Around 55 different species of dogwood (Cornus) are known worldwide, most of which grow easily in our latitudes and produce numerous fruits in autumn. Only a few flowering or flowering dogwoods from warmer climates only produce fruit in very warm summers.

Cornelian cherries can be processed into delicious jam

Which Dogwood Berries Are Edible?

Depending on the species, the fruits of the dogwood look small, round and bluish-black (blood-red dogwood) to raspberry-red (Japanese flower dogwood). All species are equally popular with birds and other wild animals and are important food for them - this is also in the spirit of the dogwood, because in this way the shrub spreads its numerous seeds in the near and wider environment. However, none of them can be eaten raw by humans, because they are either slightly toxic uncooked or not particularly tasty. By cooking, however, the berries of some species can be processed into tasty and edible jams, jellies or liqueurs. You can also combine the fruits with other fruits. Edible - only when cooked! - are the berries of

  • Red Dogwood
  • Japanese Dogwood
  • and the cornel.

Some recipe ideas for hobby cooks who are keen to try

At this point we have put together some simple recipes that can be tried out for curious hobby cooks. Have fun cooking!

Cornelian cherry jam

This jam is particularly light:

  • Cover 1000 grams of washed cornelian cherries
  • scarcely with water and boil them thoroughly until tender.
  • Push the fruit through a sieve
  • and mix the fruit puree with 500 grams of preserving sugar (in a ratio of 1:1).
  • Boil this mixture until it gels after a few minutes.
  • Immediately pour into cleaned jars and seal.

Incidentally, this jam can also be prepared from the berries of the red dogwood.

Cornelian cherry and apple jelly

This jelly made from cornelian cherry and apple juice is also very tasty, especially on a breakfast roll on a Sunday morning:

  • Boil about 1000 grams of cornelian cherries in a little water until they are soft.
  • Pass the fruit through a sieve and collect the juice.
  • Boil 500 milliliters of cherry juice, 250 milliliters of apple juice
  • with 1000 grams of preserving sugar (ratio 1:1) and a vanilla bean
  • bubbling up until the mixture gels.
  • Remove the vanilla bean and pour the still hot jelly into screw-top jars.

tips

Add chopped apples, bananas or peaches to the jams or jellies.

Category:

Trees