Best Bramble Recipes

BRAMBLE

Steps:

• Shake the gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup in a cocktail shaker with a good handful of ice cubes then strain into a rocks glass full of crushed ice. Drizzle the crème de mure over the top so it 'bleeds' into the drink. Garnish with the lemon slice and blackberry, if using.3 TWISTSFresh fruit brambleThis drink is one to make when the hedgerows are groaning with ripe fruit. Start by muddling 6 blackberries in a rocks glass. Add 50ml gin, 25ml lemon juice, 25ml sugar syrup and fill the glass two thirds full with crushed ice. Mix with a long-handled spoon. Top with more crushed ice, a garnish and paper straws.Bramble royaleGo glam with your bramble by adding a splash of champagne to the mix. Just make the drink as normal but reduce the amount of crushed ice by about a third to leave room for the fizz. Then top with 25-50ml of champagne, mix gently, add a bit more crushed ice, garnish and serve.Peach sourThe classic 'sour' formula that the bramble sticks to is easy to adapt by switching out the liqueur. Try 12.5ml of crème de peche instead of crème de mure - it might not look quite as eye-catching as the bloodshot bramble but it will taste just as delicious.

BLUEBERRY ROSEMARY BRAMBLE

Steps:

• Add the gin, lime juice, Rosemary Simple Syrup and blueberries to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Cover and shake vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds.
• Fill an 8- to 12-ounce glass with ice and strain the cocktail over the ice. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and a few blueberries.
• Add the sugar, rosemary sprigs and 1 cup water to a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a low simmer, stirring regularly, until the sugar has completely dissolved and the rosemary is fragrant, about 3 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and cool completely. Once cooled, remove and discard the rosemary sprigs.

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE BRAMBLE

Steps:

• Add the Bombay Sapphire, lemon juice and caster sugar to a short glass / tumbler and stir.
• Fill the glass with crushed ice.
• Drizzle the berry liqueur over the top and watch it 'marble' through the drink. Top up with more crushed ice and garnish with 1 blackberry and a wedge of fresh lemon.

BAKED RASPBERRY & BRAMBLE TRIFLE WITH DRAMBUIE

Steps:

• The day before, preheat the oven to fan oven 140C/conventional 160C/gas 3. Tip the raspberries over the base of a large deep, ovenproof dish. Press down lightly with the back of a spoon to release some of the berry juices.
• Cover the raspberries with the slices of cake, then spoon over the Drambuie and orange juice. Leave to soak for 10 minutes.
• Whisk together 600ml of the double cream with the eggs, sugar, orange zest and vanilla extract or essence. Spread the jam over the sponge to cover completely then slowly pour on the custard mixture.
• Sit the dish in a roasting tin with enough hot water to come at least 5cm up the sides. Bake for 1 hour-1 hour 10 minutes, or longer depending on the height and width of the dish. The custard should be just set with a little wobble left in it. Leave to cool then cover with cling film and keep overnight in the fridge.
• To serve, whip the remaining cream until it just holds its shape, then spoon it over the custard. Scatter over the raspberries and toasted shortbread and finish with a dusting of icing sugar.

THE BRAMBLE

Steps:

• In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake together the first three ingredients and strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice (see below), mounded high. Drizzle crème de mûre over the top and garnish with a slice of lemon, two blackberries and a short straw.
• And, to make simple syrup, stir together equal measures of hot water and sugar, cool to room temperature and store in refrigerator until ready to use.

MEDALLIONS OF VENISON WITH BRAMBLE JELLY OR BLACKBERRIES

Steps:

• Fry enough bacon very gently to extract enough fat to fry the medallions. Remove the bacon. Put enough well-seasoned flour into a plastic bag and toss the venison in it; remove and lay on some greaseproof paper.
• Heat the bacon fat and fry the meat on a medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes, turning frequently. Put them in a warmed dish with a teaspoon of jelly on each medallion and keep warm while you make the sauce.
• If you are using blackberries instead of jelly, cook them lightly in a little red wine and sugar to taste. Spoon over the medallions as for the jelly.
• Depending on how much you are cooking, add enough of the stock to the pan. Boil briskly, stirring all the juices together. When it starts to look syrupy, mix in enough sour cream to make a rich sauce. Adjust the seasoning. Pour over the venison.
• Serve with tiny Brussels sprouts and egg noodles with chestnuts if handy. Apple sauce can also be added as a side dish.

BLACKBERRY BRAMBLE

Steps:

• Combine the sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and let cool to room temperature.
• In a rocks glass, muddle 4 of the blackberries, 1/2 mint sprig and 1 ounce of the cooled simple syrup. Add 2 ounces of the vodka and 3 ounces of the blackberry juice, and fill with crushed ice. Stir gently. Top off with 2 ounces of the club soda. Garnish with a blackberry and a mint sprig.

THE BRAMBLE

Steps:

• In a cocktail shaker, add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Fill with with ice cubes. Cover and shake briefly, about 10 seconds. Uncover and use a strainer to pour the cocktail into a rocks glass. Fill glass to the top with crushed ice. Drizzle blackberry liqueur over the ice, creating a "bramble" effect. Garnish with a lemon wheel and blackberries skewered with a cocktail toothpick. Serve immediately.

PIGEON PIES WITH BRAMBLE GRAVY

Steps:

• Bring a pan of water to the boil, cook the cabbage leaves for 1 min, then drain and place in cold water. Once cool, drain and pat dry with kitchen paper.
• Heat the oil and butter in a large frying pan. Sear the pigeon for about 30 secs on each side until browned, then transfer to a plate and set aside the pan as is. Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7.
• When the pigeon has rested, make 4 parcels by sandwiching 2 breasts together, wrapping them tightly in the cabbage leaves, then criss-crossing 2 slices of pancetta over the parcel to secure. Set aside.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry until it's the thickness of a £1 coin. Cut out 4 x 12cm circles and place on a greased baking tray. Sit a cabbage parcel in the middle of each circle. Roll the pastry trimmings out again and cut out 4 more circles about 16cm in diameter. Brush the edges of the pastry on the tray with the beaten egg, then drape over the larger circles and pat them round to make a large 'ravioli', trying to expel any air. With a fork, push the sides together. Brush the pies generously with egg, poke a small airhole in the top of each, then sprinkle with salt flakes, if you like. Bake the pies for 20 mins until the pastry is dark golden. Remove and leave to rest for 10 mins.
• Meanwhile, make your gravy. Put the pan with the pigeon cooking juices back on the heat and sizzle the shallot until golden. Stir in the flour and cook for a few mins until sandy. Add the blackberries and cassis (if using), Port and wine, then bubble down. Add the stock and simmer for a few mins until you have a gravy. Set aside and reheat when the pies are ready. To serve, carefully carve each pie in half so you see the cross section of breast, and serve with a little of the sauce poured around.

CHRISTMAS GOOSE WITH ROOT VEG, STICKY PEARS & BRAMBLE GRAVY

Steps:

• Remove all the fat from inside the bird and use a skewer to prick the goose skin all over, especially under the wings. If you have time to spare (although this isn't essential), sit the goose in a sink, then slowly and carefully pour over 3 kettles of boiling water. Dry with kitchen paper, then leave for 1 hr or so to dry completely. This will help the skin to crisp.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Season the goose cavity with salt and pepper and stuff with the oranges, bay leaves and the thyme. Rub the breast and legs with 2 tbsp oil and season generously with salt. Lay the carrots in the middle of a very large roasting tin. Sit the bird the right way up on top of the carrots. In a bowl, toss the parsnips and turnips with the rest of the oil and bay leaves, then scatter around the goose. Cover the tin with a large piece of foil, scrunching it up at the sides so it's a tight fit. Place the goose in the oven for 1½ hrs.
• Take the goose out of the oven. Remove the foil and carefully use a baster to suck out most of the fat from the tin into a bowl. Lightly baste the goose and turn the parsnips. Re-cover with foil and roast for another 1½ hrs. Suck the fat from the pan again and baste, then increase the heat to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Return to the oven without any foil to brown for a final 30-40 mins until golden brown. Remove the goose from the oven and transfer to a large board or platter to rest in a warm-ish place for 30 mins. Scoop the vegetables out into another roasting tin and keep warm in a low oven. Keep the goose tin to finish making the gravy in.
• To make the gravy, remove the oranges from the goose using tongs. Pour off all the fat from the roasting tin into a bowl (it's great used for roasting potatoes). Scatter the sugar into the tin and stir to scrape off any tasty brown bits. Splash in the vinegar, simmer down until practically dry, then stir in the jelly to dissolve, bubble and cook down. Finally, add the stock and squeeze in the juice from the oranges. Bring everything to the boil, then strain into a jug or small saucepan to reheat later.
• Peel and halve the pears. Use a teaspoon to scoop out the cores, then cut the pears into quarters. In a bowl, toss the pears in the icing sugar until completely coated. Heat a large frying pan over a high flame and add the pears to the pan. Cook for 1 min or so, tossing constantly, until the pears are really well caramelised and slightly burnt around the edges.
• Serve the goose on a platter surrounded by watercress and pear wedges. Serve the slow-roasted vegetables in a separate bowl and the gravy in a gravy boat.

BRAMBLE PANCAKE CAKE

Steps:

• Add flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda to a large bowl. Whisk to combine. Add milk, gin, melted butter, lemon juice, zest and egg to a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Add wet ingredients to dry and mix until just combined and slightly lumpy.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Spray with cooking spray or brush with melted butter. Add about 1/4 to 1/2 cup batter to the skillet for each pancake. Cook until golden brown on the bottom and bubbles begin to form on the surface, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook until golden brown on reverse side, about 2 more minutes. Transfer to a plate and continue with remaining batter.
• Add the heavy cream and maple syrup to a large chilled bowl. Mix until stiff peaks form using a hand mixer. Add mint and fold to combine.
• Spread the whipped cream on each pancake.
• Stack the pancakes with cream and a few blackberries followed by another pancake with cream and berries. Continue in this manner, finishing with cream and berries on top. Serve!

HEALTHY BERRY BRAMBLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 170 degrees Celcius and grease a 2lb loaf tin.
• Mix the splenda and applesauce together in a large bowl until combined. Beat in the egg, egg white and vanilla.
• Sift in flour and baking powder and mix well. Finally fold in the raspberries.
• Transfer the mixture to the loaf pan and bake for approx 35 mins or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.

THE BRAMBLE

Steps:

• Pour alcohol into a glass container, add all berries and mash. Allow mixture to sit for 24 hours - 3 days, then strain out the berry remnants and return brandy back to its original bottle. Be sure to store in a dark cupboard.