Saskatoon Berry Tiramisu Dessert Shooters: A Heartfelt Recipe & Tribute to Family

The emails arrived regularly, detailed chronicles of their lives. They painted vivid pictures of their travels – where they’d been, whom they’d visited, their next destinations. They meticulously listed upcoming specialist appointments and explored treatment options. Yet, throughout all these updates, one word was conspicuously absent: “cancer.” Never once did she utter it. Nor did she ever offer the comforting assurance that everything would be okay – that Uncle Garry would be okay. My heart ached, longing to read those very words.

Instead, her messages contained sentiments like, “we have to enjoy these things now because you never know what the future holds.” These phrases, while tinged with a quiet melancholy, were her way of expressing the unspoken. In retrospect, I deeply admired her strength and resilience through it all. She bore the immense task of composing what must have felt like endless updates, immersing herself in every painful detail. I believe this process provided her with a sense of purpose, a way of feeling helpful by keeping us all informed. Perhaps, too, it was a form of catharsis, her unique mechanism for coping with an unimaginable challenge.

It wasn’t until I was about ten years old that I stumbled upon the surprising truth: Auntie Sue and Uncle Garry weren’t actually related to me by blood. This revelation was initially quite disappointing, and I struggled to understand it. After all, I had always called them “Aunt” and “Uncle.” We spent more time with them than with many of our biological relatives, often sharing summer vacations and countless memorable camping trips. There were certainly other distant relatives I would have gladly chosen not to be related to, but family, as they say, isn’t something you get to pick.

However, I quickly decided that blood relation was ultimately irrelevant. To me, they were unequivocally family. This conviction was cemented years later when I got married. Out of my intimate guest list of eighteen, Auntie Sue and Uncle Garry traveled fifteen hours to be there. Uncle Garry, with his characteristic warmth, delivered the heartfelt Toast to the Bride, making the day even more special.

Reflecting on my childhood, many of our family camping trips were punctuated by a cherished ritual: Uncle Garry and I would often be out picking Saskatoon berries while everyone else was still asleep. It was an adventure, a quiet morning escapade that was simply an integral part of prairie life and our bond. You can read more about those wonderful Saskatoon Berry picking adventures here.

💭 What are Saskatoon Berries and Juneberries? Understanding This Beloved Canadian Berry

If you’re not yet acquainted with this delightful little gem of a berry, you might know it by its equally charming alias, “Juneberry.” Native to the Canadian Western provinces and various other parts of North America, the Saskatoon berry typically ripens in late July or early August, although sometimes as early as June depending on the climate. These purply-blue berries bear a resemblance to blueberries, but don’t let their appearance fool you; they are actually a cousin to the apple, offering a unique, slightly nutty, and subtly sweet flavor that stands distinctly apart from their blueberry counterparts.

Interestingly, research conducted at Cornell University revealed that Americans generally loved the taste of Saskatoon berries, but the name “Saskatoon” didn’t resonate as strongly with consumers as “Juneberry.” To better capitalize on the growing demand for these small, vibrant berries, some U.S. marketers began requesting Canadian growers to change their labeling. Thus, our illustrious Saskatoon berry often undergoes a name change at the border, becoming the “Juneberry” for American markets. In certain regions, Saskatoons are also affectionately known as “Serviceberries,” a name derived from the timing of their bloom when circuit riders or “service” personnel could begin traveling again after winter. Rich in antioxidants, fiber, and various vitamins, Saskatoon berries are not just delicious but also a nutritious addition to any diet, making them a true superfood from the prairies.

🥘 Crafting Your Easy Saskatoon Berry Tiramisu Shooters: Simple Instructions

Given my undeniable passion for Saskatoon berries and my profound love for tiramisu, it was only natural for me to develop this exquisite shot glass dessert recipe. While these shooters possess an undeniably fancy and elegant appearance—I’m particularly fond of how layered desserts look when presented in clear glass—the truth is, they are incredibly quick and easy to prepare. You can whip up a batch of these impressive mini desserts in under 30 minutes, making them perfect for last-minute entertaining or a spontaneous sweet craving.

The magic starts with the berries themselves, which I lovingly soften by poaching them for a few minutes in a delightful mixture of Kahlua and coffee. This crucial step allows the Saskatoon berries to thoroughly soak up those rich, aromatic flavors, transforming them into intensely flavored jewels. Once prepared, the dessert is simply layered with delicate lady fingers, a creamy mascarpone and white chocolate pudding mixture, and then crowned with a light, airy maple whipped cream, finished with a scattering of crunchy toffee bits. This thoughtful combination of textures and flavors creates a truly unforgettable dessert experience.

It’s a visually stunning and elegantly presented dessert that is deceptively simple to create! I adore the concept of serving dessert in shot glasses because sometimes, a small, perfectly portioned treat is all you crave. These shooters offer that ideal bite-sized indulgence, providing all the rich flavor without overwhelming sweetness.

📖 Delicious Recipe Variations to Try

Vanilla Coffee: For a slightly different aromatic twist, substitute the regular coffee with brewed vanilla coffee, or simply add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to your regular brewed coffee.

Berries: While Saskatoon berries are truly special, you can easily substitute them with other similar berries like blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries if Saskatoons are not available in your area. Each will lend its unique flavor profile to this delightful tiramisu shooter.

The fall of the year Uncle Garry fell ill, Auntie Sue and he made the journey out West to visit us. While they were with us, everything seemed normal, a comforting illusion. But once they returned home, the stream of detailed emails resumed. Then, one spring day, another update landed in my inbox. This email, however, carried a different weight; it lacked the fragile hope that had characterized the previous ones. A cold dread settled over me, and I knew, with a certainty that chilled me to the bone, that I needed to get home that summer.

My trip was planned for early July. I remember telling my Mom how much I longed to make Uncle Garry his favorite Saskatoon Berry Pancakes when I arrived. It was a cherished tradition, a special ritual we always shared on our camping trips when I was a child, a simple act that spoke volumes about our connection. But her response was simply what I already knew in my heart…

“It’s too early for Saskatoons.”

Yet, not long after I arrived home, my Mom received a phone call. Her voice filled with an almost childlike excitement, she called out to me, “Grandma’s on the phone, and she has Saskatoons! They were early this year!” I could hardly believe my ears. Could I truly be this fortunate? It turned out to have been an unusually weird, wet, and warm year—a rare fluke of nature that had gifted us an early harvest of these precious berries.

So, on one beautiful, sun-drenched early July morning, Uncle Garry and I sat together, eating Saskatoon berry pancakes with the rest of our families, just as we had done over thirty-five years ago. We didn’t need to reminisce about our picking adventures that day (though he had touchingly spoken of them in his speech at my wedding). We both understood the profound significance of those berries gracing our plates that morning. They had no business being there, and we were eternally, overwhelmingly grateful for their miraculous presence. It was a moment suspended in time, filled with unspoken love and gratitude.

That beautiful morning was the last time I ever saw Uncle Garry. He passed away just two months later. I miss him every single day. But I also know, deep in my heart, that eating those Saskatoon pancakes on that early July morning was an extraordinary gift, a final shared memory that I will forever cherish. I am so thankful for such precious gifts in life. And I also deeply believe that the family you get to pick, the people you choose to hold close, are an equally profound gift. I have been blessed with many such chosen family members in my life, and I am eternally grateful that we picked Auntie Sue and Uncle Garry to be part of our family.

I continue to pick Saskatoon berries whenever the season allows, and I find immense joy in creating Saskatoon berry dessert recipes, like these delightful Saskatoon Berry Tiramisu Dessert Shooters, as a way to keep those cherished memories alive.

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