Thursday, July 9, 2020

Blackberry Roll Revisited



Each morning Grayden and I get up early and walk the Heritage Trail that winds around the river and the old Canal.  Getting a early start before it gets too warm insures that we will be able to get our exercise in for the day.  It's so lovely to see the progression of flowering wildflowers and the animals that inhabit this unique area.  As we walk we have observed many blackberry flowers and hoped to see the fruit ripen.  The past weeks have delighted me as the red fruit has turned a lovely black signaling the blackberries are ready to eat.  Every morning Grayden picks three or four of them and I enjoy a yummy remembrance of being a child and picking blackberries with my family growing up.  Here is a post from a few years ago.


Blackberry Roll




Do you love or dislike blackberries?  Grayden is not a fan of these sweet juicy berries because of the seed that seems to catch one by surprise.  Even with the seed, I love these little jewels from nature.  In late July and August and into September, blackberries grow wild alongside the rural roads of VA.  Many folks are now concerned that we shouldn't consume these berries for fear of toxins and other exhaust fumes that comes from the vehicles that travel the roads.  There are many berry farms where you can go and pick cultivated blackberries.




I was reminded of blackberry season when I visited Deb's blog Country Days and Cottage Ways where she was showing her blackberries.  Deb lives in Wales and has a delightful blog and I'm sure she would welcome your visit.

 Every summer that I can remember always included a trip to a road on the way to my Daddy's work that was full of blackberries.  Mama would have us put on old long sleeve shirts and long pants to go pick blackberries even though it was hot.  As most of you know, blackberries grow among brambles and brush that is usually home to ticks and mosquitoes and the dreaded poison ivy and poison oak.  I remember coming home with pails of juicy blackberries.  Of course we always ate a bunch while picking and our clothes were stained with purple juice.  We knew that when we returned home Mama would make a Blackberry Roll!  Mama said she remembered her Mama and her Mama's mother making this dessert.  My great grandmother and Nanny lived in rural Clifton Forge before moving to Richmond where her children could work in the tobacco factories.  My Nanny said there were blackberries everywhere and they made jams and jellies and of course Blackberry Roll.  During really rough times, blackberries that were put up were about the only food they had to eat.

Thinking about the humble blackberry and Deb's reference made me want to make a Blackberry Roll.  My Nanny and my Mama hardly ever used a recipe.  So I don't have their recipe exactly.  They cooked and baked by feel.  A blackberry roll is basically a rich biscuit rolled with juicy blackberries in the center.  Here is my Blackberry Roll made with grocery store blackberries.




Blackberry Roll

  1. about a quarter cup of sugar or more if blackberries are tart
  2. 2-3 cups of blackberries
  3. 2 cups all-purpose flour
  4. 1 teaspoon salt
  5. 3 teaspoons of baking powder
  6. 1/4 cup of cold butter  (I'm sure my Mama used shortening and my Nanny and great-grandmother used lard
  7. around 2/3 cup of whole milk or more if needed to make soft dough
  8. 2 or 3 tablespoons of melted butter
  9. 1 tablespoon of sugar
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.  
Mix together your blackberries and sugar in a bowl and set aside.
In another bowl mix together, flour, salt and baking powder.  Cut the butter into the flour mixture until soft pea sized butter is showing.  Add as much milk you need to form a soft dough. Don't over mix as your dough will become tough.

I like to use a muslin cloth and sleeve that goes over my rolling pin to roll out dough for biscuits or pie crust.  You can find these in any good baking department.  I've had these pieces over 30 years and I keep them in the fridge to make sure they are cold.  You can wash them in your washer when needed.




Roll your dough in an rough 12 by 15 or so rectangle.  Brush the melted butter on the rolled dough.  Then place your berry mixture on the rectangle.




Roll in jelly roll fashion, from the long side and seal the edges of the dough.  With seam side down, place your roll onto a baking dish.




Work quickly as the juice will want to escape.  Make slits on the top of the roll and sprinkle the whole roll with sugar.




I baked mine for 25 minutes until it was lightly browned on top.  You can top with whipped cream or ice cream, but my Mama never did.




It was a lot of fun remembering this very special dessert from my childhood.  Of course, I don't think my Blackberry Roll was as good as my Mama and my Nanny's was, but it sure was nice remembering these times from my past.  Have you ever been blackberry picking or made a Blackberry Roll?





36 comments:

  1. Hello my friend! I was just thinking about you and your blackberry roll as I have just written about blackberries again, for mine are just a couple of weeks away from being ready to start that great Autumn tradition once again. I must make a Blackberry Roll, and have so many other things to make, for I think this is going to be a bumper year. A small reward for all the rain of recent days. Would it be too much of a travesty to put some apples in, do you think? Blackberry and Apple are a favourite combination of mine.

    ~~~Waving~~~Deb in Wales xoxo

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    1. It's that time of year to enjoy all the fresh berries, isn't it, Deb? I personally have never seen so many blackberries along the trail. I must rename it Blackberry Trail, though it's not because of rain as we've had none! I think apples would be a lovely addition to this roll, my friend! Let me know how it turns out! xoxo

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  2. Must be able to also use raspberries with this recipe. I love both raspberries and blackberries, perhaps more than strawberries. It is charming to think of you being able to enjoy blackberries on your morning walk gathered by Grayden just for you.

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    1. Vee, I'm sure the addition of raspberries would be welcome at my table. I always warn Grayden to not get into the poison ivy that grows so rampant along the brambles. I do so appreciate the treats on our walk. This morning it was so humid even though we finished our walk by 8:15am.

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  3. I was just noticing that they are gone...most of them from along the trail I walked this morning. Oh, how I love them! I left them for the critters this year but I usually pick a few just to pop in my mouth. Have a good week!

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  4. I have never seen or heard of a blackberry roll so I found your post fascinating. My mom was an amazing pie baker so those are what I remember. And vanilla ice cream goes really well with blackberries. We have a ton of them around here and are actually constantly battling them as they are an invasive species. But yours look good! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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    1. Blackberry Roll is always what my family called this dessert, Teresa. I am in love with the humble blackberry.

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  5. How delicious this sounds! Yes, I’ve been blackberry picking, though usually no further than the outskirts of the property where we lived. Currently, we have thornless blackberries we are harvesting. There are a few scrubby wild ones toward the back of our acre, but it is best to leave them for the wildlife. I may bake a Blackberry Velvet Cake at some point this month. The seeds can be a bother, but the white chocolate in the cake makes up for that.😋😄 xoxo Nellie

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    1. Nellie, your Blackberry Velvet Cake sounds divine! Maybe you will share your recipe? xoxo

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  6. Martha, I love your blackberry stories! And this has me craving a big slice of that fine looking dessert. I'm sure your Mama and Nanny would think it just as good as theirs!

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    1. Thank you, Jean, what a kind thing to say. Both of these women were fabulous bakers. I wish I had a slice right now myself to share with you.

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  7. Wow, doesn't that just OOZE deliciousness! It looks fantastic. I could go for a bit of that with coffee right about now - 10 AM. Have a wonderful weekend, Martha Ellen!

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    1. Good description, Judy! It tastes like summer to me. It's nice to hear from you. I hope you have a nice weekend as well.

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  8. How very nice that you have that trail that you can walk on in the morning. We had wild blackberries galore in the are we used to live but not here. Our Mom and Pop so loved to visit when they were ripe to pick them and make syrup and other delicious things from them. Thanks for the inspiration to make your recipe. Looks delicious.

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    1. Ellen, the trail has been a lifesaver for us particularly during this time. Alas, I don't do a lot of baking these days as I am on a low carb diet. If you get a chance I'm sure you would enjoy this recipe!

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  9. I DO like blackberries and this looks quite delicious! It would be great fun and a real treat enjoying this one. (Maybe you can make one to freeze for the cold winter times, too!)

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    1. Jeanie, I have been on a low carb diet, so the only way I could enjoy this dessert now would be to eat a big bowl of blackberries. It is a great dessert that brings a lot of memories to me.

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  10. Seeing your blackberry roll brought back so many memories of years ago. My dear Mum used to make something very similar but we called it roly poly pudding. How we used to love going out to collect the blackberries and watching her make the dough.

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    1. Roly poly pudding sounds adorable, Loraine. I wonder if my Blackberry Roll name came from that! So many names for cobblers, crumbles, buckles and such.

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  11. Loved reading you post. My mom used to make these all of the time and we loved them. I like the way you made yours. The days of walking a long dusty dirt road and picking road side berries was so much fun for us kids, mom making pies and rolls. Wow, those were the days! Thank you for your recipe. Betsy

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    1. Those were the days, indeed, Betsy! Blackberries certainly bring back a lot of memories for most of us. Stay cool during these hot steamy days.

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  12. The blackberry roll looks amazing, Martha Ellen. I love blackberries too, and blackberry jam has been my favorite lately. How nice that you take walks each morning before it gets too warm. It's been really warm here too. I smiled when you said that your Mama hardly ever used a recipe, as that's the way I cook too. Do you ever pick and eat the blackberries that are growing wild when you're on your daily walks? Oh, I remember the times when we could pick blackberries and raspberries from the bushes growing up. Simpler times for sure. Loved your post today, Martha Ellen, and your sharing of good times with your Mama and Nana. : )

    ~Sheri

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    1. Sheri, our morning walks are one of the best parts of my day. I love nature and getting exercise as well makes it a win, win. I think some of the best cooks I know don't use a recipe when they bake. I think you and your girls are wonderful bakers. Since our walk is 3.5 miles I don't pick the berries to take home since they are about half way around. I don't want to carry them the rest of the way-lol. But I've sure thought about it!

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  13. How lovely you can walk on such a beautifully scenic trail. I love blackberries but I buy them from the store these days. From memory, much more fun to pick them :) I will have to look to see if there are any of those berry farms you mentioned. I enjoyed reading about your memories from blackberry picking. Oh my goodness, that blackberry roll sounds delicious! Thank you so much for the recipe :) Next time I get more blackberries, I know what I am going to make next time, yum! You’re right, nothing tastes as good as our mother and grandmother’s cooking. I have lots of great memories from blackberry picking along country lanes back in the day. Sweet memories! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday and a happy week to you Martha Ellen. Thank you for another delightful post.

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    1. Denise, thank you for sharing these memories with me! I seem to do a lot of reflecting these days. Let me know if you try the blackberry roll. It's a winner. I hope your Sunday is full of joy!

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  14. I didn't know there were people afraid of eating wild blackberries. I can't say as I've read any studies concerning whether or not they had toxins to affect us.

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    1. Samuel, if you think about roadside sprays and how toxic they are, you may not want to eat berries along major highways.

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  15. Hi ME!!! Mmmmmmmmm I love blackberries! I once was gifted some imported blackberry jam. Oh I just loved that on scones!

    Thank you for sharing your recipe!!! Lately I have been baking a lot of zucchini bread and blueberry pies.

    Hugs. Stay safe, stay well.

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    1. Hi Michele! Blackberry jam on a scone sounds divine to me! I hope you are well and are staying safe also.

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    1. Thank you, Sandi for visiting. It's a great summertime dessert.

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  17. Thanks for sharing this recipe!!! I have a couple blackberry bushes in my yard,..usually just enough blackberries to put over my oatmeal in the morning, but maybe..just maybe...I could save enough for a small 'roll'!!! Looks yummy!!!

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    1. You are welcome, Steph. I hope you have a enough to give the Blackberry Roll a try!

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  18. Yum! This looks so delicious.

    All the best Jan

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