Homemade Blueberry Simple Syrup Recipe From Scratch
Homemade Blueberry Simple Syrup is a great way to flavor easy cocktails and mocktails and infuses them with a yummy, fruity kick!
With just 3 ingredients, this flavored syrup recipe can be made quickly and is a great way to change up flavors in your favorite beverages.
Why this recipe works
If you love to mix up drinks at home (with alcohol or without), this Blueberry Simple Syrup recipe is one you need to try. With just an ounce of this syrup, you can add a delicious blueberry flavor to anything you make.
And it’s perfect for making a Blueberry Moscow Mule.
Making simple syrup at home is so easy! Aside from straining out the skins from the finished product, you simply boil water! That’s it, but I’ll show you all the steps below.
While you do need to plan ahead to account for cook time and cooling time, the prep time only takes a few minutes.
And once the recipe is made, it will last for a week and you can add it to all kinds of recipes. It would even be great to sweeten some Basil Iced Tea.
Once you understand the basic recipe for simple syrup, you can easily modify the flavors. Don’t miss my: Strawberry Simple Syrup, Vanilla Cinnamon Simple Syrup, Basil Simple Syrup and Blackberry Simple Syrup.
Related: Blueberry Lemonade Cocktail with Vodka
And if you don’t like the sweetness that a simple syrup brings, you can easily try my Lavender “Tea”. It’s a great way to introduce another flavor without sugar.
Use this quick and easy recipe to make cocktails, mocktails, add flavor in baked goods and more!
*A note on the flavor: While there is a fruity taste, the actual blueberry flavor is pretty subtle. I’ve made this recipe several times, changing things up each time, but you aren’t going to get an in-your-face blueberry flavor that you might be expecting.
Ingredient Notes
I’ve made this recipe with frozen and fresh blueberries. And either way is fine! If you use frozen, you can keep them in the freezer for whenever you feel like making a Blueberry Simple Syrup.
Just sugar and water complete your list of ingredients. I use plain white sugar but you can substitute other types of sugar. Brown sugar adds even more depth of flavor. And demerara sugar is a popular option too.
I’ve never tried sugar alternatives (like monk fruit or similar) when making simple syrup but I hear it can be done. Using another type of flavor will change the flavor slightly and you’ll need to check to see if it’s a one-to-one substitution ratio.
Some recipes call for lemon (1 tsp fresh lemon juice). I like to keep as pure of a blueberry flavor as I can so I don’t use it. But it does enhance the flavor by adding an extra brightness. I wouldn’t say that it brings out the berry flavor, but it is sometimes a nice touch.
Step-by-Step Instructions
In a medium saucepan, add the blueberries, water and sugar.
Put the pan on medium heat and stir until the sugar is dissolved (about 5 minutes). With a wooden spoon (or potato masher), you can smash the berries a bit. Then let them simmer for another 10 minutes.
Pour the blueberry simple syrup mixture into a sieve to strain out the skins. Use the back of a spoon to extract the juice into a bowl. I’ve seen it noted that pressing the liquid out of the berries could make the syrup cloudy. But I haven’t found that with this recipe.
I felt like my stainer (or similar) had small enough holes to catch the skins but if you don’t have one that is this size, you can line the one you have with cheesecloth.
Allow the homemade syrup to cool completely then store in an air-tight jar in the refrigerator. The scratch-made syrup will stay fresh in the fridge for up to a week.
Tips and Tricks
- While I like to use homemade simple syrup to flavor drinks, you can thicken it up with a little cornstarch and water and also use it on pancakes and ice cream too (you don’t need to strain out the skins in those cases if you don’t want to). Get creative. You can use it however you want!
- If you want that fresh blueberry flavor but not all of the sweetness, you can reduce the amount of sugar. The result will be a thinner syrup but the flavor will still be there!
- This recipe is pretty forgiving so if you happen to leave it simmering for a little longer, it shouldn’t ruin it. As it cooks down though, it will evaporate some of the water and the syrup may become thicker.
Fequently Asked Questions
Yes! Liquid sugar is basically sugar that has been dissolved in water to make it a liquid form.
Yes! While I love to make homemade flavored simple syrups, sometimes I just don’t have the time. I always have a bottle of store-bought simple syrup at home for those instances. Or, if I need just enough for one drink, I make my Cheater Simple Syrup.
Blueberry Simple Syrup will last up to a week in the refrigerator.
Store homemade simple syrup in a clean jar with an air-tight lid.
How to Use the Syrup in a Cocktail
To add a blueberry flavor to your favorite cocktails simply use the Blueberry Simple Syrup anywhere it says to add simple syrup.
Or if you are creating your own cocktail, start with 1 ounce of the flavored syrup and go from there!
More ways to use Blueberry Simple Syrup
As a big fan of easy cocktails to make at home, I use flavored simple syrups mostly for mixed drink recipes and mocktails. But you can also use it to add flavor to all kinds of dishes.
- Add it to meat marinades.
- Add it to the batter for baked goods like cupcakes and cornbread.
- Use it in other desserts like ice cream shakes and malts.
- Use it as a sauce on other desserts. A drizzle over your strawberry shortcake would be delightful!
- Use it to make homemade soda. Just some flavored simple syrup and club soda is all you need!
- Use it to flavor your morning coffee!
Use this Blueberry Simple Syrup to create unique, blueberry-flavored versions of your favorite recipes!
Related Recipes
If you are a fan of blueberries don’t miss my Blueberry Pineapple Dump Cake or my Blueberry Peach Dump Cake!
Blueberry Simple Syrup
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Add the sugar, blueberries and water to a medium saucepan.
- Over medium heat, stir mixture until sugar dissolves.
- With the back of a spoon or potato masher, gently smash the blueberries to release their juices.
- Let the blueberry mixture simmer for another 10 minutes.
- Use a sieve or cheesecloth over a clean bowl to strain out the berry skins (you can save them for smoothies if you want!), then pour the liquid into a jar.
- Let cool completely before storing in the fridge, in an air-tight container, for up to a week.
Notes
- While I like to use homemade simple syrup to flavor drinks, you can thicken it up with a little cornstarch and water and also use it on pancakes and ice cream too (you don’t need to strain the skins out in those cases if you don’t want to). Get creative. You can use it however you want!
- If you want that fresh blueberry flavor but not all of the sweetness, you can reduce the amount of sugar you add. The result will be a thinner syrup but the flavor will still be there!
- This recipe is pretty forgiving so if you happen to leave it simmering longer, it won’t ruin it. As it cooks down though, it will evaporate some of the water and the syrup will become thicker.
