Hooray, it’s summertime and all the blackberry bushes are full of plump juicy fruit! So go grab a basket, fight through the thorns and fill it with those deliciously dark sweet nuggets. Then check out this blackberry simple syrup recipe. It’s the perfect topper on a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or use it in cocktails to make a blackberry mojito or old fashioned. Or avoid the thorns and buy store-bought. Either way, there’s so many great ways to use this quick & easy blackberry simple syrup.
Article Overview: Blackberry Simple Syrup
What is Simple Syrup?
Simple syrup, as the name suggests, is a basic syrup made by combining equal parts sugar and water. It’s a versatile liquid sweetener commonly used in both the kitchen and behind the bar. The simplicity of its recipe allows it to easily dissolve in both cold and hot liquids, making it an ideal sweetener for beverages, cocktails, and desserts.
We’re just making a basic blackberry simple syrup, but there’s a whole of sugar syrups out there. If thats something you’re into, click here to learn about demerara syrup, rich simple syrup, gomme syrup and all things simple syrup.
Blackberry Simple Syrup
Blackberry Simple Syrup Ingredients
Gather the following ingredients to make this blackberry simple syrup recipe:
- Blackberries: Fresh or frozen, although fresh is always better and will make for a sweeter blackberry simple syrup.
- Sugar: Super fine sugar dissolves easiest when making simple syrups, but since we’re infusing blackberries with the use of heat, it’s totally fine to use granulated sugar. It’ll dissolve easily in the hot water.
- Water: 1 to 1 ratio with the sugar.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: a little acid adds a nice bright depth to this blackberry simple syrup.
Fresh or Frozen?
One of our favorite things to do in late July and August, is to go blackberry picking. We’re lucky enough to have a massive stretch of blackberry bushes right behind our home. We love walking our dogs along the trail they grow on and watching the berries ripen and get ready for harvest. Who doesn’t love free fruit!?
Pro tip: If picking berries near a popular trail, try to only pick the ones that are at least waist high. Above the doggie pee line.
So while fresh blackberries are an obvious and convent choice for us, there are more reasons to use fresh, even if that means buying them from the grocery store. Fresh blackberries are just juicier than their icy brethren. You’ll need fewer berries to make a more potent blackberry simple syrup. So if you’re making blackberry simple syrup during the peak blackberry summer months, go fresh.
On the other hand, not everyone lives where there are wild blackberries and even if you do, it’s not always summer. As much as I wish it could be. So for that reason, frozen berries can be a convenient choice for your making blackberry simple syrup.
For some helpful information and tips on picking wild blackberries, click here.
How to Make Blackberry Simple Syrup
Follow these step by step instructions to make this blackberry simple syrup recipe.
Step 1: Clean Berries
If you harvested your own berries, pour them into a bowl and fill it with cold water. Sprinkle some kosher salt over them and let them sit overnight. This will kill any bugs that might have hitched a ride on the blackberry express. When you’re ready to make your blackberry simple syrup, rinse them thoroughly in cold water.
If using frozen berries rinse them as well to remove any chunks of ice and to help speed up to cooking process.
Step 2: Combine, Mash, & Simmer
Once you have your blackberries cleaned and situated, pour them into a medium pot or saucepan, along with the sugar and the water. Bring the mixture to a boil and then immediately turn heat down to a simmer.
Use the back of a spoon or a potato masher to crush the berries and release their vibrant flavors. Simmer for 10-12 minutes until the blackberries have disintegrated almost completely. Frozen blackberries will likely need more time to simmer, 15 minutes or so.
Step 3: Strain, Add Acid, & Simmer
Line a sieve with a cheesecloth and pour the blackberry simple syrup through. Use the back of a spoon to help push all the juices into a bowl underneath the sieve.
Return the liquid back to the pot on the stove and simmer for an additional 10-12 minutes. Add the apple cider vinegar, stir and remove from heat.
Step 4: Cool & Transfer
Let the completed blackberry simple syrup cool to room temperature before transferring it to an air tight container, preferably a glass jar. Discard the berry pulp.
Store your blackberry simple syrup in the fridge, or use immediately. Enjoy!
How to Use Blackberry Simple Syrup
Get ready to tantalize your taste buds! Blackberry simple syrup pairs splendidly with a whole bunch of good stuff. My favorite being a blackberry old fashioned. But if your off the wagon or under 21, here are some other great ways to use this blackberry simple syrup.
- Blackberry Lemonade: Really lean into those summer vibes and add a tablespoon or two to some fresh squeezed lemonade. Quintessential summertime drink right here!
- Blackberry Mojito: Okay I know I said these suggestions were for sober folks, but I’ve had a couple blackberry old fashions and forgot to mention blackberry mojitos! Just use the blackberry simple syrup in place of the standard simple syrup, simple!
- Blackberry Vanilla Ice Cream: Drizzle some blackberry simple syrup over the top of a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream and you’ll be in heaven. And toss a couple whole blackberries in there for good measure!
- Blackberry French Toast: Everyone garnishes French toast with strawberries, why not blackberries? Drizzle some of your simple syrup over French toast, pancakes, waffles, whatever! If you make your simple syrup with twice as much sugar it will be a lot thicker and make for a better blackberry pancake syrup.
These are just a few ideas, the possibilities are endless!
How to Store Blackberry Simple Syrup
Properly storing homemade fresh blackberry syrup ensures its longevity and maintains its flavor. After making the syrup, allow it to cool completely before transferring it to a clean, airtight container. Glass jars with secure screw top lids or food grade plastic containers work best for this purpose.
If kept in the fridge in an air tight container, the syrup should keep its potency for 2 weeks.
Blackberry Simple Syrup FAQ’s
For sure, you can use frozen blackberries to make blackberry simple syrup. Frozen berries work well and are often available year-round, making it easy to enjoy the syrup anytime. The cook time will be slightly longer with frozen berries.
When stored properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator, blackberry simple syrup will retain its potency for a week or two.
Oh let me count the ways. It’s used as a sweetener and flavor enhancer for beverages such as cocktails, mocktails, lemonades, and iced teas; It can also be drizzled over desserts like cakes, pancakes, waffles, or used as a topping for ice cream and yogurt. To name a few.
Of course!, You can use whatever types of berries you’re into, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, boysenberries, elderberries, the same method applies.
Blackberry Simple Syrup
Difficulty: Easy4
servings2
minutes25
minutesA berrylicious simple syrup infused with fresh, summer, wild blackberries.
Ingredients
2.5 cups 2.5 Blackberries
1 cup 1 Granulated Sugar
1 cup 1 Water
1 tbsp 1 Apple Cider Vinegar
Directions
- Clean your blackberries and then pour them into a medium pot or saucepan, along with the sugar and the water. Bring the mixture to a boil and then immediately turn heat down to a simmer.
- Use the back of a spoon or a potato masher to crush the berries and release their vibrant flavors. Simmer for 10-12 minutes until the blackberries have disintegrated almost completely. Frozen blackberries will likely need more time to simmer, 15 minutes or so.
- Line a sieve with a cheesecloth and pour the blackberry simple syrup through. Use the back of a spoon to help push all the juices into a bowl underneath the sieve. Return the liquid back to the pot on the stove and simmer for an additional 10-12 minutes. Add the apple cider vinegar, stir and remove from heat.
- Let the completed blackberry simple syrup cool to room temperature before transferring it to an air tight container, preferably a glass jar. Discard the berry pulp. Store your blackberry simple syrup in the fridge, or use immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
- You’ll need a sieve and a cheesecloth to strain the cooked berries.
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[…] Of course!, You can use whatever type of fruit you’re into, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, boysenberries, elderberries, the same method applies. In fact, you should check out our Blackberry Simple Syrup Recipe. […]