Blackcurrants are available for a limited season only. This makes these dark purple fruit, with their fresh, sweet and tart flavour, even more appealing. They have a number of health benefits too. If you’re lucky enough to get hold of any, but are wondering what to do with them, these blackcurrant recipes are here to help you out.
Blackcurrants
July is the season for blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum) here in the Northern hemisphere. For me, blackcurrants are redolent of this, my birthday month. I’ve spent many weeks in July picking blackcurrants, either in our allotment, at friends, but mostly in my mother’s garden. She has the most phenomenal blackcurrant bushes that are now well over fifty years old and still producing prolifically.
Britain with its cool and wet climate grows them very well. I say cool and wet, it’s been extremely dry in my part of Britain this year and the garden and allotment are suffering for it.
Yes, we have an allotment again. We picked up the keys to our new one just a few days ago. It’s in a dreadful state and will require a lot of work to get it into any kind of order. But, it has some fruit bushes on it, including blackcurrants.
If you don’t grow your own or have family and friends that do, look out for them at farmer’s markets. There are also lots of pick your own sites around the UK. Look for dark plump currants with shiny, unbroken skins.
Blackcurrants freeze really well, so if you manage to get hold of more than you need, you can just pop them into the freezer. Place in a sealed bag or container and freeze for up to six months. Unlike many berries, they also store well in the fridge and should be good to go for five or six days after picking.
CT bought a load home from work the other day. As it’s so hot, we’ve mostly been enjoying them as this strawberry rose mint fizz. Only we’ve replaced the strawberries with blackcurrants. I’ve also frozen a load, made smoothies and a blackcurrant fool.
Health Benefits
Blackcurrants have long been known as a health food. They are indeed one of Britain’s top superfoods. They’re chock full of vitamin C after all. Indeed they have four times the amount that oranges have.
But in addition, that dark colour denotes an abundance of antioxidants, specifically anthocyanins. It has double the amount that blueberries have. Plus they contain a decent amount of gamma-linolenic acid.
They are said to boost the immune system, improve eye function and promote levels of healthy bacteria in the gut. Amongst many additional health claims, blackcurrants are meant to be beneficial for stiff muscles and joints and can ease flue symptoms. Personally, I think blackcurrants are fabulous. They taste good too.
All The Blackcurrant Recipes You Will Ever Need
All the blackcurrant recipes you will ever need, may be a bit of a tall claim, but bear with me. I shall be adding to this list as and when I come across suitable ideas. Many of the recipes here can easily be adapted to suit what you have to hand and your own needs.
Breakfast
Blackcurrant compote on top of porridge in the middle of winter is pure delight. You have zing and a beautiful vibrant colour to liven the porridge as well as a taste of summer. I usually try to freeze a few for this very purpose.
There are more ways to enjoy blackcurrants for breakfast however. They’re great in smoothies. Just replace the blueberries and apple with blackcurrants in this blueberry kefir smoothie. Or follow the recipe below.
Blackcurrant & Coconut Smoothie (vegan) from Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
Blackcurrant pancakes from All That I’m Eating
Raspberry, blackcurrant & coconut bircher muesli from Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
Wheatberry currant salad from Running to the Kitchen
Blackcurrant Recipes for Cakes & Cookies
Blackcurrants make a wonderful fresh, tart and flavoursome addition to bakes. Add them to, or even on top of, cakes, muffins, scones or cookies. They also make for delicious and colourful tarts and pies. The fruits are best used whole, but you can easily make a puree of them too by mashing them up and pushing through a sieve.
Almond blackcurrant bars from me at Tin and Thyme
Blackcurrant brownies from me at Tin and Thyme
Blackcurrant & mint fondant fancies from Phil’s Home Kitchen
Chocolate blackcurrant buckle from me at Tin and Thyme
Oaty blackcurrant flapjacks from Foodie Quine
White chocolate blackcurrant blondies from All That I’m Eating
White chocolate blackcurrant cookies from me at Tin and Thyme
Pudding & Desserts
When it comes to blackcurrant puddings, the first thing that springs to mind is summer pudding. It’s a classic British dessert that both my aunts and my mother used to make. I was never very keen as they made it too tart for my youthful tastes. But I reckon I’d appreciate it much more now. Janice’s late summer pudding recipe below sounds superb with its addition of Framboise.
Blackcurrant fool with fresh mint & rose from me at Tin and Thyme
Blackcurrant meringue pie from Gluten Free Alchemist
Chocolate pancakes with blackcurrant & rose compote from me at Tin and Thyme
Deep-filled blackcurrant pies from Little Sugar Snaps
Summer pudding from Farmersgirl Kitchen
Vanilla cream blackcurrant tart from Only Crumbs Remain
Frozen Desserts
Blackcurrant season is full on summer when frozen desserts come into their own. Blackcurrants make a deliciously refreshing ice-cream or sorbet to help us cope with the hot, hot weather.
Blackcurrant ripple ice cream from me at Tin and Thyme
Blackcurrant sorbet from Only Crumbs Remain
Chocolate sundae royale from me at Tin and Thyme
Frozen blackcurrant yoghurt from Searching for Spice
Summer pudding ice lollies from Farmersgirl Kitchen
Preserving Blackcurrants
I do love to preserve gluts of food so they can be used when the season is but a memory. Jam is the classic way to preserve them. There’s more than one way to make it as you will see below. I also have a fabulous recipe for chilli blackcurrant jam which used to languish in the middle of my blackcurrant brownies post. It now has its very own place in the spotlight. The chilli gives the jam a bit of a lift, but doesn’t blow your head off.
But don’t be tied down to just jam. Have you tried making your own cordial or fruit liqueurs? How about blackcurrant curd or even vinegar?
Blackcurrant cordial from Recipes Made Easy
Easy homemade cassis from me at Tin and Thyme
Blackcurrant gin from Practical Self Reliance
How to make blackcurrant mead from Practical Self Reliance
Bread kvass with blackcurrants from Peter’s Food Adventures
Blackcurrant vinegar from me at Tin and Thyme
Easy Blackcurrant Curd from Baking Queen 74
Easy blackcurrant jam from me at Tin and Thyme
Raspberry & blackcurrant jam from Fab Food 4 All
Your Favourite Blackcurrant Recipes
I hope you’ve found something to inspire you with all these beautiful blackcurrant recipes. Let me know if you try any of them. I’m also keen to know what I’ve missed? What are your favourites? Do tell by commenting below.
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Choclette x
Nico @ yumsome says
I feel like the proverbial dog with four lamp posts (even though I’m not sure there actually is a proverb about a dog with so many choices!). Just look at all that blackcurranty goodness… oh my! Your buckle looks exceptionally delicious – I must make it soon. Yum! xx
Choclette says
Thanks Nico. Blackcurrants are so underrated. I don’t know why they aren’t easier to get hold of as they last so much longer than most other British berries.
Jill's Mad About Macarons says
What a tour-de-force of blackcurrant heaven, Choclette! Thanks for this listing of recipes – they all look great. I miss them here, as we don’t find them much at the French market. Isn’t that weird? I should try and grow them since you’ve got me all inspired to make many of these recipes.
Choclette says
I guess it’s a bit too hot in France. Blackcurrants like a cool climate. I imagine they grow very well in Scotland. I shall be adding a couple more recipes to the list tomorrow.
All That I'm Eating says
Such a great collection of recipes, absolutely everything is covered! The PYO down the road should have their fresh blackcurrants available soon, a perfect excuse to give some of these recipes a try. Thanks for including mine!
Choclette says
Oh, good to hear you’ve got a PYO close by. Good luck with those blackcurrants.
Philip Friend says
Amazing ideas for blackcurrants and a fabulously arranged collection. I can’t wait to dive into more
Choclette says
Thanks for your contribution Philip. Your fondant fancies are real beauties.
Corina Blum says
We are hoping to pick more blackcurrants at the weekend as we’re going fruit picking at the farm where we picked the blackcurrants for the frozen yogurt. I think that is the only recipe I’ve ever made with blackcurrants so at least I’ve got lots of new ideas now!
Choclette says
Yay for blackcurrants. May your picking be bountiful and the recipes you make, delicious.
Lucy says
Fabulous roundup thanks for including my curd! I know the black currants are ripening at the local pick your own farm, I will be there very soon and now have lots of recipes to try out.
Choclette says
I aim to add to the recipes over time, so it will be an ever growing resource.
Janice says
What a fantastic resource. Our blackcurrant bushes didn’t survive the new electric pole that was put in our garden, but I plan to plant more in my raised beds for next year.
Choclette says
Oh no! What a shame Janice. I too hope to be planting some this autumn. Drinking a blackcurrant smoothie as I type.
Camilla Hawkins says
Loving all these blackcurrant recipes, thanks for linking to my jam:-)
Choclette says
Your jam sounds delicious Camilla. Sort of summer pudding jam.
Jane Saunders says
We have a blackcurrant bush doing very well this year, so I will be referring back to this list in a few weeks when they are ready to pick.
Choclette says
Ooh good luck. Hope you get to them before the birds do.
Ashley Hetrick says
We have a serious bumper crop this year, thank so much for all these great ideas!
Choclette says
Fantastic. I would say I’m jealous, except the other day CT came home with more blackcurrants than I quite know what to do with. Looking forward to your blackberry wine.