Blackberry Vanilla Spiced Brandy
Blackberries, warm spices, creamy vanilla, and brandy come together in a homemade liqueur that tastes like fall in a glass.
There is something special about making your own liqueurs. You control the sweetness. You choose the ingredients. You know exactly what's in the bottle.
This Blackberry Vanilla Spiced Brandy combines juicy blackberries, warm Ceylon cinnamon, fragrant allspice, and the rich, creamy character of Papua New Guinea vanilla beans. The result is a smooth, fruit-forward liqueur with layers of vanilla and spice that feel right at home on a crisp autumn evening.
Serve it after dinner, drizzle it over vanilla ice cream, or add a splash to your favorite cocktail. One of our favorite quick and easy options? Top it with Prosecco for a sparkling blackberry vanilla cocktail that's perfect for holidays, brunches, and celebrations.
And perhaps the best part? Every batch becomes yours uniquely.
Why Papua New Guinea Vanilla?
Papua New Guinea (PNG) vanilla beans bring a classic vanilla aroma and flavor with creamy sweetness and subtle woody undertones. They add depth without overpowering the fruit and spices, allowing the blackberries to shine while creating a rich vanilla backbone that continues to develop throughout the infusion.
Blackberry Vanilla Spiced Brandy Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ oz Papua New Guinea vanilla beans
- 4 cups fresh blackberries
- 2 Ceylon cinnamon sticks
- 1 tsp allspice berries
- ½ cup vanilla sugar (or granulated sugar)
- 2 cups brandy
Instructions
- Add the blackberries, vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, and sugar to a clean 1-liter jar.
- Pour the brandy over the ingredients.
- Seal tightly and give the jar a good shake to combine the ingredients.
- Store in a cool, dark place for 2–3 months.
- Taste test at 2 months and again at 3 months. See which you prefer.
- Strain the blackberries, vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, and allspice berries from the liquid.
- Bottle and enjoy.
A Little Advice From Our Vanilla Kitchen
If I were you, I'd double or even triple this recipe.
Blackberry season comes and goes quickly, but a bottle of Blackberry Vanilla Spiced Brandy is a wonderful thing to have on hand all year long. It makes thoughtful holiday gifts, hostess gifts throughout the year, and a quick dessert topping whenever you need something special.
A splash over vanilla ice cream, a pour into sparkling water, or our favorite—a little topped with Prosecco—turns ordinary moments into something memorable.
Make a little extra now, and you'll be glad you did when blackberry season has long passed and you're reaching for a bottle from the pantry.
What To Do With The Vanilla Beans Afterward
Don't toss those beans!
Once you've strained your Blackberry Vanilla Spiced Brandy, you have several options.
Leave Them In
For an even richer vanilla profile, simply leave the vanilla beans in the finished bottle. They'll continue contributing subtle vanilla notes as the brandy rests.
Add Them To Your Mother Jar
The beans still have plenty of flavor left to give. Add them to your Mother Jar to continue building layers of vanilla complexity. Many extract makers find this is one of the easiest ways to get even more value from their vanilla beans.
Start Another Infusion
Those vanilla beans can also be added to another fruit or spice infusion. While they won't contribute as much flavor as they did in this first batch, they'll still bring wonderful vanilla character to your next creation.
The combination of blackberry, vanilla, cinnamon, and allspice creates a liqueur that feels like autumn in a bottle. Whether drizzled over vanilla ice cream, gifted to a friend, or enjoyed after dinner, this is one of those recipes you'll find yourself making again and again.
Happy Extract Making!
