If you love the idea of adding slightly tart, slightly sweet blackberry flavor to all your favorite foods and drinks, you need to make this Blackberry Simple Syrup. It's so easy to make and can be kept in your fridge so you can add blackberry flavor any time you want!
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I feel like blackberries are probably the most underrated of all the berries. Everyone constantly loves on strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, but we almost never talk about blackberries.
It could be because they can be pricier than other berries. Or maybe it's because they're a bit more tart than their sweeter counterparts. Or perhaps it's because those pesky little seeds can get stuck in your teeth.
Whatever the case, I want the world to show my favorite juicy blackberries some more love. And I think we can do it with this blackberry simple syrup recipe.
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
If you're a fan of blackberries, but wish you could make a little pack of them last a bit longer, this is the recipe for you!
It's also for you if you love blackberry flavor, but don't like getting the seeds stuck in your teeth. Or if you want a simple way to add blackberry flavor to all kinds of drinks and foods.
Blackberry simple syrup is so easy to make and stays fresh in your fridge for about a month. Which means you can have fresh blackberry sweetness whenever you want!
🗒 Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients for this tasty blackberry syrup recipe. That's one of the things I like best about simple syrups... They're so nice and simple!
Here's everything you need (be sure to check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post for ingredient amounts and full recipe directions):
- Water
- Granulated sugar
- Blackberries: I recommend fresh, but you can use frozen if you want. You'll need 6 oz. which is one of those small containers.
👩🍳 How to make blackberry simple syrup
And the syrup making process is also super easy. If you've ever made a simple syrup before, you'll follow the same process. If not, don't worry; you'll learn quickly! And once you learn to make this blackberry syrup, you'll be able to make simple syrups in so many different flavors!
To start, put water, sugar, and blackberries in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.
Once boiling, lower heat and let mixture simmer for about 15 minutes until sugar dissolves, blackberries are softening, and mixture has thickened.
Strain syrup into a bowl through a fine mesh strainer, pressing down on the blackberries with a wooden spoon or spatula to extract as much juice as possible.
Keep syrup in bowl or pour into a mason jar and place in fridge to cool completely before using. Syrup will continue to thicken as it cools.
I love the pretty color of this syrup!
But even better is that sweet fresh blackberry flavor. It still has that signature blackberry tartness, but with a whole lot of lovely sweetness.
You might be tempted to keep tasting spoonfuls of this syrup... But I also highly recommend putting it to good use in your kitchen!
🍹 How to use
There is so much you can do with a jar of blackberry syrup that you might just want to go ahead and double this recipe! Here are some of my favorite uses:
- Cocktails: Of course, one of the top uses for simple syrup is in classic cocktails. And this blackberry simple syrup is the perfect way to add blackberry flavor to your favorite drinks. Instead of muddling and dealing with a mashed mess, you can add just the flavor and a little sweetness all in one.
I especially like using it to make a blackberry lemon gin fizz, but blackberries also go really well with vodka (blackberry Moscow mule, anyone?), tequila (a blackberry margarita would be delicious!), rum (a blackberry mojito), whiskey (how about a blackberry whiskey lemonade?), and bourbon (blackberry mint juleps). Basically, you can turn all your favorite cocktails into blackberry cocktails!
- Blackberry Lemonade: Homemade lemonade is always delicious, but blackberry lemonade is even better! Using this syrup to make it lets you add the sweetness and fruity flavor all in one. I also love making this blackberry and turmeric lemonade.
- Homemade soda: Just add a little syrup to some club sods and you have an instant blackberry soda!
- Tea flavoring: You can use this syrup in either hot tea or iced tea for a lovely added flavor and liquid sweetener.
- Blackberry milk: I love making blueberry milk and strawberry milk and with this syrup, I can now use the same technique to make blackberry milk.
- Ice cream topping: I especially love this syrup on top of vanilla ice cream (with a few fresh blackberries added, too!), but it's also delicious on chocolate.
- Oatmeal or yogurt topping: If you want to add a little sweetness and fruity flavor to your healthy breakfasts, just drizzle some of this on top.
- Pancake, waffle, and french toast topping: Of course, it's also delicious when substituted for maple syrup on all your Sunday brunch foods.
- Salad dressing flavoring: Add a little of this syrup to your olive oil based salad dressing and you have instant blackberry flavor. I like to use it on my blackberry and feta salad.
- Meat marinade: Have you ever tried adding simple syrup to your meat marinades? I love the idea of infusing sweet blackberry flavor into steak and fish.
- Frosting flavoring: This syrup will turn your buttercream frosting a really pretty shade of lavender while adding blackberry flavor.
- Cake moistener: A lot of professional bakers brush their homemade cakes with a little simple syrup to keep them moist and to add extra flavor. Blackberry complements vanilla and chocolate cake deliciously.
I told you that you might need to make a double batch! Maybe make that a triple instead?
Note that you can also make a big batch of this simple blackberry syrup simply by doubling or tripling the recipe and using a bigger saucepan. You will likely need to simmer the syrup for a little bit longer if doubling or tripling to ensure a thicker syrup.
🫙 How to store
This blackberry simple syrup can stay fresh for about a month when stored properly in an airtight container (like a mason jar) in your fridge.
Did you know you can also freeze simple syrup? I recommend pouring any leftover syrup into ice cube trays to freeze and then storing the syrup cubes in a large freezer-safe bag.
When ready to use, remove from freezer and thaw.
When frozen, the syrup should keep for 3-4 months.
🧊 Can I use frozen blackberries
I like to use fresh fruit when I can, but you can definitely use frozen berries to make this syrup; you don't even have to thaw them before you use them.
🎉 Variations on recipe
Blackberries are delightful all on their own, but the flavor also works with so many different foods and spices. Here are some things you can add to the syrup to add different flavors!
- Sliced jalapeños
- Mint
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
- Fresh lemon juice
- Fresh lime juice
- Ginger
🛒 Where to buy
Of course, I'm going to tell you that you should make this blackberry simple syrup from scratch (because it's so incredibly easy to do!), but if you don't want to or are looking for a more shelf stable syrup, there are plenty of options for purchasing! Here are a few:
- Torani Blackberry Syrup
- Monin Blackberry Syrup
- Green Jay Blackberry Syrup
- Royal Rose Blackberry Simple Syrup
🥤 More simple syrup recipes
I have a huge database of simple syrup recipes and I'm creating more all the time, so be sure to check back! Here are a few of my current favorites:
- Jalapeño Simple Syrup
- Blueberry Simple Syrup
- Cinnamon Dolce Simple Syrup
- Vanilla Simple Syrup
- Raspberry Simple Syrup
- Honey Simple Syrup
If you live near a farm that allows blackberry picking, you might have an abundance of fresh berries and this is the perfect way to keep those fresh flavors in your life a little bit longer!
If you make this homemade blackberry syrup recipe, I'd love to hear how you've been using it in the comments below.
📖 Recipe
Blackberry Simple Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 oz blackberries (one small container)
Instructions
- Put water, sugar, and blackberries in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, lower heat and let mixture simmer for about 15 minutes until blackberries are softening and mixture has thickened.
- Strain syrup into a bowl, pressing down on the blackberries with a wooden spoon or spatula to extract as much juice as possible.
- Keep syrup in bowl or pour into a mason jar and place in fridge to cool completely before using. Syrup will continue to thicken as it cools.
Notes
- When properly stored, syrup should keep fresh in fridge for about one month.
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