Blackberry sounds wonderful, a nice change from apple.

You can warm it in the microwave - a few moments at a lower power setting to warm up the filling without making the top mushy, and if it is, a moment under the broiler will crisp it up again.

Have a wonderful holiday.

Thanks, Momj47, but I don't own a microwave! I appreciate you telling me you like the sound of the berry...that would not be terrible chilled, then put out to room temp for a bit prior to serving? I'd offer whipped cream or ice cream to go with.

Happy Holidays!

Stinky, I would rewarm it in the oven at 450 degrees with a piece of tin foil laid lightly on top. Maybe 15 minutes.
And, microwaves can be very, very useful! You could buy a perfectly fine one for $50.
And yes to the blackberry.

Can you bake them while you get ready to go to dinner and take them out just as you leave? Cook in glass or pottery and set inside another glass or pottery dish to cool and it will slow the heat loss. You could set them on some folded towels/newspapers and they will probably hold enough heat to be warm when you get home. Assuming a 2 hour absence.

Just don't cover the top or it will get soggy.

Hey, Bumblebeez! Good to know about re-warming. Thanks for the info, and for your vote for Blackberry! The microwave broke a couple of years ago, & I'm just happy to have the counterspace now. The only thing I ever used it for was heating water! Merry Christmas!

Olychick, I'll think about that! Thanks so much for the suggestions. Happy Holiday to you.

I vote for blackberry too. This time of year it's an extravagance and very fitting for the Holidays. It's fine at room temp and if you can just make it most anytime during the day and leave it out, it will be good. No need to refrigerate after you make it. Enjoy! Happy Holidays to you too!

Oh, that's interesting Coconut, I didn't know I could leave it out after baking. I tend to be rather paranoid about food safety. Another vote for blackberry...berry it is then! Thanks. Happy Holidays!

Something unconventional at the holidays is called a "treat" in my book. Blackberry sounds fantastic. But I like a good apple too so I'd definitely take a piece (or two) of each if offered!

Warm is great, but cold isn't going to kill things. Got a roaster oven? That would be perfect. Otherwise a hot water bottle under it would keep it warm a long time or a heating pad. Could put it in a (warmed) cooler with a couple hot water bottles heating pad or something too.

Otherwise, do you have a trusted neighbor or a close-by friend who owes you a favor who could pop over and put it in the warm oven for you. Give them a call a bit ahead of time and bring them a piece for doing it for you.

How far from home are you? Even if you're 1/2 hr away, and they put the unbaked ones in the oven, there'd be a cushion of time to get home and even if it needs an extra 15 min to finish up, it'd take 15 min to settle in when you get there anyway. Maybe ask the friend/neighbor to turn on the prepared coffee pot too for fresh coffee.

Doing a pie or cake surely is an option, but if someone gave me a good "crisp" this time of year, for *me*, it'd be memorable, and *blackberry* on top of it? Cowabunga! I'd highly recommend trying to make this work. Good luck!

Fruit pies or crisps don't need refrigeration unless they have custard or some kind of dairy in them. They could eventually, as in days later, get mildew, but they're usually long gone by then. After a couple of days out, you can refrigerate so they won't mildew. In other words, no need to worry at all. Smiles.

I know blackberris are delicious and so are raspberries but for some reason the seeds in them are a great bother to me. So for that reason I would make the apple! I don't know why the seeds bother me but they do and I have my own teeth too! The rewarm in the oven sounds good too! I love a nice warm dessert!
Joann

Cynic, thank you. I feel even more motivated due to your enthusiasm! Your warm-up ideas are great. All of my neighbors will be out or away for at least that day, but that would have been a good way to go. Thanks again.

Coconut, good to know. I appreciate that additional info!

Ghog...yes, I thought about the seeds being an issue for some. ( Maybe I will make a blueberry one too! They don't have seeds, right?).

Happy Holidays all you top chefs!

At Thanksgiving, I made an apple-blueberry crisp that was the best of both worlds. It was inspired by a Martha Stewart recipe (see link), but I didn't use as much sugar. Delicious!

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Apple-blueberry crisp

Wow, thanks, Mtnester! I'm going to make your recipe. Just need to pick up apples & a lemon. Already have 3 cups of fresh blueberries. Yay! Thanks for the link...super.

So blackberry crisp & blueberry-apple crisp it is!

I'd vote for berry, but DH would vote for apple. He doesn't like the seeds, either, but I have apple pie much more frequently than berry pie, since it's DH's favorite. I'd love a good berry crisp. Blueberries are my favorite, but I like blackberry, too.

I have a favorite memory of getting to know my yet to be mother in law. She was a country woman, and a great country cook. (My mother, as much as I loved her, would get Sara Lee if she wanted to serve pie. ) On one of my first visits to my boyfriend's parents, his mom made blackberry cobbler and served it with vanilla ice cream on top. I swear it was the best thing I had ever eaten. I had never had anything like it. I was ready to marry her if not my boyfriend! So, I'm a bit biased when it comes to blackberry crisps or cobblers or anything of that sort.

Sally

Hi Sally! Thanks so much for your vote, & feedback, & for sharing your adorable story! I Loved it. Happy Holidays!

I'd take the berry, thanks much. But I wouldn't say no to apple. The only fruit that hits me as Christmassy is a navel orange so I'm flexible. :)

I would bake it before going out like Olychick suggests. It'll still be warm enough to melt the ice cream just enough.

Thanks for your reply, Fori. Wow, another vote for berry! Yes, now that you mention it, oranges, & clementines sold in those little crates, are a fixture at Christmas!

I guess berries are a summer treat. I've had trouble finding good oranges this year. They all look like they were picked sometime last year, not much flavor, and obviously gassed green instead of actually ripened properly.

By the way, stinky, (may I call you stinky?) I love your user name!

Sally

I wanted to check back in to let y'all know that you really were spot on about the blackberry being the way to go! I made both the blackberry crisp & Mtnester's Martha Stewart apple-blueberry (thanks again for the recipe, Mtn!).

Only my pregnant niece asked for apple-blueberry! The other 8 people asked for blackberry! So given the dwindling supply of blackberry, dh & I went for apple-blueberry, which was very, very good! (Niece had another serving!). We all had vanilla ice cream with our crisp.

Thought it was interesting that when given a choice (sight unseen) blackberry was what almost everyone requested.

I am glad I had a couple of options though, & it was good to try out another recipe to get some more experience with such things.

(Hope each of you enjoyed a day that was merry & bright!).

And...thanks, Sally! Yes, please call me Stinky!

You can also make blackberry apple crisp, lol! I love blackberry cobbler and crisp. Now they sell wonderful frozen blackberries so I can make it all year round. One good thing about making an apple blackberry crisp is it thins out the seeds a bit, so it still has the blackberry taste but the seeds are dispersed some, not as concentrated. You could use the MS recipe and just sub blackberries for blueberries. I love fruit crisp, to me it is special and a bit less fat than pie, so all good!! And I leave mine out for a day or two. It does go bad after that but a day or two doesn't matter.

Glad it all worked out, Stinky! I guess the blackberry crisp sounded more "exotic" to most of your guests. Personally, I loved the combination of blueberries and apples, but I'd like to try LPink's suggestion, too.

Sue

I'm glad it went well, and both sound delicious!

Sally