Blackberry Brandy Recipes

BLACKBERRY BRANDY

Steps:

• Divide the blackberries between 3 sterilised 500ml 'Kilner' jars (or alternatively use other sterilised jars/containers that you can seal tightly, or place blackberries into one very large container).
• Pour in the sugar, dividing it equally between the jars; divide and pour in the brandy.
• Seal the jars tightly and shake them well.
• Store in a cool, dark cupboard and shake every other day for a week, then shake once a week for two months; the brandy be then be ready to drink, but will keep improving if you can manage to leave it for longer!
• When the brandy has steeped for at least two months, strain it off into a 1 litre bottle (you can reserve the fruit for a very boozy dessert; a few berries are great served with vanilla ice cream); it is now ready to serve.

HOMEMADE BLACKBERRY BRANDY LIQUEUR

Steps:

• In a gallon screw-top jar, mix all of the ingredients. Cover tightly. Invert the jar and let it stand for about 24 hours. Turn the jar upright and leave it for another 24 hours.
• Repeat this process until all of the sugar is dissolved. Store the jar in a in cool, dark place for at least 2 months. Strain the mixture through cheesecloth into a decanter.

THE ULTIMATE BLACKBERRY BRANDY RECIPE

Steps:

• Add fresh blackberries to a one gallon mason jar (we love this Smiths version with a spigot)
• Add the sugar to your mason jar. Take a wooden spoon and gently crush the blackberries to release their flavor. Don't go overboard.
• Add your brandy to the mason jar and stir it up.
• Wait. This is the hardest step to making blackberry brandy. You want to store your jar in a cool dry place whether it is your bar, cupboard or inside your fridge. You can perform weekly taste tests until you have the flavor just right.
• Once you have reached your desired flavor, strain the liquid brand from the solid blackberries and you are ready to sip, serve and gift your homemade spirit.

BLACKBERRY BRANDY CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare cake batter as indicated for the mix, except substitute blackberry brandy for all water and/or milk (alternately, if you want less of a "rum" cake style, substitute 50% blackberry brandy and 50% milk). Make sure your cake dish/mold is well greased and floured. Pour cake mix into your dish/mold (I like a standard Bundt ring, but it's immaterial). As you pour the mix, work in layers of chocolate chips/morsels as you go if using them. Note, the chips/morsels will sink as the cake cooks, so take this into account when setting up your layers (it's why we can't just mix them into the batter). Bake as per box directions, allow to cool, ice and serve. Tip #1: I freeze my cake before icing, it makes for a much sturdier surface. Tip #2: Just microwave the icing and pour. This creates a thin icing shell which is perfect for this cake. The icing here is to cut down on evaporation and slow the process for the cake getting stale, not to be a primary component of the finished product. Remember, if doing this you're going to have lots of extra icing drip, so pour the icing over something other than the final serving plate, then cut the cake free and place on the serving plate.