Press on the fruit to extract as much juice as possible. Allow the syrup to cool. It will thicken a bit as it cools.
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Refrigerate and use within 1-2 weeks. This syrup can also be frozen.
This syrup can be made with fresh or frozen berries. So if you don’t have time to make it after a day of berry picking, you can wash and freeze the berries. Then make the syrup from the frozen berries when you have a little more time. A jar of this syrup with a package of pancake mix would make a great gift idea for your friends and family over the autumn or holiday season.
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If you don’t have access to a berry patch in the woods, you can certainly make this syrup from berries purchased at the farmer’s market or the grocery store.
So grab your bucket and get to picking. Your family is waiting for Blackberry Syrup.
Yumm, i’M going to try this using granulated monk fruit, then freeze it. All the berrys are long gone here in Cali, but they have organic at the store.MIssing the cobblers DAd use to make!
Hi Cheryl. Yes, I sure miss those homemade cobblers too!