Blackberry Grape Sundaes Recipes

CRUSHED-BLACKBERRY SUNDAES WITH CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare the blackberries: Combine the blackberries, sugar and cassis in a bowl. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, then crush with a fork.
• Meanwhile, make the caramel sauce: Combine the cream and vanilla pod and seeds in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Remove from the heat.
• Whisk the sugar and 1/2 cup water in a medium nonreactive saucepan over high heat. Cook until dark golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the heat and slowly add the vanilla-infused cream (it will splatter), stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Return to the heat and cook until smooth. Remove from the heat, discard the vanilla pod and stir in the butter and salt.
• For each sundae, place a scoop of ice cream in a parfait glass and top with caramel sauce, blackberries and pecans. Repeat 2 more times and top with whipped cream.

GRAPE AND BLACKBERRY CRISP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch square baking pan generously with baking spray.
• Make the topping by mixing the flour, brown sugar, oats, butter, vanilla, and salt until crumbly, pea-size pieces form. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the grapes, blackberries, sugar, and cornstarch. Pour into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the fruit. Bake in the middle of the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling in the center. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.

GUINNESS SUNDAES

Steps:

• Bring one 15-ounce can Guinness or other stout beer and 1/2 cup sugar to a simmer in a saucepan over low heat and cook until syrupy, about 40 minutes. Whisk in 3 tablespoons diced cold butter. Drizzle the Guinness caramel over vanilla or butter pecan ice cream and serve with shortbread cookies.

BLACKBERRY AND SWEET CORN PILSNER CAKE

Steps:

• For the frosting: Whisk the sugar and flour together in a small saucepan. Mash 2 containers (about 2 1/2 cups) blackberries with the lemon juice in a small bowl with a fork. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into the saucepan and whisk with the sugar-flour mixture until evenly combined. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly, until the jam is thickened to the consistency of thick pudding, about 3 minutes. Scrape the frosting base into a bowl and place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the mixture. Refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
• For the cake: Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 9-inch round cake pans, then line the bottoms with parchment paper and butter and flour the paper. Set aside.
• Pour the corn and beer into a blender and puree until smooth, at least 1 minute. Reserve the puree in the blender.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl until evenly combined. Combine the butter, sugar and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, until smooth. Alternately, add the flour mixture and the beer-corn puree, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, until the batter is smooth. Divide the batter between the prepared pans, smoothing the tops with an offset spatula, then bake until a cake tester inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes.
• Let the cakes cool in the pans for 20 minutes, then invert them onto a cooling rack and remove the parchment paper. Let the cakes cool completely, then split each in half horizontally so you have 4 even thin cake layers.
• Beat the butter, vanilla and salt for the frosting with an electric mixer on medium speed until lightened and creamy, about 1 minute. Stir the frosting base with a rubber spatula, then add a third of it to the bowl and beat on medium-high speed until incorporated. Add the remaining base and beat until fluffy, lightened and whipped, about 3 minutes more.
• Center a cake layer on a cake plate and spread about 1/2 cup frosting over the cake with an offset spatula or butter knife. Repeat with 2 more cake layers and frosting, then top with the last cake layer. Scrape the remaining frosting onto the cake and spread it evenly over the top and sides. Halve the remaining blackberries and decorate the top of the cake with them. Refrigerate the cake until the frosting has firmed, at least 30 minutes or up to overnight, before serving.

NECTARINE, BLACKBERRY, AND PECAN SUNDAES

Steps:

• Puree blackberries in processor. Transfer puree to sieve set over bowl and strain, pressing with rubber spatula to extract as much pulp and juice as possible. Sweeten sauce to taste.
• Do ahead: Blackberry sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• Place nectarines in medium bowl. Sweeten to taste, tossing with sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Let stand 15 minutes. Spoon some sauce into bottom of 6 sundae dishes. Top with 2 tablespoons nectarines, some pecans, 2 scoops ice cream, more blackberry sauce, and more nectarines. Sprinkle with remaining pecans.

WARM BLACKBERRY PIE SUNDAES

Steps:

• Combine 4 cups blackberries, orange juice, sugar, orange peel, and cinnamon in medium saucepan. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer until berries are soft and begin to release juices, about 8 minutes. Transfer 2 cups berry mixture to processor; puree until almost smooth. Return mixture to same saucepan. Stir in remaining blackberries. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Rewarm berry mixture over medium heat until just warm before continuing.)
• Divide cookie crumbs among 8 bowls or wineglasses. Add 1 scoop ice cream to each. Spoon warm blackberry sauce over each and serve.