BLACKBERRY LEMONADE / BLACKBERRY SYRUP

I love blackberry lemonade! Okay, I love just about any kind of lemonade, but I have a particular fondness for blackberries.

I like to keep homemade blackberry syrup in a cruet in my refrigerator so I can easily add a splash to lemonade, tea, sparkling water, or other drinks whenever I want. It makes this blackberry lemonade especially quick to put together.

To make things even easier, you can start with your favorite store-bought lemonade and simply add the blackberry syrup to taste. If you'd rather make everything from scratch, I've included my homemade lemonade recipe below.

TO MAKE THE LEMONADE 
  • 1¾ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1½ cups fresh lemon juice
  • 7 cups cold water
Combine the sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove from the heat and allow the syrup to cool slightly.
Pour the lemon juice into a 2-quart pitcher. Add the sugar syrup and 7 cups cold water and stir well. Refrigerate until chilled.

TO MAKE THE BLACKBERRY JUICE

Place 4 cups washed blackberries in a saucepan and add about 2 cups water. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for about 10 minutes, until the berries are very soft and have released their juice.

Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl. Gently press the berries with the back of a spoon to extract as much juice as possible.

Blackberry Syrup

Ingredients

  • 3 cups blackberry juice
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 cup water

Directions

Combine the blackberry juice, sugar, lemon juice, and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat.

Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, and boil for about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

Transfer to a covered container or jar and store in the refrigerator.

Blackberry Lemonade

Start by adding blackberry syrup to the prepared lemonade a little at a time, stirring and tasting as you go. The amount you need will depend on how strong and sweet you like your blackberry lemonade.

Serve over ice and garnish with fresh blackberries and lemon slices, if desired.



Print Recipe

BLACKBERRY LEMONADE







TO MAKE THE LEMONADE 
  • 1¾ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1½ cups fresh lemon juice
  • 7 cups cold water
Combine the sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove from the heat and allow the syrup to cool slightly.
Pour the lemon juice into a 2-quart pitcher. Add the sugar syrup and 7 cups cold water and stir well. Refrigerate until chilled.

TO MAKE THE BLACKBERRY JUICE

Place 4 cups washed blackberries in a saucepan and add about 2 cups water. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for about 10 minutes, until the berries are very soft and have released their juice.

Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl. Gently press the berries with the back of a spoon to extract as much juice as possible.

Blackberry Syrup

Ingredients

  • 3 cups blackberry juice
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 cup water

Directions

Combine the blackberry juice, sugar, lemon juice, and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat.

Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, and boil for about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

Transfer to a covered container or jar and store in the refrigerator.

Blackberry Lemonade

Start by adding blackberry syrup to the prepared lemonade a little at a time, stirring and tasting as you go. The amount you need will depend on how strong and sweet you like your blackberry lemonade.

Serve over ice and garnish with fresh blackberries and lemon slices, if desired.