Stretch out your summer harvests by making a deliciously simple blackberry syrup you can use for pancakes, ice cream, lemonade, and so much more.
Ingredients you'll need
There are only a handful of ingredients you need to make this simple syrup, and you probably already have the ingredients in your kitchen.
- Blackberries - This recipe is best using fresh blackberries, but you can use frozen blackberries, too. Just use the same amount of frozen blackberries as you do fresh.
- Granulated sugar - I recommend using plain granulated sugar. Some people like adding a bit of honey, but you have to remember it will make the syrup taste like honey so I don't recommend adding too much.
- Lemon juice - Lemon juice brightens the blackberry flavor and makes it more prominent. Without it, the syrup just tastes a little flat and one dimensional.
- Vanilla - This is optional. I like just a light touch of vanilla because it rounds out the flavor, and for me gives it an almost pie-like
You also need a bit of water just to add a bit more volume and help everything along.
How to make blackberry syrup
The process of making any berry syrup is so easy and doesn't take a ton of time, either.
- Add your ingredients to a saucepan (except for the vanilla if you choose to use it).
- Heat the saucepan to medium-high heat. Mash the blackberries.
- Allow everything to cook until all the juices are released, and the liquid begins to thicken.
- Strain the mixture. You may want to use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to separate the blackberry solids and squeeze out the liquid from them.
- Allow the syrup to cool, stir in the vanilla, and use!
How to thicken
Sometimes the syrup can seem too thin. There are a couple of ways you can thicken it. The most important thing to remember is that the syrup will look runny while it is hot. It will thicken as it cools.
- Add a tablespoon or two of extra sugar and then heat the syrup for another 3 - 4 minutes.
- Add a ½ teaspoon of pectin to the syrup and cook it for another 3 - 4 minutes.
- Cook the syrup for longer, scrape the bottoms and sides as you cook.
Syrup Uses
You can use the blackberry syrup for so many things. Here are a few of my favorites!
- Stir it into your lemonade or sparkling water for a refreshing beverage.
- Drizzle it over your waffle or pancakes.
- Pour over ice cream or in your milkshakes.
Related recipes
Here are some great recipes for you to use your blackberry syrup in! Try this blackberry lemonade. Or pour it over your vanilla ice cream. Stir it into your blackberry prosecco mojitos and blackberry pomegranate sorbet.
Blackberry Syrup
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups blackberries
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup water
- ½ lemon juiced
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add the blackberries, sugar, water, and lemon juice into a saucepan.
- Heat on medium.
- Gently mash the blackberries as they cook for the juices to release.
- Stir occasionally, scraping the sides and bottom of the saucepan to prevent burning.
- Continue to cook until the liquid thickens slightly.
- Strain the liquid from the blackberry bits, remember to scrape the bottom of the strainer. Discard the solids, or use in another recipe,
- Stir the vanilla into the syrup.
- Cool and store in an airtight container.
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