There is something so magical about late summer when the hedgerows burst open with deep, juicy blackberries. Walking down a sunlit lane with little hands reaching up to find the plumpest berries is one of the absolute joys of the season. It is always wise to check our finds before tasting, remembering to only nibble what we know is safe, but the fun does not stop at the kitchen table. Every season brings new adventures, and blackberry season offers the most wonderful sensory play and learning opportunities
What can I do with Blackberries?
Here are five favourite ways to enjoy blackberries together:
Blackberry Ink and Quill Writing:
Gather around twenty ripe blackberries and mush them up in a little pot. Find a fallen feather on your walk and carefully cut the stem at a forty-five-degree angle to make a natural quill. Dip your quill into the sweet-smelling purple ink and let little ones practice mark-making and drawing on paper.
Counting with Blackberries:
Turn a simple berry hunt into a playful math adventure. Encourage your child to count their harvested berries as they drop them into the basket, trying out counting in ones, twos, tens, or even fifties to see how high you can reach.
Blackberry Play Dough:
Make a batch of gorgeous purple play dough by mixing one hundred fifty grams of crushed blackberries, two tablespoons of oil, one-third cup of water, one cup of plain flour, and half a cup of salt. Knead until smooth, grab a rolling pin and some cookie cutters, and let imaginations run wild. Store it overnight in a zip-loc bag inside a sealed plastic container.
Blackberry and Banana Smoothies:
Blend two cups of blackberries, one teaspoon of honey, one cup of apple juice, one ripe banana, and a chopped orange together for a refreshing, nutrient-packed treat. Pour into cups and enjoy together after a busy morning outdoors.
Seasonal Apple and Blackberry Crumble
This recipe is lovely because the children can get stuck in with the mixing, and the result is a warm, comforting hug in a bowl.
For the filling:
- 3-4 cooking apples (like Bramleys), peeled, cored, and roughly chopped
- 2 big handfuls of fresh, foraged blackberries (about 200g)
- 50g golden caster sugar (or add a little more or less, depending on how sweet your apples are)
- A squeeze of lemon juice
For the crumble topping:
- 150g plain flour
- 100g cold butter, cubed
- 90g golden caster sugar
- Optional: A handful of rolled oats for extra crunch!
How to make it:
- Preheat & Prepare: Preheat your oven to 190°C (170°C fan/gas mark 5). Get your chopped apples, blackberries, sugar, and a tiny squeeze of lemon juice into a bowl. Give it a gentle stir, then tip it into a baking dish.
- Make the Topping: In a larger bowl, add your flour and cubed butter. Now for the messy fun! Using just your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour until it looks like lovely, damp breadcrumbs. Try to do this quickly so the butter doesn’t get too warm.
- Sweeten & Sprinkle: Stir in your sugar (and oats, if you’re using them). Sprinkle this crumbly mixture evenly over your fruit. No need to press it down too hard – we want a lovely, light topping.
- Bake: Pop it in the oven for about 35-40 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the topping is golden brown and you can see the gorgeous purple juices bubbling up around the edges.
- Enjoy! Let it cool for a few minutes, then serve warm. We think it is perfect with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream, a generous pour of custard, or a dollop of thick cream.
Muddy hands, happy hearts, and sticky fingers – that’s what childhood is all about. We hope you enjoy making and eating this lovely crumble as much as we do.
Ready to get outside and make some muddy memories? Book your Little Muddy Boots class today and join the adventure! Click here to find your nearest class.
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Disclaimer
Before making any of the above ensure children are supervised at all times during these activities. Be aware of allergens in recipes.
