Purple Syrup

I became prediabetic after I was on a high carbohydrates and low protein diet for several months for my newborn son. After returning to a non-restrictive diet with low carbohydrates for a few years, I finally don't have symptoms if I don't eat too much carbohydrates. I still can't drink water with sugar or taste honey. The good news is I find I can again enjoy a small serving of ice cream. This instructable is about making a syrup without added sugar to make ice cream a special treat for me. This syrup adds layers of flavors and color to make it special. If you want to make your ice cream taste so much better without added sugar, give this purple syrup recipe a try. Plus, it is super easy to make and you can make the solids into fruit roll up.

INGREDIENTS:

2 Liters of Martinelli's apple juice (no added sugar)

1/2 Pounds dried hawthorn berries

1/2 Pounds blueberries (frozen or fresh)

1 small package Elderberry Syrup DIY Kit

EQUIPMENT

18" by 18" cheese cloth

A piece of food grade kitchen twine

1 Seive

A slow cooker

Combine the ingredients in a pot. Bring it to boil.

Turn on your slow cooker to high.

Place seive over the slow cooker.

Fold gauze to 4 layers of 18" by 18" and place it over the seive.

Pour the hot liquid with solids over the gauze.

Gather the edges of the gauze.

Tie it closed with food grade twine.

Keep the berries/solids immersed in the liquid and keep the top of the tied cloth dry.

From time to time, use a spatula to squize the berries to extract everthing from the berries.

Reduce until the juice is reduced to half of its original volume.

Remove and discard the solids. I composted it this time. Last time, I made the solids to fruit roll up which was super good.

Continue to reduce the juice down to about 2 cups.

Use a spoon to test its consistency. It should be like balsamic vinegar glaze's consistency. The tip is to not over reduce it because when it cools down, it becomes thicker.

Another tip is to scale down or scale up based on how much you use it. I not only use it in ice cream also in granola. It just adds flavors to your foods.

Try it! Enjoy!