Cloudberry or Bakeapple Berry Recipes
A Summer Fruit that is a Delicacy in Gluten-free Desserts
Aug 11, 2008
Cloudberries are a slow growing alpine or sub-arctic species of rubus, found in several northern areas of the world. They are a member of the rose family and are closely related to raspberries. They grow in boggy, marshy areas, making it a very labor intensive job to harvest them.
The plant, also going by the name bakeapple, grows 10-25 cm high (2-8 inches). The leaves are hand-shaped with five lobes per leaf. The flower is white, measuring about 2-3 cm across (about 1 inch).
The fruit resembles raspberries in shape and size, but are red at first, then turning salmon and finally a golden, amber color when ripe. The berry has several small nut fruits (sections), and each nut fruit contains a seed. Depending on location, they generally ripen in August, and will continue to ripen after being picked.
Cloudberries are rich in vitamin C (even when frozen) and contain high levels of benzoic acid, which acts as a natural preservative. In days gone by, several cultures used them for their medicinal properties.
The demand for these tasty berries exceeds supply, making them a delicacy. They are used to make expensive treats such as jams, tarts, sauces or syrups, liqueurs and a beautiful golden wine.
Cloudberry Sauce
This is a beautiful golden-colored sauce that is delicious over ice-cream, yogurt, soy ice-cream or cake.
The ingredients include 2 cups of berries, 2 or 3 tbsp sugar, and 1 tbsp of orange juice. These need to be blended until they are smooth. If desired, the seeds can be strained out of the sauce. The sauce can be covered and chilled until served. It will keep 2-3 days in the fridge or up to 3 months frozen.
Gluten-free Bakeapple Cheesecake
Crust Ingredients:
- 1 cup gluten-free flour
- 1 cup crushed gluten-free corn flakes
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup margarine
- 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans (optional)
Cream Cheese Filling Ingredients:
- 2 bars cream cheese (gluten-free)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp vanilla (gluten-free)
Topping Ingredients and Steps:
- 1 cup bakeapple berries
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Mix all, except berries, in small saucepan, stirring until thickened. Add berries and cook until bubbly. Chill and spread on top of cheesecake when it is ready.
Steps to Assemble Gluten-free Bakeapple Cheesecake:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Lightly grease a 9 x 12 cheese cake dish.
- Mix all of the crust ingredients in a bowl until it is crumbly. This is best done by rubbing the ingredients by hand. Pat the mixture into the greased dish to be the base of the cheesecake.
- Mix all of the filling ingredients with a beater until it is smooth. Pour onto the crust. Bake the crust and filling for about 20 minutes.
- While the cheesecake is baking, prepare the berry sauce for the topping.
- When the cheesecake is cooled it can be topped with the sauce, or with 2-3 cups of fresh or frozen (thawed and drained) bakeapple berries. It should be chilled in the fridge before serving.
The cloudberry sauce or gluten-free bakeapple cheesecake are perfect ways to enjoy this little-known, yet wonderful berry delicacy.
Other Uses For Fresh or Frozen Cloudberries
- Topping for ice-cream, yogurt, or soy ice-cream
- Mix into a smoothie
- Eat as they are from a bowl
- Add to a home-made fruit cup
See Gluten-free Blueberry Crisp and Bakeapple Berry Crumbles Recipe for other delicious berry desserts.
For another article about berries see Enjoy Newfoundland and Labrador Wild Berries.
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