Blackberry Dumplings

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Soft and tender dumplings cooked on the stovetop in a sweetened blackberry sauce. Top with fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

This recipe is brought to you in partnership with Bushel and Berry®.

WHAT IS BLACKBERRIES & DUMPLINGS?

Blackberries and dumplings is a traditionally Southern recipe featuring a sweet blackberry sauce cooked with tender, sweet dumplings. Typically this dessert is served warm with ice cream or some homemade whipped cream.

You can compare blackberry dumplings to a sort of blackberry crumble or crisp. It follows the same principles of combining sweet wild blackberries with a sugary flour mixture. Instead of having a crispy topping, though, this easy dessert is soft, chewy, and sweet.

This is an easy, one pan dessert, too! The dumplings are cooked and steamed right in the blackberry sauce for maximum flavor. The dash of cinnamon both in the sauce and in the dumpling dough adds a warming flavor that makes this blackberry dumplings dessert extra cozy.

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BLACKBERRY DUMPLING RECIPE INGREDIENTS

To make blackberry dumplings, you just need a few pantry staple ingredients. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, try making my homemade buttermilk substitute instead.

BLACKBERRY SAUCE INGREDIENTS

• blackberries
• granulated sugar
• water
• lemon juice
• cinnamon
• vanilla extract

DUMPLINGS INGREDIENTS

• flour
• baking powder
• ground cinnamon
• salt
• granulated sugar
• unsalted butter
• buttermilk
• vanilla extract

CAN I USE FROZEN BLACKBERRIES?

I always prefer to make all of my components from scratch, and thanks to Bushel and Berry®, I had fresh blackberries available to me because they were in season when I made this recipe.

I particularly like this blackberry plant, Baby Cakes®, because it stays small enough to grow in a patio container and doesn’t have any pesky thorns!

If you don’t have fresh blackberries available to you, though, it is totally fine to use frozen blackberries. When blackberries are in season, I recommend using fresh blackberries for the best flavor! This makes a great summer dessert.

HOW TO MAKE BLACKBERRY DUMPLINGS

We will start by making a homemade blackberry fruit sauce, then make the dough for the dumplings. Then, simply simmer the dumplings in the sauce until cooked through!

MAKE THE BLACKBERRY SAUCE

STEP #1

In a 9″ or 10 ” cast iron skillet, cooking skillet, or large pot, mix blackberries, sugar, water, lemon juice, cinnamon, and vanilla extract together with a large spoon or spatula until combined. 

STEP #2

Cook the mixture over medium heat, and allow fruit mixture to come to a simmer while you make the dumpling dough.

MAKE THE SWEET DUMPLING BATTER

STEP #3

In a medium size bowl, combine flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, salt and sugar.

STEP #4

Add the butter to the flour mixture, then, using a pastry blender, work the butter into the mixture until it becomes coarse, uneven crumbs. Aim for pea-sized chunks (some smaller or larger are fine, but overall the size should be pea-sized).

STEP #5

Pour the vanilla extract into the buttermilk, stir to mix well, and then pour the buttermilk/vanilla mixture evenly over the flour/butter mixture. Stir just until the dry ingredients are moistened and create a shaggy dough.

ASSEMBLE & COOK

STEP #6

Drop dough by tablespoonfuls into the simmering blackberry mixture, spreading them out evenly over the whole skillet. I like to use a small cookie scoop.

STEP #7

When you have scooped all the dough into the blackberries, cover pot (or skillet) with its lid of foil and reduce to low heat.

STEP #8

Allow the dumplings to simmer for about 12-14 minutes, until the dumpling balls are cooked all the way through.

RECIPE NOTES

Be sure to be on the lookout for liquid bubbling over! This isn’t going to be a problem for the recipe, but can burn you if you touch it. Resist the temptation to peek until the foil so the heat and moisture remain inside the “tent” to keep the dumplings cooking properly.

STEP #9

When the dumplings are cooked all the way through and blackberry mixture has thickened, remove from the heat and allow to cool a few minutes before serving.

HOW TO SERVE FRUIT DUMPLINGS

To serve, spoon the warm blackberry dumplings into bowls, then serve with ice cream, whipped cream, or as is. My favorite way to serve these dumplings is with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, since the cold, creamy flavor balances so nicely with the tangy sauce. Homemade whipped cream would also work well to add that same creamy texture and flavor.