Blackberry simple syrup

This blackberry simple syrup is brightly colored, with a delicious berry flavor. It's really easy to make and adds a fantastic boost of color and flavor to various drinks, from cocktails to soda and lemonade. Perfect to enjoy those summer berry flavors.

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Flavored syrups are really easy to make and similar to homemade salad dressings, so often much better than anything you would buy. The flavor is more bold, there's no weird ingredients, and they taste more like the flavor they are meant to be.

I've shared a few before, but this blackberry syrup is one I can't help but wonder why I haven't shared before. I grew up picking blackberries and they are a favorite fruit, at least when they are the perfect ripeness. And this is a lovely way to enjoy that flavor a little longer. 

What is a simple syrup?

In case you are not familiar with them, a simple syrup is quite simply sugar dissolved in water to make a sugar syrup. It's a common way to add sweetener to cocktails and other drinks since sugar in solid form doesn't always dissolve in the other usually cold ingredients. 

The classic version is just sugar and water, in equal parts by volume. However there are many, many variations. You can make a rich sugar syrup with 2 parts sugar to 1 part water. This version can be handy as it both reduces dilution and keeps better (sugar is a preservative). You can use different sugars, like demerara for a richer flavor. 

You can also flavor syrups in lots of ways. One main way is infusing the syrup with herbs and spices, like ginger syrup, lemongrass syrup and thyme simple syrup. Other versions involve adding ingredients like fruits that release some juices and flavor, like rhubarb syrup. 

Making blackberry syrup

This bright berry syrup is really easy, as you simply warm water, sugar and blackberries together. To help the blackberries release all their flavor, you mash the fruit so the juices come out.

Cook the syrup for a couple minutes as this brings out more of the berry flavor. Then, as with other syrups, I like to leave the mixture to steep as it cools so the flavors mingle even more.

Since this uses equal parts water and sugar, it's a regular strength syrup. This is great for most uses in drinks. However, if you like, you can thicken the syrup by simmering a little longer to reduce it down. This would then give you a richer syrup that you could use more with food, such as over pancakes, French toast or waffles, for example.

You can make this in small or large batches as suits, the process is exactly the same. It will keep stored in a sealed jar, bottle or other container in the fridge for at least a week, likely more like two or even more. If it's older, just be sure to check the smell and and if there's any mould and discard if it has gone bad.

Uses for blackberry simple syrup

Flavored syrups can be used in a whole range of drinks where you would add both some sweetness and where the flavor fits. This particular syrup has the added bonus of adding both a lovely flavor as well as a bright color, which I think makes it extra versatile.

Used in cocktails:

• Add some extra blackberry flavor to my blackberry bourbon smash by using this in place of the regular simple syrup.
• Similarly with my blackberry margarita.
• Use it in other cocktails in place of simple syrup where the flavors match. Blackberry pairs particularly well with whiskey/bourbon, but also works well with gin, tequila and others.

Used in non-alcoholic drinks:

• Use it to make blackberry lemonade.
• Combine with sparkling water to make a simple blackberry soda.
• Add some in with sparkling water, some lime and mint for a berry mocktail mojito.

Alongside drinks, you could also, as I say, make it slightly thicker to use it with food, too, whether as a breakfast syrup or drizzled over cake, for example. It really does have lots of possibilities!

This blackberry simple syrup is so easy to make and a great way to add a touch of bright flavor and color to cocktails, lemonade and so much more. It's great to have on hand for whenever it feels a fit to use, which has lots of options. So be sure to make some and enjoy soon.

Try these other syrups and infused spirits:

• Hibiscus syrup (another with a bright color and flavor)
• Raspberry liqueur (a lovely berry infused spirit, great to add a little brightness to cocktails)
• Cranberry ginger cordial (cranberry ginger syrup)
• Homemade limoncello (it's easy to recreate the classic citrus liqueur at home)
• Plus get more homemade syrup and liqueur recipes in the archives.

See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store. 

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