Gin and Maple Macerated Berries

By doroalry

Serve macerated berries over ice cream, heap onto a wheel of baked brie, or blend with ice for a fruity slushie

Ingredients

• 1 pound mixed berries (such as strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries)
• 2 tablespoons gin
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
• 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

Preparation

Step 1

1. Hull and slice strawberries, if using; place in a medium bowl.

Slicing bigger berries speeds up ­maceration--liquids will release faster.

2. Add remaining ingredients, stirring gently to combine. Let stand for 20 minutes or until mixture is syrupy, gently stirring occasionally. Sugar, lime, and gin soften and preserve the berries while extracting their natural juices to become a syrupy sauce.

3. If desired, refrigerate and continue to macerate for up to 4 hours. Delicate raspberries and strawberries can oversoften, so macerate them only a few hours. Thick-skinned berries like blueberries can go overnight.