One of the sweetest parts of summer time is raiding the berry bushes of all their sweet goodies! When we first moved here, we knew for sure berry bushes were a must. Blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry bushes were added the first spring. As often happens, those blackberries multiplied yearly along with the native wild blackberries already here. So now 5 years later we find ourselves with the most fortunate dilemma of having TOO MANY blackberries!
Ball has several yummy recipes available for those who like to can and preserve blackberries into jams, jellies, and preserves. We also enjoy making blackberry syrup to enjoy all year with our pancakes and waffles. With those recipes so well covered already I’ll just share some of our favorite summertime fresh blackberry recipes here!
The following recipe is one adapted from an apple dumpling recipe after a 4th of July conversation with a friend. He told a story of his Grandma baking him blackberry dumplings from biscuits when he was a child. These are easy and fast to make, yummy quick treat that the kids just love!
BLACKBERRY DUMPLINGS
fresh blackberries
2 packages crescent rolls
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
12 oz. Mountain Dew
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 baker. Roll berries into crescent rolls (quantity as desired) starting at the narrow end. Pinch sides in to completely seal, this will form a round “dough ball.” Place in dish. Melt butter, add sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cook on stovetop until thickened into a syrup. Add vanilla. Pour over top of dumplings. Pour 12 oz. of Mountain Dew (or other citrus lime soda) AROUND dumplings. Bake immediately for 35-40 minutes.
Yields 16 dumplings (8 servings)
Dumplings are delicious, but don’t really take up a lot of berries. If you are over run with the like us and have just canned all you want to can, try making a blackberry cobbler! This will use up 8 cups of berries in a hurry! This is a heavy on the fruit cobbler, with a light cobbler top.
Easy Blackberry Cobbler
Blackberries
8 cups fresh blackberries
2 cups sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3/4 cup milk
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Batter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together blackberries and first four ingredients (listed under blackberries). Set aside.
Melt butter into 9×13 baking dish. Stir together remaining 1/2 cup sugar, flour, baking powder, and milk. Pour this mixture over melted butter. DO NOT STIR. Spoon blackberry mixture on top of batter.
Bake cobbler at 350 degrees for 55 minutes. Serve gooey and warm, or cool for thicker consistency. Excellent with vanilla ice cream!
Yields 6-8 servings
These have become our favorite “go to” blackberry recipes for the summer! Both are sure to be a crowd pleaser anywhere they go. Hope you enjoy, and happy picking!
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