Blueberry Simple Syrup

Made with just three ingredients, you can’t beat fresh Blueberry Simple Syrup. Mix it into cocktails and mocktails or drizzle it over desserts and pancakes.

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Blueberry Simple Syrup recipe

Blueberry season is simply the best. These blue and purple beauties are such a versatile berry that works just as well in breakfast foods like berry smoothies or muffins as it does in desserts like popsicles and pie.

Oh, and then there’s the cocktails. Blueberries pair well with all kinds of spirits, from whiskey to tequila.

To bring in their bubbly berry flavor, I always recommend a blueberry simple syrup that will brighten any beverage.

Why you’ll love this recipe

Blueberry syrup is a homemade recipe you are going to find so many uses for! I think you’ll love it because…

• You can make it with fresh or frozen blueberries, which is great for when they are out of season.
• With just three ingredients, it comes together in less than 20 minutes.
• It’s an inexpensive and healthier alternative to store-bought cocktail syrups.
• This homemade syrup adds a blueberry twist to your favorite cocktails.

Not to mention that you can use it in drinks, desserts, on breakfast foods… the options are infinite, I swear!

This recipe is different from a classic blueberry sauce recipe with chunks of real blueberries that you’d put on, say, a cheesecake but it’s just as delicious.

What is simple syrup?

Have you ever tried to stir pure sugar into a cold drink? You probably stirred for quite a while! Simple syrup is solution to this problem. It’s a liquid sweetener made by dissolving sugar into water.

Sweetening drinks is its primary use. But you can also drizzle it over French toast and ice cream. Bakers even use it to add moisture to baked cakes before decorating.

Most simple syrups are made with granulated white sugar, but other types of sugar can be used, including honey and brown sugar.

Once you’ve mastered classic simple syrup, there’s a whole world of flavor to explore. Try infusing herbs like rosemary or spices like cinnamon or vanilla.

You can even make syrups with fruit like raspberries, peaches or pumpkin, or vegetables like jalapeños!

Ingredients

You only need three ingredients to make blueberry syrup. Like the name implies, simple syrup is a super easy recipe. If you’d like to mix things up and add some other flavors, check out the section below called Variations & Substitutions.

Blueberries

Fresh blueberries will work best in this syrup, but you can also use frozen ones.

If you’ve got some berries that are slightly bruised and wilted, simple syrup is a great way to use them up!

Fresh blueberries have the most succulent, sweet flavor. Blueberry season takes place across North America from April through September, so if you can find berries from a local grower, do it. It’s always nice to support local!

Sugar

Granulated sugar and cane sugar are what I typically for simple syrups.

However, feel free to use brown sugar, agave nectar, maple syrup or honey instead. Since the blueberry juice is dark, it won’t affect the color of this syrup.

Water

Filtered water or distilled water will give you the best, purest-tasting results and it will help your syrup last a little longer, but tap water will work.

For regular simple syrup, you typically need as much sugar as you do water, but this recipe is a little different.

We will first boil water and blueberries together to get a reduced blueberry juice, then strain out the fruit with a fine mesh strainer. Then we will stir in the sugar to make the syrup.

How to make Easy Blueberry Syrup

Though you can buy blueberry simple syrup, this recipe is so very easy and inexpensive to make. It tastes so much better with fresh blueberries! It is just not worth buying in my opinion.

Here’s how to make your own blueberry syrup:

First, wash and dry the blueberries.

In a medium saucepan, bring water and fruit to a boil. Lower the heat and bring to a simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat.

Use a fine mesh sieve to remove the solids and strain the hot liquid into a bowl or jar. Discard any leftover blueberry chunks.

While still warm, stir in sugar until dissolved. Let the syrup cool to room temperature.

Store in an airtight, food-safe container, like a mason jar, for up to two weeks.

Uses for Blueberry Simple Syrup

There are so many ways to use this blueberry syrup! Here are a few ideas:

• Stir it into lemonade and iced tea for a blueberry version.
• Pour it over ice cream or other desserts.
• Use it as pancake syrup for your favorite morning treats like waffles or this delicious blueberry french toast casserole.

Blueberry cocktail recipes

Blueberries will liven up your favorite beverages. Here are a few cocktail and mocktail recipes to try with this homemade syrup. Don’t forget to make blueberry ice cubes to go with them!

• Try it in classic cocktails like an old-fashioned cocktail.
• Use it to make a berry version of a champagne cocktail, such as a French 75.
• Make a blueberry breeze cocktail with lemon juice, vodka and seltzer.
• Muddle it with mint to make a blueberry mojito.
• Make a blueberry Moscow mule with your favorite ginger beer. Add ½ ounce to the classic mule recipe.
• For a mocktail, make an Italian soda with your homemade blueberry syrup and club soda.

Variations & substitutions

There are a few ways to try different flavors in this syrup to try in your favorite drinks.

• Blueberry Mint Syrup: Add mint sprigs to the syrup while it cools to infuse mint flavor (see this mint syrup recipe for details). You could also use thyme or basil.
• Mixed Berry Syrup: Use a mixture of berries, such as raspberries, blackberries and strawberries, in addition to the blueberries.
• Blueberry Lemon Syrup: A splash of lemon juice is a great addition. Stir in 2 tablespoons lemon juice to add some tart lemon flavor. (Lime juice works too!)
• Sugar-free Blueberry Syrup: Use your favorite sugar substitute instead of sugar to make a sugar-free syrup.

This syrup doesn’t contain any whole blueberries. If you’d lkie something with a little more texture, try making this blueberry compote.

More simple syrup recipes

If you love making your own syrups, check out these recipes:

• Prickly pear simple syrup
• Brown sugar simple syrup
• Caramel simple syrup
• Raspberry simple syrup
• Demerara simple syrup