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Enhance your mulberry harvest experience with these suggestions that will boost your cooking skills and bring joy to your taste buds. From desserts to invigorating drinks and innovative ways to store them, we’ve put together a selection of ideas for getting the most out of these tasty fruits. Whether you’re a cook or new to the world of cooking, come along with us on an adventure of flavor and creativity as we discover the ways to enjoy the abundance of mulberries, from picking them to serving them at the table.
Eat them fresh
There’s nothing quite like plucking a few ripe mulberries from the tree and stuffing them in your mouth. They’re sweet with a hint of tartness that lingers; their texture is juicy; and their color is enticing. Most of all, eating them fresh allows you to experience mulberries the way nature intended: fresh and natural. Your body will thank you for not adding the sugar or preservatives found in the jams and juice, as well as for not cooking away the nutritional benefits (such as vitamins C and K, fiber, and antioxidants).
Turn them into jam or preserve
Turning mulberries into jam or preserve is an excellent way to preserve their flavor for the rest of the year. The process involves cooking the mulberries with sugar and sometimes pectin until thick enough to be spread. Mulberry jam can be used as a spread for toast, mixed into yogurt or oatmeal, or used as a filling for pastries and cakes. Feel free to experiment with different flavor variations by adding complementary ingredients to the jam, such as lemon juice, vanilla bean, or even a splash of balsamic vinegar for depth.
Bake them into desserts
Mulberries work like a charm in any sort of dessert you can dream up, both for the flavor and for the visual appeal. Bake them into pies, cobblers, and crisps, and you can taste summer in every bite. Mulberry muffins or cakes, basic or elaborate, will delight with a tender crumb and pops of fruitiness. A simple mulberry tart, or clafoutis, showcases the fruit with a gentle touch, letting its own beauty shine, be it atop a crust or a custard.
Make sauces or syrups
When cooked down into a sauce or syrup, the sweetness of mulberries will be concentrated and amplified in flavor. Use the sauce or syrup to top pancakes, French toast, or waffles for breakfast, or as a topping for cheesecake or ice cream for dessert. The syrup can be mixed with seltzer water to make a homemade soda, or it can be added to cocktails for a fruity twist on classic cocktails.
Smoothies
Mix into smoothies for a nutritious meal or snack that offers an extra punch of flavor, vitamins, and minerals. Simply combine mulberries with other fruits, such as bananas, berries, and pineapple, along with liquid (milk, yogurt, juice, or water) to make a refreshing, energizing drink. You can even add in some leafy greens like spinach or kale for a nutrient-packed smoothie without sacrificing the flavor.
In cocktails
Infusing cocktails with mulberries elevates your bar game. Fresh or dried, muddled mulberries add a fashionable air of sophistication to your drinks. Mix up a pitcher of homemade lemonade, iced tea, or cocktails to enjoy throughout the day and into the evening. Muddle fresh mulberries with sugar or honey until the berries release their juice. Mix with your favorite lemon or lime juice and base liquid, and add a sprig of fresh herbs such as mint or basil for a finishing touch.
Make mulberry wine
Making wine from mulberries is a great way to express your inner winemaker. It takes some knowledge, time, and attention, but the result is a wonderfully complex drink with all the flavor of the fruit. Take freshly crushed mulberries and ferment with sugar and yeast. Let the wine age and develop its flavors, and with a little care and experimentation, you can produce a mulberry wine that’s competitive with the best bottled wines.
Dry them
Mulberries dry well and are a great way to preserve the flavor and keep them on hand for a longer period of time. Dried mulberries are a great snack because they’re portable and easy to toss in a lunchbox or bag for a munch on the go. They keep for months in a sealed jar or bag and can be tossed into a homemade trail mix, granola, cookies, or bread. To dry mulberries, wash and hull them, then lay them out on a baking sheet or dehydrator tray in a single layer. Dry at temperatures between 95F and 110F until shriveled and lightly chewy, but still plump and juicy on the inside.
With these suggestions, you’ll be able to make the most of your harvest and benefit from the flavors of these sweet summer treats for a long time to come. If you’re lucky enough to have access to mulberries, be they wild or cultivated, then you’re privileged to partake in one of the most delicious fruits known to humankind.
