This blueberry simple syrup is a quick and easy way to mix juicy, fruity sweet blueberry flavor from real berries into all of your favorite beverages, hot or cold!
Simple syrups are one of the best ways to incorporate seasonal flavors into your beverages. With over 10 years of experience in crafting beverages at home, I know what it takes to make a delicious, flavorful beverage.
Use this blueberry simple syrup to make homemade blueberry lemonade to share with the whole family. You can also use this homemade syrup for blueberry cocktails like this sparkling blueberry vodka lemonade! I also love using it to add blueberry flavor to my coffee!
💕 why you need this blueberry simple syrup in your life…
🫐 bursting with berry flavor. Blueberries are sweet, slightly sour, and full of tangy flavor. This syrup creates a liquid burst of delicious blueberry flavor while playing up the sweet taste of the berries.
🙌 easy to make. This fruit-infused syrup is a great recipe to make if you’re a beginner cook or if you’re cooking with kids in the kitchen.
🤩 impressive & inventive. Get ready to wow your friends and family at your next gathering with your ingenious use of blueberries! You can add this syrup to any beverage you like, from iced tea to cocktails!
🛒 ingredients
- blueberries – this recipe uses fresh berries for maximum flavor, but you can use frozen berries if you can’t find fresh ones at your local grocery store. Choose the ripest berries you can find for the best blueberry flavor.
- granulated sugar – regular granulated sugar is perfect for simple syrups. It ensures your syrup will be light in color, and have a very pure, sweet taste without hints of nuttiness or caramel.
- filtered water – filtered water works best for simple syrups since the water will not be cooking at a rolling boil.
- lemon juice – while this is an optional ingredient, I do recommend using it as it helps make the blueberry flavor pop!
🍳 instructions
1: Wash your blueberries and set them aside. Add the water to your saucepan and heat it over medium-low heat.
2: Add the sugar to the saucepan and give it a good stir.
Step 3: When the sugar has dissolved, add your blueberries to the sugar water and simmer the mix over medium-low heat for 15 minutes. The liquid will reduce a bit, that’s okay!
Step 4: Add the lemon juice if you are using it, then take the pan off the heat.
5: Strain the mix through a mesh sieve, using a spatula to help squeeze the juice out.
6: Store your finished syrup in an airtight storage container in the fridge for up to two weeks.
💡 tips and tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
Simple syrups are best used in beverages because they are so thin in consistency. Since it is so thin, it doesn’t work well for topping desserts or foods like pancakes or ice cream. Instead, the best way to use your homemade blueberry syrup is in your favorite drinks! Here are some ideas:
cocktails
Use blueberry simple syrup in place of regular simple syrup in any cocktail recipe. Blueberry works especially well in vodka and gin-based recipes!
- sparkling blueberry vodka lemonade – a classic summer beverage gets a sparkling makeover with this creative cocktail.
- blueberry lemon drop martini – make a flavorful martini using this syrup, vodka, and lemon juice!
- blueberry mojito– berries and mint work very well together! Use your syrup to give a blueberry twist to this classic rum cocktail!
non-alcoholic beverages
You can also use this liquid sweetener to add fruity flavor to non-alcoholic beverages and mocktail recipes! I love using it in iced coffee.
- blueberry lemonade – add this simple syrup to a lemonade recipe instead of granulated sugar for a berry twist!
- homemade blueberry soda pop – simple syrup + soda water = homemade blueberry soda!
- blueberry lattes – add in blueberry syrup to your morning latte for a delightful pick-me-up.
other ideas for using
- Keep baked goods moist: Use this simple syrup to brush on cupcakes or between the layers of cakes to keep them moist and add a splash of flavor! This blueberry syrup would pair great with lemon cupcakes and vanilla cakes!
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- too thick – blueberries are very high in pectin, meaning they will easily gel up if heated for long at high temperatures. if your syrup is too thick, you can thin it out by adding a bit more water, 2 TBSP at a time until it reaches the consistency you like.
- too thin – if your syrup isn’t thick enough, you can allow it to cook at a low simmer for longer. This lets more of the water evaporate and creates what is known as a rich syrup, which has a higher sugar to water ratio.
- too sour – if your blueberries are not fully ripe, they may have a very sour taste. You can reheat your syrup and add in more sugar 50g (1/4 cup) at a time until you get the desired sweetness level you like.
🔆 top tip
Try freezing simple syrups into smaller squeeze bottles for whenever the mood strikes! It’s a great way to keep flavorful syrups on hand throughout the year!
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🧰 tools needed
Check out this post here for the ultimate guide of tools you need when you’re making syrups at home!
- heavy-bottomed saucepan – you can use whatever saucepan you have on hand, I love this 1.5-quart saucepan from All-Clad. The heavy bottom ensures even heating throughout the cooking time!
- mesh strainer – a fine mesh strainer helps you to separate the blueberries from the liquid after simmering the mixture. A fine mesh sieve also helps keep any small blueberry twigs out of your syrup!
- airtight storage– you can use any airtight storage container you like. These OXO squeeze bottles are my favorite way for storing symple syrups because you can also stash them in the freezer. Glass bottles are great for gifting simple syrups to friends and family. You can also use a mason jar!
- kitchen scale – using a kitchen scale has so many benefits, from being more precise to helping you do less dishes! If you use a scale, you can simply put everything right in the pot as you measure it, no need to dirty up a bunch of extra dishes! I have and love this OXO kitchen scale.
- measuring cups – my favorite measuring cups are from King Arthur Baking- they are a high-quality set that includes every cup measure you need, even 1/8 cup! These are needed if you don’t have a kitchen scale.
🫙 how to store blueberry simple syrup
Store your blueberry syrup in the fridge in an airtight container for up to two weeks. You can also freeze your syrup for longer storage.
♻️ substitutions & variations
Are you out of an ingredient? Looking for a swap? Here are some tried and true substitutions for you to use!
- frozen berries – if you don’t have fresh blueberries on hand, you can make this recipe using frozen blueberries!
- lavender – the addition of culinary grade lavender (dried or fresh) plays so nicely with blueberries!
- vanilla or cinnamon – add in half of a vanilla pod or a cinnamon stick while the syrup simmers to create a wonderfully comforting blueberry spiced syrup.
💬 q+a
How can I use this blueberry simple syrup?
You can use this syrup however you like! I love using it in my morning iced coffee, or mixed into seasonal drinks or cocktails. You can even add it to plain soda water or sparkling water for a homemade blueberry soda!
How long does the blueberry syrup last for?
Your syrup will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks, or you can freeze it for up to three months.
Do I need to refrigerate the syrup?
Yes. This syrup stores best in the fridge. Do not leave your simple syrup out for longer than 3-4 hours at room temperature.
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Blueberry Simple Syrup (Easy Syrup with Real Berries)
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Equipment
- 1 1.5-quart saucepan
- 1 fine mesh strainer
- 1 storage container
- measuring cups
Ingredients
- 148 g blueberries fresh or frozen, washed if fresh (1 cup)
- 200 g sugar granulated (1 cup)
- 236 g water filtered (1 cup)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice fresh squeezed, optional
Instructions
- Wash 148 g (1 cup) of fresh blueberries and set them aside.
- In a small saucepan, combine 200 g of sugar (1 cup) with 236 g of water (1 cup) and heat it over medium-low heat until the sugar dissolves, about 3-5 minutes.
- Once the sugar is dissolved, add in the 148 g (1 cup) of blueberries and 1 tbsp of fresh squeezed lemon juice (if using) and simmer over medium heat for 15 mintes. If you want your syrup to be thicker, simmer it for a bit longer, up to 30 minutes, until more water reduces.
- Allow the mixture to cool slightly, then strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove the berries.
- Store your simple syrup in an airtight container for up to two weeks in the fridge, or freeze for longer storage.
Nutrition Information
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.
