This blueberry simple syrup lives up to its name and is wonderfully simple to make. It can be made with either homemade or store-bought juice. It captures the freshness of summer blueberries and stores it in a bottle and makes a great addition to drinks, desserts, and meals. Made with only two ingredients this easy recipe comes together in less than a half hour if making the juice from scratch.
What is simple syrup?
Basic simple syrup is equal parts water and sugar. Simple syrup is a really easy way to add flavor and sweetness to something like a homemade drink. The amount of sugar can be increased to make a thicker syrup more akin to ample syrup. Homemade syrup can be left plain or flavored with simple ingredients such as vanilla beans, herbs, spices, florals, etc.. Since this one is made with blueberries it has the most incredibly rich color.
This simple syrup recipe uses blueberry juice in place of the water so the blueberry flavor is very strong. I found that this worked better than making a base of sugar and water then trying to infuse blueberries into it. That did not yield a blueberry flavor that was strong enough for my liking.
Uses for blueberry simple syrup
Drinks
Adding homemade blueberry syrup is a great way to elevate any of your favorite drinks! That sweet blueberry flavor pairs well with so many different things.
Mocktails
Cocktails
Italian sodas – This drink has a special place in my heart because it was what I was allowed to get at a coffee shop when I was a child. It was a rare treat that is accompanied by so many sweet memories. Now that I know it is so easily made with just club soda and syrup I can make healthier versions for my children. We always top ours with a little bit of homemade whipped cream.
Hot teas
Matcha lattes
Smoothies
Iced Tea
Lemonades
Foods
Ice cream – Drizzle over a scoop of vanilla ice cream or swirl it into a batch of homemade blueberry ice cream!
The top of pancakes
Drizzled on waffles
French toast
Blueberry vinaigrette
Homemade sorbet
Tools
Juice
Pot
Measuring cups
Strainer – I like using a fine mesh strainer when I can, but it isn’t required.
Cheesecloth
Syrup
Pot
Measuring cup
Metal or wooden spoon
Pot
Funnel
Glass bottles or mason jars – I used a swing top bottle because I love the aesthetic of it! Oil dispensers are also a great option and perfect for when having a party.
Ingredients
Juice
Filtered water- It might seem like adding water is going to dilute the berries. However, if the berries were heated by themselves, they could burn or thicken too much before actually producing enough juice. Simmering them in water allows them not only to release their juice, but also to extract the most flavor from the berries.
Blueberries: Either fresh blueberries or frozen berries will work. My favorite way to make this recipe is using freshly picked Alaskan blueberries. However, I know this is not an option for everyone, so any blueberries will work. If using frozen berries there is no need to thaw them first, just add them into the pot with the water.
Syrup
Blueberry juice: If you have time, make the homemade juice for sure. But if using store bought juice, get 100% juice that is not cut with water, other juices, or has sugar added to it.
Sugar: I know it seems like a lot, but a basic simple syrup is a 1:1 ratio of sugar and water. I like to use organic cane sugar because it hasn’t been processed as much as refined white sugar, and I feel better about giving it to my family.
Additional ingredients and substitutions
Berries: Even though this is a recipe for blueberry simple syrup, it can become may different things. Add some raspberries to the juice recipe for another layer of flavor or substitute other berries all together for a different kind of simple syrup.
Honey: Adding honey in place of sugar will drastically change the flavor of the syrup, but that isn’t a bad thing. The sugar is a more neutral sweetness, whereas honey has a very distinctive flavor. It does have a lower glycemic index which makes it a safer option for those watching their sugar intake. It is thicker so it may take a bit longer to dissolve than the sugar. Make sure to stir it very well.
Lemon juice: A small splash of lemon juice will brighten the flavor of the syrup and help to balance the sweetness just a bit. I would start with 1/2 tsp and taste as you add more.
Brown sugar: The molasses flavor in brown sugar adds an autumnal twist to this blueberry syrup recipe. To lean into that theme, replace the sugar for brown sugar and add a cinnamon stick to the syrup as the sugar dissolves.
Let’s make blueberry simple syrup!
This recipe contains the instructions for both how to make the blueberry simple syrup, and how to extract the juice and flavor from the blueberries. If you already have homemade juice, or are using bottled juice, skip to the next section.
Blueberry juice
To make the juice, wash the berries very well.
Place the water and the berries into a medium saucepan and bring to a quick boil over medium heat.
Mash the berries.
Lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. They can be simmered longer if desired but add a little bit more water, so the liquid does not become too thick due to the evaporation.
Place a strainer over a bowl. Line the strainer with a cheese cloth. If a fine mesh strainer is being used, I still recommend the cheesecloth just to make sure there are no seeds getting into the syrup.
Pour the blueberries and juice into the strainer. Mix the blueberry mash until there is no more juice dripping through.
Blueberry simple syrup
To make the syrup, place 1 1/2 cups of juice, and the sugar into a small saucepan over medium heat. The recipe above for juice may make more than 1 1/2 cups of juice depending on how long it boils for. If there is any leftover, store it in the fridge for up to a week.
This amount can be easily scaled up or down. If you only have one cup of sugar, then add one cup of blueberry juice etc.
Heat until the sugar dissolves, stirring frequently.
Allow the syrup to cool to room temperature.
Pour the syrup into an airtight container like a mason jar or bottle.
Enjoy!
Storing blueberry simple syrup
Keep the blueberry simple syrup in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. The sugar content makes it last longer than if it was just juice.
Tips for success
Homemade juice: Store bought juice is going to make a great syrup. However, there is something so special about making this completely from scratch. I really enjoy using wild blueberries because I think they have a lot more flavor.
Heat gently: The goal of this recipe is not to thicken the syrup by rapid boiling it. It only needs to be heated enough that the sugar is dissolved.
I hope you love this recipe as much as we do. It is always such a delight hearing about how much you enjoyed a recipe or what you think could be improved. So, thank you for leaving a comment! Don’t forget to share with friends and family so they too can enjoy making homemade blueberry simple syrup. Thank you!
This syrup is so flavorful and delightfully easy to make. It can be made with fresh or frozen berries, or even made with juice to save on time. It is the perfect addition to coffees, teas, Italian sodas, mocktails, and can be poured over pancakes and ice cream! * The juice recipe may yeild more than 1 1/2 cups depending on how much it is boiled. If there is any left over it can be stored in the fridge for up to one week. When making the juice, there is the blueberry mash or pulp left over. That can be added into smoothies, so it is not wasted.Blueberry Simple Syrup
Ingredients
Blueberry juice
Simple syrup
Instructions
Notes
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