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    Home » Recipes » Gluten-Free Breakfast Ideas

    Published: Apr 15, 2020 · Modified: Aug 22, 2022 by Jen Wooster

    Homemade Blueberry Syrup

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    Jump to Recipe
    Blueberry cocktail with fresh blueberries.
    Stack of pancakes with blueberry syrup.
    blueberry sauce pinterest graphic

    This delicious blueberry syrup recipe takes 20 minutes to make and can be served with whole fresh blueberries for spooning over vanilla ice cream or drizzling over your favorite pancakes.

    Or strain it to make a blueberry simple syrup for drinks and cocktails.  I like to think of this recipe as the perfect blend of blueberry sauce and traditional syrup. We naturally thicken the sauce without cornstarch and only use 4 ingredients!

    blueberry syrup in bowl on gingham napkin

    Please read the entire post for tips and tricks to ensure a perfect recipe every time. And don't forget to tag @peelwithzeal on Instagram so we can admire your creation!

    This post may include affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    This syrup is great on blueberry pancakes, waffles, and french toast, or used as a simple syrup in cocktails or brewed iced tea. It is one of my favorite summertime recipes.

    Jump to:
    • 📖Why This Recipe Works
    • 🧾Blueberry Syrup Ingredients
    • Can I use frozen blueberries to make blueberry syrup?
    • ⏲️How to Make Blueberry Syrup
    • 🌡️ Storage
    • 🌡️How to Can Blueberry Syrup
    • 💭 Variations
    • More Blueberry Recipes
    • 💬Frequently Asked Questions
    • 📖 Recipe
    • ⭐Reviews

    📖Why This Recipe Works

    Blueberry syrup is a great way to use up an abundance of blueberries. Whether you picked your own or found wild blueberries to use, this incredible syrup is nothing short of amazing. A delicious blueberry flavor is achieved using simple ingredients.

    The best part of this recipe is its complete versatility. My blueberry syrup recipe can be frozen, canned, or stored in the fridge for up to a month.

    And you can use it in so many ways, from jazzing up plain yogurt to overnight oats. It is for so much more than pancakes and cocktails. 

    🧾Blueberry Syrup Ingredients

    For the photos for this recipe, I used in-season fresh blueberries.

    Can I use frozen blueberries to make blueberry syrup?

    Yes, I have had equal success with high-quality frozen blueberries. Frozen blueberries will be sweet so double check they have no sugar added.

    I let the season dictate fresh vs. frozen berries. Frozen berries are a safe bet during the winter months. I have experimented with dried blueberries, but we didn't find them to work as well if they were previously sweetened.

    Sugar - You can use granulated sugar or coconut sugar in this recipe. I do not recommend maple syrup or honey in place of sugar in this recipe as the thickness and texture will be off. We don't recommend trying an artificial sweetener in this recipe.

    Lemon- Lemon juice adds much-needed brightness and acid to this recipe.

    Vanilla- Adding vanilla extract to the blueberry syrup gives it a depth of flavor. You can also use vanilla powder or paste.

    See the recipe card for exact quantities.

    blueberry sauce ingredients on counter

    ⏲️How to Make Blueberry Syrup

    Before starting this recipe be sure to properly wash and rinse all your fresh berries. Removing the little green stems from your blueberries is time-consuming but necessary.

    Step 1- Mash

    Just like with our juneberry jam recipe, we need to mash the berries so they can quickly release their juices. Start by adding the blueberries, lemon juice, sugar, and half a cup of water to the pan.

    Use a potato masher to mash up the berries. They don't need to be totally pureed. Just puncturing the skin is enough.

    Don't have a potato masher? Use the back of a wooden spoon, a cocktail muddler, or even a drinking glass to mash.

    Step 2- Boil

    Place the mash in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stirring frequently, bring the berries to a soft boil, and then turn the heat down to keep them at a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes and stir occasionally to prevent burning.

    At this point, you can remove from the heat and cool. Stir in the vanilla extract and serve chunky. My suggestion is to move forward with the next step for a classicly smooth syrup.

    How to Serve Blueberry Syrup

    I have already talked about using this fresh blueberry syrup on my gluten-free blueberry pancakes. But is stellar on cornmeal pancakes. You can also make yogurt parfaits, stir into your oatmeal, or chia pudding. 

    Or as a topping for ice cream or cheesecake. 

    You can serve fruit syrup chunky or turn it into a smoother syrup, i.e. a blueberry sauce, by following the method below,

    How to Use Blueberry Syrup for Drinks

    Using an immersion blender, blend the sauce for 60 seconds to break down any remaining blueberry chunks. Strain the sauce and stir in the vanilla extract. It should be nice and thick, not a thin fruit juice.

    No immersion blender? Move to a regular blender or food processor.

    Now that you have made a blueberry simple syrup you can use it just as you would any plain simple syrup. I particularly like it in iced tea or swap out the homemade fruit syrup in my blackberry lemonade recipe. 

    Use it in your favorite margarita recipe. Or any cocktails that you think need a sweet blueberry kick. 

    🌡️ Storage

    This recipe calls for a 1:1 sugar-to-water ratio, like all simple syrups. Boiling the sauce and then simmering for 15 minutes reduces the water content and kills bacteria.

    So the resulting syrup can be stored for two to four weeks in an airtight container. Or freeze for up to a year.

    During peak blueberry season we like to batch-process our syrup for canning.

    🌡️How to Can Blueberry Syrup

    There are four steps to canning homemade syrup using a simple water bath.

    • Prepping
    • Filling
    • Process
    • Check the seal

    Prep Jars & Water Bath

    Once you have made the syrup you can start prepping the water bath and sanitizing the jars. Bring water to a boil in a large stock pot or canner.

    Heat jars in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil.  Wash canning lids in warm soapy water and set bands aside.

    Fill the Jars

    Ladle strained hot Blueberry Syrup into hot clean jars leaving at least a ¼ inch headspace. Dip a paper towel into boiling water, and use that to wipe the rims clean. Center lid on jar. Apply the band until the fit is fingertip tight. Do not over-tighten.

    Process the Jars

    Place the jars into your pot or canner. They should be completely covered with boiling water. Tongs or a wide-mouth jar lifter is helpful here.

    Process jars (i.e. boil) the jars for 10 minutes (adjust for altitude, if necessary). Remove jars and cool.

    Check for Seal and Store

    Check lids for seal after 24 hours. The lid should not flex up and down when the center is pressed. Store any unsealed jars in the refrigerator and use them right away.

    Check out more canning basics.

    blueberry syrup on pancakes

    💭 Variations

    The uses for our blueberry sauce seem endless, but so do the variations. Here are two of my favorites.

    Lemon-Blueberry Sauce

    While our sauce does contain lemon juice more lemon is needed to make a full-flavored lemon blueberry sauce. Adding the zest of one lemon to the sauce will impart enough oils to punch up the flavor. Lemon zest has a lot more flavor than the fruit's juices. Alternatively, you can swap out the vanilla for lemon extract.

    Balsamic- Blueberry Sauce

    Skip the vanilla and add 2 teaspoons of high-quality balsamic vinegar. Stir in at the end. This is a great option if you are using the blueberry sauce for a savory recipe like a roasted duck or venison steak.  Or turn it into a salad dressing. 

    You can also use different berries to make this recipe or mix them together. Hmmm... a strawberry syrup sounds nice right about now. 

    More Blueberry Recipes

    • blueberry avocado smoothie in a glass
      Blueberry Avocado Smoothie
    • almond flour muffins in tin with bowl of blackberries.
      Almond Flour Blackberry Muffins
    • Homemade frozen dog treats for summer in bowl
      Blueberry Frozen Dog Treats
    • gluten and dairy free blueberry pancakes
      Gluten-Free Blueberry Pancakes

    💬Frequently Asked Questions

    How do you thicken blueberry syrup?

    Blueberry sauce is naturally thickened thanks to pectin that is released during the boiling process. If the sauce is too thin return it to a boil in 5-minute increments until the desired consistency is reached. Thin out the sauce with warm water if needed.

    Can blueberry syrup be frozen?

    Yes, blueberry syrup can be frozen. Store in a container with a tight-fitting lid, be sure to leave enough headspace for the syrup to expand. Thaw in the fridge overnight before using.

    Did You Enjoy Making This Recipe? Please rate this recipe with ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ or leave a comment. It helps other wonderful people connect with our food.

    📖 Recipe

    blueberry syrup recipe in jar

    Homemade Blueberry Syrup

    Deliciously sweet homemade blueberry syrup recipe using fresh or frozen berries. Perfect for ice cream, pancakes, waffles and more! This recipe can be used as a blueberry pancake syrup or strained and turned into a blueberry simple syrup!
    Servings: 16
    Prep: 5 minutes mins
    Cook: 15 minutes mins
    Total: 20 minutes mins
    5 from 6 votes
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    Equipment

    • Medium Saucepan
    • Immersion blender
    • Fine mesh strainer

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup fresh blueberries
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • ½ cup water
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Add all ingredients, except vanilla extract to a small saucepan. Lightly crush blueberries with a potato masher or the back of a spoon.
      1 cup fresh blueberries, ½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup water, 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • Place over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Blueberry Pancake Syrup

    • Cool sltighy and serve. voer waffles, french toast, or pancakes.

    Blueberry Simple Syrup

    • Using an immersion blender, blend the sauce for 30 to 60 seconds
    • Strain the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve, pushing the blueberries to extract as much juice as possible. Stir in vanilla extract. Serve warm or at room temperature.
      ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    Rate this Recipe

    Video

    Notes

    • You can also use whole frozen blueberries in this recipe. Thaw before using. 
    • Syrup can be stored for up to 2 months in the refrigerator. 
    • See the blog post for notes about canning. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 30kcal | Carbs: 8g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Fiber: 0.2g
    Author: Jen Wooster
    Course:: Breakfast, Drinks, Sauce
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword blueberry drink syrup, blueberry lemon sauce, blueberry sauce, Blueberry simple syrup, blueberry syrup, blueberry syrup for pancakes, blueberry syrup recipe
    Tried this recipe?Tag us @peelwithzeal so we can see your creation!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Swathi says

      April 16, 2020 at 11:40 pm

      5 stars
      I love homemade syrups. Love this blueberry syrup great with pancakes.

      Reply
    2. Gloria says

      April 16, 2020 at 9:06 am

      5 stars
      You know, while I was looking in the freezer, I found a bad of fruit. I think I will use this recipe and make some sauce. Perfect for pancakes....and yogurt.

      Reply

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    My name is Jen and I am the recipe developer, writer, and photographer around here. Since being diagnosed with celiac disease over 10 years ago I have been slowly curating a recipe box full of gluten-free goodness. I adore vegetables, crave chocolate, and I am always up for an adventure.

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