SHIFTING ROOTS

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Must Try Saskatoon Berry Recipes

After a long day of Saskatoon berry picking, it’s time to fantasize about what you’ll make with all those delicious berries!  I’ve rounded up my favourite Saskatoon berry pie, muffins, cake and more for your baking pleasure.

Looking for saskatoon berry recipes? I've rounded up all my favourite pie, cake, muffin, cheesecake, and crisp recipes. They're all delicious summer dessert recipes and can be substituted with blueberries in a pinch. #saskatoonberry #saskatoonberryrecipes #summerdessertrecipes #summerdessert #easydessert
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Saskatoon Berry Pie

Nothing says summer like a classic Saskatoon berry pie.  You can have your blueberries, but I’ll take slightly tart Saskatoon berries instead any day of the week. This Saskatoon berry recipe is just like the one Grandma used to make and can be made with either fresh or frozen berries.

It just isn't summer without a slice of Saskatoon berry pie! This easy dessert recipe has a traditional crust, loads of saskatoon berries (or blueberries) filling, and just a hint of lemon. #saskatoonberries #pie #pierecipe #easydessert #summerdessert #berryrecipe #hardyfruits
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Saskatoon Berry Muffins

When you were growing up, did you have a favourite afterschool snack?  I don’t remember what I had when I was at home, but I do remember what my grandma usually made for me when I was at her house–Saskatoon Berry Muffins.

Saskatoon berry muffins make for a healthy after school snack. You'll love this easy dessert recipe with hints of lemon. Substitute blueberries if you can't find Saskatoon berries. #muffinrecipes #saskatoonberries #afterschoolsnacks #healthysnacks #blueberries
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28 Hardy Fruits You Can Grow in Zone 2 and 3

Are you dreaming of a backyard orchard or food forest but think that because you’re in zone 2 or zone 3 you’re restricted to crab apples? Absolutely not!  There are 28 hardy perennial fruits you can grow that are perfect for a cold climate and short growing season. I’ve done my best to suggest some better varieties when possible.

When you’re done reading about perennial fruits, you can also grow these 6 annual fruits from seed for even more fruit production.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read more about it in my privacy policy. Thanks for supporting Shifting Roots!

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Delicious Maple Spice Crab Apple Butter

Do you have a favourite smell?  One that brings back all your favourite memories?  Of crisp Autumn days or happy times in the kitchen?

If I could pick one smell, it would be crab apples.

Their pretty red-pink might also win for best colour too.  I digress.

Lessons in Crab Apples

I vividly remember picking crab apples growing up on the family farm.  I would pick all the apples as high as I could reach while my mom or grandma got the taller ones with the ladder.  My grandma’s voice still rings in my head, gently lecturing me to not waste a single apple.

Any apples that fell while picking could still be collected for juice.

At the time I thought it was silly.  There were so. many. apples.  Surely one or two going to waste wouldn’t be a big deal?

While I haven’t heard of anyone dying from lack of crab apples, the lesson still sticks in my mind.  Now that I’m older, I confess that I take a certain amount of pride in being able to make my own crab apple pies, juice, and sauces.

Related: How to Organize an Apple Pie Making Day

Have a crab apple tree full of apples and no idea what to do with it? You'll want to make this maple spiced crab apple butter! All the smells and tastes of autumn. Spread it on toast or fresh bread, use it as a pancake topping, or use it to flavour plain yogurt.

Use Early Autumn Apples to make Delicious Crab Apple Butter

Every year I like to try something new.  This year crab apple butter was calling my name.

Despite having the word butter in it’s title, there is actually no butter in apple butter.  Think of it as a thick jam, or a jazzed up version of apple sauce.

Did you know there's no butter in apple butter? It's still delicious.Click To Tweet

The ingredients are simple: crap apples, lemon juice, maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, and allspice.  Cook, blend, cook again, and serve.  Don’t worry, I’ll go into slightly more detail below and provide the recipe in an easy to read format at the end.

Related: How to Make Crab Apple Juice 

Have a crab apple tree full of apples and no idea what to do with it? You'll want to make this maple spiced crab apple butter! All the smells and tastes of autumn. Spread it on toast or fresh bread, use it as a pancake topping, or use it to flavour plain yogurt.

Use it up!

I can hear you already, “That sounds great, Kristen, but what will I actually DO with this marvellous crab apple butter?”

Eat it like you would apple sauce, serve it over pancakes, serve it IN pancakes, or add it to your plain yogurt.  You can even serve it on top of crackers and cheddar cheese.  Whatever you do, I know that you’ll be coming back for more.

Related: How to make a Simple and Impressive Charcuterie Board

Yield: 6 250ml jars

Slow Cooker Spiced Crab Apple Butter

Slow Cooker Spiced Crab Apple Butter

A delicious apple sauce to use up crab apples.

Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 4 hours
Additional Time 1 hour
Total Time 6 hours

Ingredients

  • 5 cups apple sauce,
  • 1 cup apple juice,
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup,
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice,
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon,
  • 1 tsp allspice.

Instructions

1.Clean and cut your crab apples, removing all stems, cores, and blossom ends.

2.Fill a large pot approximately 1/2 full of crab apples. Add four cups of water and boil. You may need to add more water as your apples cook so they don't burn.

3.When the apples are cooked through and mushy, remove from heat and put them in a blender. Blend on medium low for 30 seconds, or until smooth.

4.Measure out five cups of crab apple sauce and return to the pot. Add apple juice. I use the crab apple juice I make, but apple juice from the store is fine too. Add maple syrup, brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and allspice. Feel free to adjust the spices to suit your tastes.

5.Heat and cook until boiling. Set heat to medium low and simmer for approximately 15 minutes. Transfer to sterilized jars and process in boiling water for 10 minutes, or let cool and store in freezer-safe containers. If canning, it is recommended to follow the procedure and guidelines as outlined here.

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Welcome!

Hi, I’m Kristen and I help new gardeners learn to grow their own vegetables and beautify their yards. I also share recipes that use all that delicious garden produce. Grab a coffee (and your gardening gloves) and join me for gardening tips, simple recipes, and the occasional DIY, all from the lovely city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

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