Refreshing Blueberry Lemonade

Summertime and lemonade are the classic duo – and this Refreshing Blueberry Lemonade will make you wish it was summer all the time!  This easy recipe starts with homemade blueberry simple syrup, then the perfect ratio of lemon juice and water is added for a truly refreshing drink.  Make this adult-friendly by adding the spirit of your choice.

this recipe

Homemade Blueberry Lemonade

As a food blogger, there always seems to be an abundance of leftover fruit in the house.  Depending on the recipe, lemons and blueberries tend to get purchased fresh because I want them as props to the photographs.  

Now you have a little behind the scenes intel on how the blog post pictures come together …

And naturally, there are always leftovers.  And I am not one to haphazardly throw away food.  This is where this recipe for Refreshing Blueberry Lemonade came from.  Determined to come up with the perfect recipe, I thought it was appropriate to make a beverage given the high temperatures right now!  

Not to mention, beverage recipes are pretty easy – a few ingredients, no oven needed, and they are still impressive if you need to arrive at your next bbq with a ‘dish’.  And I think it’s safe to say that you won’t have to worry about transporting leftovers back home.  🙂

How To Make Homemade Blueberry Lemonade

I may get my food blogger/home baker card taken away from me for saying this – but I believe most recipes are just guides.  Unless there is a specific instruction or note on not deviating from the recipe, I believe you should have fun with it and make it your own!

That’s not to say I didn’t test this recipe at least 4 times … 

I do think there needs to be a good balance of blueberry flavor and lemon juice.  Given lemon juice can sometimes overwhelm any flavor it is paired with.  But with that ‘rule or recommendation’, there is nothing too complicated with this recipe.

You can impart the blueberry flavor into the lemonade a couple of ways:

1. Puree the fresh blueberries with the sugar and lemon juice
2. Make a classic simple syrup and add the blueberries to the simmering mix 

I suppose there is a third way – mashing up blueberries in already made lemonade – but that seems too easy.  So, I opted for #2 and making the blueberry simple syrup.  From there, making the Refreshing Blueberry Lemonade is pretty easy:

1. Make the blueberry simple syrup (more on that below)
2. Add the lemon juice
3. Add the water
4. Pour over ice
5. Garnish with fresh blueberries and lemon slices
6. Enjoy!

Homemade Blueberry Simple Syrup

I think once you make a blueberry flavored simple syrup,  you may want to try other sweet fruits!  A typical simple syrup is equal parts water and sugar.  I will tell you, this is not a typical simple syrup.  

For one – we are adding blueberries.  And two – those blueberries are already pretty sweet, so I opted to alter the typical sugar to water ratio.  With that, feel free to add as much or as little sugar as you like.  Remember, recipes are a guide and have fun making them your own.

To Make The Blueberry Simple Syrup

1. Start with nearly 6x the amount of blueberries to sugar (adjust to your taste preference).  Blueberries are already pretty sweet, and in order to preserve their sweetness and flavor, I don’t think you need an excessive amount of sugar.  Plus, too much sugar can overpower the blueberry flavor. 
2. Simmer the blueberries, sugar, and a bit of water in a small saucepan.  We want the blueberries to burst and release all of their yummy flavor and juices.  This takes about 5 minutes.  And you can help the process by smashing the blueberries with the back of a sauce spoon.
3. Strain the blueberry syrup.  However, if you don’t mind pieces of blueberry, you can omit this step.  
4. The syrup is ready to use!

And think of the uses:

• Add to lemonade (obviously 🙂 )
• Use as a coffee syrup – I have heard this combo is pretty good, but have yet to try it …
• Pour over pancakes
• Pour over scoops of vanilla ice cream
• Better yet, blend it with scoops of vanilla ice cream for a milkshake!
• Top your breakfast yogurt and/or granola
• Use as a syrup to soak cake tops

This list could get pretty long, so I will stop there.  Point it, you can use it on anything you want a little sweet pizazz!

Tips For Making Blueberry Lemonade

I’ll leave you with a few notes on making homemade lemonade.  After that, whip up a batch and enjoy your summer!

• This recipe is great for kids, but you can make it adult by adding your favorite liquor or sparkling wine.
• Taste test as you go.  If the blueberry simple syrup isn’t sweet enough for you, add more sugar!  And if the lemonade flavor isn’t lemony enough, add more lemon juice!
• Lemon juice – I made versions with fresh lemon juice and bottled lemon juice.  Either work great, but if you opt for fresh lemons, you may need 5-6 (depending on their size).
• Lemon juice to blueberry syrup to water ratio – My measurements in the recipe are intended to make sure the blueberry flavor really comes through.  But again, have fun and adjust as you like.
• Water vs. sparking water – You can use either or a combination of both.  I will say if using sparkling water, you may want to enjoy all of the lemonade that day, otherwise flat sparkling water can be a little less than appetizing.
• The recipe can be halved, doubled, tripled, etc. – Make as little or as much as you want!

More Summer Drink Recipes

• Ginger Lemonade
• Strawberry Lemonade
• Watermelon Honey Lime Slushies
• Black Cherry Cream Sodas