Once you see on easy it is to make your own homemade blackberry simple syrup, but you’ll be trying other flavors too. Made with fresh blackberries (or frozen), sugar, and water you’ll have a delicious syrup to flavor your cocktails or add a little something special to your pancakes or pound cake.
Did you know that Oregon produces 95% of the blackberries in the United States? Since I live in Oregon I consider myself very fortunate to have access to fresh delicious blackberries throughout most of the summer. From marionberries (a type of blackberry) to Chester blackberries, one of the sweetest varieties in my opinion I love them all.
With my new found love of making simple syrups I couldn’t resist making this delicious homemade blackberry simple syrup with fresh local blackberries.
My favorite syrup is strawberry simple syrup with which I've made strawberry soda. And for spring I love the tartness of my rhubarb simple syrup.
What is Simple Syrup
A classic simple syrup recipe is usually made with an equal ratio of water and granulated sugar - meaning 1 cup of water to 1 cup of sugar. The mixture is typically heated just until the sugar dissolves which creates a sugar syrup that can be used to sweeten and flavor a variety of drinks and food. If you want a thicker syrup you would use 2 cups of sugar to 1 cup of water.
Why Steeping is Important
Steeping the blackberries further breaks down the blackberries and draw out more color and flavor without degrading the flavor from too much heat. Covering the pot with the lid traps the remaining volatile compounds that would otherwise escape, letting them stay in the syrup instead.
The final syrup has a bright fruity fresh blackberry flavor with just the right amount of sweetness.
Blackberry Syrup Ingredients
- Fresh blackberries: Since this recipe is all about the blackberries use fresh local blackberries. My preference is for fresh berries, but frozen blackberries which are usually picked and frozen at the peak of flavor will also work for this recipe.
Full ingredients, measurements, and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Fresh Blackberry Syrup
Step 1: Clean the container for the blackberry simple syrup by washing it with soap and hot water, and thoroughly rinsing it. Next, pour boiling water into the container twice to ensure it is thoroughly clean.
Step 2: Wash the blackberries, by placing them in a colander and spraying with cold water. Remove any stems and leaves, and any blackberries that have mold on them.
Step 3: Place the blackberries, water, and sugar together in a 3 or 4-quart saucepan.
Step 4: Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat making sure the sugar dissolves and then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer.
Step 5: Remove the saucepan from the heat, cover it up with a lid and let it steep for 15 minutes to draw out the most flavor from the blackberries.
Step 6: Pour the warm blackberry syrup through a fine-mesh strainer into a medium-sized bowl. Lightly press the berries to maximize the yield.
Step 7: Let the simple syrup cool to room temperature before storing in a clean glass jar.
What To Do With Leftover Pulp
Don't throwaway that blackberry pulp. Use it to make a smoothie, add it to hot cereal, or stir it into yogurt.
How to Use Blackberry Simple Syrup
This syrup is perfect for making alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Adjust the amount of syrup based on your own tastes, but I recommend starting with 2 ounces.
- Use this blackberry simple syrup for cocktails or add club soda for delicious homemade strawberry soda. Or combine it with a spicy ginger beer for a very refreshing treat.
- Combine it with fresh lemon juice for blackberry lemonade
- Use to flavor and sweeten iced tea or hot tea.
- Use it to brush cake layers with a silicone brush to add blackberry flavor to the cake and to help keep the cake layers moist
Pro Tips for Making This Simple Syrup
- When selecting the blackberries use berries that have a naturally sweet flavor with a little bit of tartness.
- Discard blackberries that are moldy or have white fuzz on them. The mold is not good for you
- If making this syrup outside of blackberry season, use frozen blackberries. They are readily available and typically have a good flavor.
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Easy 3-Ingredient Blackberry Simple Syrup
Ingredients
- 12-1/3 ounces (350 grams) fresh blackberries can also use frozen
- 1 cup (240 ml) distilled or filtered water
- 1-1/4 cup (250 grams) granulated sugar
Instructions
- This recipe makes 1-3/4 cups of simple syrup
Prep the Container(s)
- Wash the glass container with hot water and dish soap. Do a final rinse with boiling water.
Make the Blackberry Syrip
- Place a 2 or 4-cup measuring cup with a fine mesh strainer next to the stove.
- Wash the blackberries. Place them in a colander and spray them with water. Remove any leaves and any berries that have mold on them.
- Place the blackberries, water, and sugar in a 3 or 4-quart saucepan. Stir together until the sugar starts to dissolve. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low heat and let it simmer for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes remove the saucepan from the heat, cover the saucepan with the lid and let them steep for 15 minutes. (Simmering and then steeping the blackberries will further break down the blackberries and draw out more color and flavor.)
- If you want a thicker syrup for pancakes or waffles, bring the mixture to a boil then reduce the heat to medium and let it cook until the syrup is reduced by one-third. Remove the syrup from the heat source and let them steep for 15 minutes.
- Strain the blackberries through a fine mesh strainer into a medium-sized bowl, separating the blackberry pulp from the liquid. Do not press against the berries. You do not want the pulp in the simple syrup. Let the blackberries drain for 15 minutes. The syrup should be a very dark purple.
How to Store the Syrup
- Let the blackberry syrup cool to room temperature. Pour the syrup into a clean glass jar or container with a lid and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Freezing the Syrup: The syrup can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months or as ice cubes that can be added to drinks.
How to Use the Blackberry Simple Syrup
- This syrup is great for drinks and cocktails. Add 2-4 tablespoons to your drinks depending on the other ingredients. Add about 2 tablespoons to a glass of iced tea for a nice fruity flavor. To add raspberry flavor to your layer cake, brush the layers with the cooled raspberry syrup right before you frost the cake.
How to Make Blackberry Ice Cubes
- Refrigerate the blackberry syrup overnight. Pour the syrup into an ice cube tray and freeze. Add the ice cubes to your favorite drinks or cocktails.
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