Homemade Blueberry Lemonade With Blueberry Syrup
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Gather 4 simple ingredients and you’re on your way to the most refreshing blueberry lemonade! For the best blueberry flavor, the easy recipe starts with homemade blueberry simple syrup. Then the perfect ratio of lemon juice and water are added to make this a thirst-quenching summertime drink. Serve as a mocktail or make it into a cocktail and add a splash (or two!) or your spirit of choice.
Fun tip! For a pretty presentation, serve the blueberry lemonade un-stirred in individual glasses with extra blueberries and a lemon slice (as pictured). Let your guests enjoy the lovely layers before they stir their drink!
Let’s first address the elephant in the room; how pretty is this blueberry lemonade?! Almost too pretty to enjoy. But let’s not be hasty! 🙂
I first published this recipe in 2020, and if you’re new here, I’ll tell you I love lemonade. If you’ve been here since then, you know I love lemonade. My homemade strawberry lemonade and fresh ginger lemonade continue to be among my favorite recipes on the blog. Funny because there is no baking or butter about them. It just goes to show; that sometimes the simplest treats are the best!
For this blueberry lemonade, it was important that the flavor of blueberry comes through, and comes through strong. That is why I start with the blueberry simple syrup. Heating the blueberries to break them down and release their juices delivers robust flavor.
Then it is quite simple from there. Blueberry syrup + lemon juice + water. That’s it. That’s the recipe for the easiest blueberry lemonade you’ll ever make!
Fun And Easy Ingredient Swaps
- Swap the lemons + water and use store-bought lemonade. No judgment here!
- Honey, no-sugar sweeteners, and even agave would be delicious alternatives to the granulated sugar.
- Frozen blueberries will work instead of fresh for the simple syrup.
3 Easy Steps To Make Blueberry Lemonade
Add the blueberries, sugar, and water to a small saucepan. Heat until the blueberries start to break down and until a syrup forms.
Let the syrup cool. You can also make the syrup ahead of time and keep it refrigerated, or even freeze it!
Tip! Freeze the blueberry syrup in an ice cube tray to make blueberry ice cubes! These will flavor and cool the lemonade!
To make individual servings: Add a small handful of fresh blueberries to 4 serving glasses for a tasty garnish.
Pour 2 to 3 tablespoons of the syrup into the glasses and top with a fresh slice of lemon.
Tip! To make a full pitcher, add all of the syrup to a 2-quart pitcher. Then pour the lemon juice and water over the top, and stir.
Add ice cubes to your glasses. Pour 1/4 of the water and lemon juice over the top.
The lemonade will have a pretty layered look before it is stirred, which makes a beautiful presentation.
Tip! The recipe is easily doubled to make more lemonade. The blueberry syrup will be enough to flavor a 2-quart pitcher of lemonade, or 64 ounces, or 8 cups.
FAQ
No – the pictures demonstrate the different pretty layers in the lemonade. Whether made in individual serving glasses or one large pitcher, you will want to stir your lemonade to get the full flavor. Some blueberry syrup may naturally go to the bottom since it is heavier than the water and lemon juice.
Try These Tasty Twists
Take your summertime lemonade up a notch by incorporating one – or all – of the ideas below!
- Add a little sparkling water for a fizzy fruity lemonade.
- Add frozen blueberries as the garnish to keep the drink cool.
- For an adult version, add your favorite spirit. Vodka seems natural!
Did you add any fun twists to your lemonade? Let me know in the comments below – I’d love to hear how it turned out!💙
Homemade Blueberry Lemonade With Blueberry Syrup
EQUIPMENT
- 2-Quart Pitcher
INGREDIENTS
Blueberry Syrup
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup granulated sugar (more or less to taste)
- 2 cups fresh blueberries (plus more to garnish )
Lemonade
- 4 cups water
- ⅔ cup lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
INSTRUCTIONS
Blueberry Syrup
- In a small saucepan, add 1 cup of water, sugar, and blueberries. Cook over medium-low heat until the sugar melts and the blueberries start to break down – about 5 to 7 minutes. While cooking, smash the blueberries with the back of a sauce spoon to release all of the juices. Note – Taste the blueberry syrup and adjust the sweetness to taste.½ cup granulated sugar, 2 cups fresh blueberries, 1 cup water
- Over a small bowl, strain the blueberry syrup through a fine mesh strainer – pushing the blueberries through the strainer with the back of a sauce spoon. Set aside to cool.
Lemonade
- Add the blueberry syrup, lemon juice, and 4 cups of water to your pitcher. Add more water to dilute the lemonade more if you prefer. Chill and serve over ice with extra blueberries and a slice of lemon. Note – You can use store-bought lemonade instead of water and lemon juice. Additionally, you can swap the water for sparkling water for a sparkling lemonade.4 cups water, ⅔ cup lemon juice
- Presentation Note – The photos in the post represent serving the lemonade in individual glasses un-stirred. If making individual servings, add about 3 tablespoons of syrup to each glass. And you will want to stir the lemonade to get the right flavor.
RECIPE NOTES
- Serving Size – Easily double or triple the recipe to make a larger batch, or punch-bowl size lemonade.
- Sweetness – Adjust the sugar to your taste. I prefer a less-sweet lemonade and more of the sweetness to come from the blueberries. Note that the more sugar you add may dilute the blueberry flavor.
- Lemon – I use bottled lemon juice for this recipe, but you can use the juice from about 5 to 6 large lemons. You can also use store-bought lemonade instead of the water and lemon juice.
- Water – Adjust the water to your taste. I recommend starting with at least 4 cups of water to make the pitcher of lemonade.
- Make it Bubbly – Swap the water for sparkling water. Or use a half/half mix for a sparkling blueberry lemonade.
About the Author …
Hi, I’m Erin! With years of experience baking for two in my own small household, I know about the love for desserts without the leftovers. I’ve tested, written, and photographed every one of the 300+ recipes on my website. And even had some of my desserts featured on Taste of Home, The Spruce Eats, ELLE, Parade, and more! From traditional to gluten free desserts for two, I have the recipe for you.
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