When my brother and I were young, we would pick wild blackberries for my grandmothers and my mom in hopes of our favorite dessert, blackberry dumplings. Back then, I hated picking the berries, but I loved the results.
These dumplings stay firm and dense without puffing up in the berry mix.
These days, I don’t mind picking a few gallons of fresh blackberries. It helps that all three of our kids love blackberry recipes as much as I did back then. A bowl of these blackberry dumplings with a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream, preferably homemade, instantly transports me back in time.
This dumpling recipe stays firm and holds its shape. Almost like a fat, sweet noodle.
1 quart fresh blackberries
2 cups white sugar, or to taste
2 cups water
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup shortening
1 egg yolk
5 tablespoons milk
Place blackberries, sugar, water, butter, and cinnamon in a large saucepan. Cook and stir occasionally over medium heat until have started to break down and form a sauce, about 20 to 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, whisk together the flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Cut in the shortening with a knife or pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir the egg yolk into the crumbs. Add the milk a tablespoon at a time, tossing with a fork, until the flour mixture is moistened. Do not add more milk than you need: when you squeeze a handful of the moistened pastry mixture, it should form a ball.
Divide the dough in half and shape into small balls. Some people like flat dumplings so they to roll into a flat circle and cut into strips, then cut strips into squares.
Drop dumplings (balls or strips) into the berries. Simmer the dumplings, covered, over medium heat for 15 minutes. You may push the dumplings down into the juice but do not stir until they are fully cooked or they will clump together.
**I tried both the dumpling balls and the strips, and I prefer the strips best!! I rolled the dough out to about 1/4 inch thickness and just dropped them in. YUMMMMY!!
Great with ice cream!
