Crab apples

[caroline7758]

My "Golden Hornet" is heaving with fruit. Can I cook with these or is it only the red ones? If I can. how do I tell when they are ripe and what can I make apart from wine and jelly?

[caroline7758]

[goodlife]

Yes you can use them..but like other crab apples there is not that many uses for them. You could try making crab apple sauce..but you may need to put much more sugar than in normal apple sauce..try combining with some other things like black berries or other wild 'things'.
As for ripeness..if you wait for another month so so..perharps untill first frosts..that should bring out the natural sugars..in theory  ::)..they will never be sweet but the natural sugars may make them sligtly less tart.

[manicscousers]

We added some to the elderberries to make jam, I'm keeping some to make strawberry with, too  :)

[cjb02]

could I suggest scrumpy cider as a possible use.