Last Updated on June 23, 2023 by Sabrina Currie
Blackberry simple syrup is so delicious, versatile and easy. It tastes just like fresh blackberries and is great stirred into soda water, cocktails and poured over vanilla ice cream too! This takes just 10 minutes to make and it's gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan.
Why You Should Make This Recipe
With just a few ice cubes, a cocktail shaker, this syrup and your favorite cocktail ingredients, you'll be sipping in style this summer and fall. This tasty blackberry syrup recipe adds so much flavor to cold drinks and eliminates excessive stirring of undissolved sugar.
Use this in place of fresh blackberries in a tasty Blackberry Smash or in place of the sugar in this Gin Mojito. Sooo yummy! It is also great drizzled around a dessert plate and topped with a slice of Chocolate Cake, Peach Pound Cake or this Lavender Cake.
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A bottle of blackberry simple syrup on hand is a great way to make ordinary cocktails next level. Ditto for desserts and breakfast, especially these blackberry pancakes. And if you're a soda water fan (I am addicted!), a splash of this blackberry cordial makes hydration extra delicious.
With just 3 simple ingredients, this couldn't be faster or easier to make. Just add the ingredients to a saucepan, bring to a boil and then let it cool. Strain it into a bottle or mason jar with a lid and enjoy in your favorite drinks!
10 Ways To Use Simple Syrup
Although simple syrup is most popular in drinks and cocktails, there is a wide variety of ways you can enjoy the fresh flavors of this tangy syrup. This blackberry simple syrup is a great, versatile recipe.
- In a cocktail. Mix 1 part blackberry syrup with 2 parts spirits (vodka, gin, whiskey etc.) and 1 part sour or bitter (lemon or lime juice, tonic water etc.). Blackberry Smash, Blackberry Mojito, Blackberry Julep and a Blackberry Moscow Mule are great summer sippers.
- In non-alcoholic drinks like blackberry lemonade, iced tea, Italian cream soda, ginger ale or plain club soda.
- Pour it over vanilla ice cream and garnish with fresh mint, blackberries or crumbled cookies.
- Add fresh flavors to a basic vinaigrette recipe.
- As a dressing for fruit salad.
- Drizzled over a baked cake to keep it moist. Gently poke holes in your cake with a toothpick and brush simple syrup over it lightly. (Try it over this delish chocolate cake!)
- As a tasty garnish around cheesecake or other desserts.
- Baste it onto salt and pepper seasoned grilled ribs, chicken or salmon as a BBQ glaze.
- In homemade ice cream or frozen into a sorbet.
- Sweeten your hot tea or coffee with it. (Because of the lemon juice, use cream instead of milk if you are adding dairy to your morning brew. This will keep your drink smooth.)
Recipe Ingredients
With just 3 main ingredients in this simple blackberry syrup it comes together fast. Once you make it, I hope you feel confident to try out different variations next time, depending on what fruit is in season!
- Juicy Blackberries - Fresh or frozen blackberries will both work equally well for this recipe. To avoid residual chemicals or pesticides, frozen or fresh organic blackberries are ideal for this tasty blackberry syrup recipe. If you are picking blackberries, pick a few slightly under ripe berries to add extra acidity for a more tangy flavor. This is a perfect way to use up old frozen berries too.
- Sugar - I've used plain, white granulate sugar. You can swap it out for an equal amount of raw sugar, coconut sugar, demerara sugar or brown sugar if you prefer.
- Lemon Juice - A little lemon really makes the blackberry flavor pop. It also helps keep the simple syrup a nice deep purple color rather than the blue-black hue of just the berries after boiling.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions + Variations
This homemade blackberry syrup recipe is really versatile. Change up the flavor or viscosity (thickness and sugar content) easily depending on your flavor and cocktail preferences.
- Raspberry Simple Syrup - Change up the fruit and make this with raspberries or other fresh fruit. Strawberries, peaches and blueberries all make a tasty simple syrup.
- Thick aka Double Simple Syrup - Use 2 parts sugar to 1 part each, water and blackberries to make a thicker syrup. This sweeter syrup can be used in cocktails or on ice cream, pancakes and waffles!
Step-by-Step Instructions
With only a few easy steps, and equal parts sugar and water, you'll have this delicious fruity syrup done in no time! Sweet blackberry flavor in homemade cocktails in one of the best things!
Step 1. Add sugar and blackberries to a medium saucepan or pot.
Step 2. Add lemon juice and water and turn burner on to medium-high heat.
Step 3. Reduce to medium-low heat and let simmer at a gentle boil for 5 minutes, until sugar dissolves, stirring and pressing on blackberries to release their juice with a potato masher or wooden spoon.
Step 4. Turn heat off and let the blackberry syrup cool until it is cooled enough not to burn you while straining.
Step 5. Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the blackberry seeds out, pouring the simple syrup into a sterilized glass jar or bottle. Discard solids.
Step 6. Let the syrup fully cool to room temperature. Cover with a lid or bottle stopper and store in the fridge for up to 30 days.
Enjoy this syrup in all your favorite cocktails! It makes a great Blackberry Smash, blackberry margarita, and adds rich color to Mojitos, Moscow Mules and Mint Juleps too. This also makes gorgeous mocktails. Perfect for providing an alcohol free cocktail at parties, baby showers or for kids.
Expert Tips + Storage
Make classic cocktails into a special house drink by swapping out plain simple syrups for this juicy syrup. Serve cocktails over plenty of ice in chilled glasses. Garnish your drinks with fresh edible flowers or sprigs of mint, basil or thyme for delicious, refreshing and memorable cocktails.
Blackberry simple syrup is a great liquid sweetener to keep on hand for blackberry cocktails and more. Storing it in the refrigerator will keep it fresh for a month. If left at room temperature it has a shorter shelf life and it will only last about a week.
If you want to keep it longer, freeze this tasty blackberry simple syrup recipe in 1 oz ice cube trays. Remove the frozen cubes and store in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag, removing an oz at a time as needed.
If the syrup becomes cloudy or smells bad, it is time to toss it and make a new batch.
Recipe FAQs
Simple syrup has all the sugar but none of the grit of undissolved sugar granules. When using sugar in cold drinks or recipes, it can be time consuming to get all the sugar to dissolve. Using premade simple syrup ensures a smooth, perfectly mixed drink every time.
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If you have any questions or comments, you can find me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. I try to answer any recipe related questions quickly as I know you might be in the middle of making it.
Also check out my FREE PRINTABLE meal planner to make menu planning and grocery shopping a breeze and my shopping guide. And if you like this recipe, I would love it if you give it a star rating in the recipe card.
Cheers and happy cooking, Friends! Sabrina
📖 Recipe
Best Blackberry Simple Syrup For Cocktails + Desserts
Ingredients
- 1 ½ c Blackberries
- 1 ½ c Sugar
- 2 tablespoon Lemon Juice
- 1 ½ c Water
Instructions
- Place sugar, blackberries, lemon juice and water in a medium saucepan or pot. Turn heat to medium-high and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to medium-low heat and let simmer for 5 minutes, stirring and pressing on blackberries to release their juice. Turn heat off and let cool until it has cooled enough not to burn you while straining.
- Using a fine mesh sieve or strainer, strain the blackberry simple syrup into a bottle and discard the solids.
- Let fully cool to room temperature. Cover with a lid or bottle stopper and store in the fridge for up to 30 days.
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