Share
Berries from the hawthorn plant, which are generally overlooked, are tasty and full of health benefits. In traditional medicine, these little red fruits are used to help in digestion and for heart-related conditions. They have a somewhat acidic flavour. Hawthorn berries can be used in almost any meal preparation, depending on their flavour, from tangy ketchup to sweet pastries and cupcakes. They can also be juiced for refreshing drinks, canned into jelly, produced into traditional Chinese hawthorn berry fruit leather, or even blended into cordials for a distinctive take on conventional cocktails. More importantly, in each recipe, the special taste and feel of hawthorn berries are mentioned along with a healthy substitute component.
Hawthorn Berry Cupcakes
The sweetness of the cake and the acidity of the berries combine to create the ideal flavour combination. Start with a basic vanilla cupcake recipe and stir in finely chopped hawthorn berries, either fresh or dried, to make these cupcakes. Make a hawthorn berry compote by boiling the berries with sugar and a little lemon juice until they are thickened, for an added taste explosion. After the cupcakes have cooled and been baked, core the middle and stuff it with compote, then decorate with cream cheese frosting. Your guests will be impressed by the rich, flavourful cupcake that has a surprise centre.
Image Credit: Freepik
Hawthorn Ketchup
Put a different spin on a traditional condiment by preparing hawthorn berry ketchup. This deliciously tasty sauce is especially preferred by those who love to taste unique flavour. To prepare, cook hawthorn berries in a mixture of vinegar, sugar, onions, and spices (such as cloves and cinnamon) until the berries are tender and the sauce thickens. Blend till smooth, then strain to get rid of any tough parts or seeds. The final ketchup is sweet and tangy with a mild spicy finish; the different taste sensations combine brilliantly well. It is such a way of decorating burgers and fries to look sumptuous and is perfect for marinated pig or game. For everybody in love with tasty food, this homemade ketchup will be a perfect gift as well.
Hawthorn Berry Cake
A nice approach to highlighting these unique fruits in a traditional dessert configuration is with a hawthorn berry cake. Start with a cake mixture made with flour, butter and vanilla, then mix in a good handful of hawthorn berries. As the cake bakes, the berries will soften and shed their juices, distributing tart flavour throughout the cake. Try incorporating a small amount of almond essence into the batter to intensify the flavour of the berries. After baking, allow the cake to cool fully before dusting it with powdered sugar or covering it with a simple glaze consisting of powdered sugar and juice from hawthorn berries. This simple cake is ideal as an after-dinner dessert or for afternoon tea.
Hawthorn Jelly
This delicious jelly captures the flavour of hawthorn berries in a spreadable form. Hawthorn berries should be cooked in water until they are tender, and the liquid should then be strained through cheesecloth. Combine this juice with the sugar and pectin, according to the directions on the package for creating jelly. The main result is a rather beautiful ruby-red jelly-like substance that has the unique tangy taste. Spread it on bread, brush it over meat, or serve it on a charcuterie platter alongside robust cheeses. Hawthorn berries can be preserved as jelly and enjoyed all year long. And because of the colours, which are intense and the taste, which is highly distinctive, it provides for a rare collection of handmade preserves.
Image Credit: Freepik
Chinese Hawthorn Berry Fruit Leather
Chinese cuisine is known for its hawthorn fruit leather, a chewy, acidic snack that is surprisingly simple to prepare at home. Hawthorn berries and sugar should be cooked until a thick paste forms. This mixture should be spread thinly onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper, then dried in a food dehydrator or low oven temperature until it takes on the texture of leather. Cut the leather into shapes or strips once it has dried for convenient nibbling. This scrumptious natural candy is good for your health! It is best used in a picnic, a child's lunchbox, or just as enhancing a platter of sweets.
Hawthorn Juice
Try making hawthorn berry juice for a revitalising and nutritious beverage. It tastes a tonne of flavour and may be good for you, this beautiful coloured beverage is quite tangy. To prepare it, cook hawthorn berries, either fresh or dried, in water until they become soft. Then, blend and drain the mixture. Squeeze in some lemon for brightness and sweeten to taste with honey or your favourite sweetener. You can sip the juice heated as a warming winter beverage or serve it cooled over ice for a cool summer treat. This juice can also be used to prepare other recipes at home that include homemade popsicles, juice, and smootheners. It's a very adaptable beverage that tastes good both on its own and when added to other recipes.
Hawthorn Cordial
Hawthorn cordial brings out the distinct flavour of hawthorn berries and is a delightfully hungover treat. To make it, infuse sugar, cinnamon, and star anise with hawthorn berries in vodka or brandy. Allow the combination to steep for a few weeks, giving it the occasional shake, until the berries have imparted a deep colour and flavour to the alcohol. For a homemade liqueur that's great for sipping on its own or mixing into cocktails, strain the liquor and bottle it. This cordial will thus serve well as an after-dinner drink and can also be used to enhance the flavour in sweets or to enhance the taste in a cup of hot tea, especially in cold weather. There is something elegant about enjoying hawthorn berries this way and it looks very professional and can be used to make homemade gifts.
Image Credit: Freepik
In your kitchen, Hawthorn berries present you with great opportunities for enhanced flavours and improved overall health. Not only will you find out that hawthorn berries are a rather tasty ingredient but you will also be challenging yourself with these seven new recipes.
