Blackberry Simple Syrup

Made with just three ingredients and ready in minutes, homemade Blackberry Simple Syrup can be added to your favorite cocktails, non-alcoholic drinks, and more! 

What Is Simple Syrup? 

Simple syrup is a fancy-pants name for sugar water. Surprised? 

Simple syrup is made from equal parts water and sugar. It’s usually prepared with granulated sugar, but you can prepare simple syrup with nearly any variety of sugar or sweetener that you like. 

If you’ve ever tried sweetening lemonade or iced tea with granulated sugar, you’ll know how long it takes for the sugar to dissolve. Not so with simple syrup!

Because simple syrup remains liquid even after being chilled, it’s the perfect sweetener for your favorite cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks. 

Can You Flavor Simple Syrup? 

It’s absolutely possible to start infusing homemade simple syrup with all kinds of fresh fruits and herbs. 

Today I’m sharing my go-to blackberry simple syrup recipe. It’s a quick and easy three-ingredient wonder that has revolutionized my cocktail game! 

However, you can use pretty much any fresh fruit you want to flavor simple syrup. And to take things up a notch, you can add fresh herbs to any fruit simple syrup for an elevated flavor. 

Tools Needed to Make Blackberry Simple Syrup 

The only equipment you truly need is a saucepan and a fine mesh sieve. Everything else is optional, however I recommend purchasing the following kitchen tools to make your life easier. 

• Small Saucepan — to cook the blackberry simple syrup in.
• Measuring Cups — to measure the simple syrup ingredients.
• Fine Mesh Strainer — to strain the blackberry simple syrup.
• Funnel — for mess-free pouring of the simple syrup into the jar. 
• Mason Jar — to store the simple syrup. 

Blackberry Simple Syrup Ingredients 

Whether you plan on using this blackberry syrup for drinks, cocktails, or for brushing between cake layers, the ingredients list remains unchanged: 

• Blackberries — fresh or frozen will work 
• Sugar — I used granulated sugar, but nearly any type of sugar will work 
• Water — regular tap water is just fine 

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

Can infused simple syrup be made with frozen fruit? 

Yes! You’re welcome to use frozen blackberries to make the simple syrup. Note that you do not need to thaw the berries before starting the recipe. 

How to Make Blackberry Simple Syrup 

Homemade blackberry infused simple syrup takes just a few minutes to prepare! Here’s an overview of how the simple syrup comes together:  

1. In a small saucepan, combine sugar, water, and blackberries. 
2. Set the pan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. 
3. Once simmering, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes. 
4. Turn heat off and let cool to room temperature. 
5. Strain into a jar using a fine mesh strainer and a funnel. Label, date, and store in the fridge until ready to use. 

The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

Tips for Making Fruit-Infused Simple Syrup 

• Use fresh or frozen fruit — If blackberries are in season, I recommend buying them fresh to make the simple syrup. However, you may also make the recipe with frozen fruit if needed. 
• Don’t be tempted to crank up the heat — The syrup requires just 5 minutes of simmering as is, so don’t try to speed up the process even further. The berries need time to break down and infuse the syrup with flavor. 
• Let cool before handling — The simple syrup will be HOT once it’s finished simmering. Do not pour the boiling hot syrup into a glass jar as that could cause it to crack. Instead, let the syrup cool to room temperature, then seal in a jar and store. 
• Skim off any foam — You might notice some foam forming on your syrup as it simmers, that’s normal! If desired, you can skim it off but it’s not necessary. 

Blackberry Simple Syrup Flavor Variations to Try

There are so many tasty variations of this blackberry drink syrup to try out! Try adding fresh herbs or other fruits to the saucepan to infuse the simple syrup with even more flavor. 

• Blackberry rhubarb simple syrup: Add ½ cup chopped rhubarb to the recipe 
• Blackberry basil simple syrup: Add 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves to the recipe 
• Blackberry mint simple syrup: Add 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves to the recipe 
• Blackberry thyme simple syrup: Add 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves to the recipe 
• Blackberry sage simple syrup: Add 6 fresh sage leaves to the recipe 
• Blackberry rosemary simple syrup: Add 2 to 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary the recipe
• Blackberry lemon simple syrup: Add the zest of one lemon to the recipe 
• Blackberry blueberry simple syrup: Add ½ cup blueberries to the recipe
• Blackberry jalapeño simple syrup: Add one sliced jalapeño to the recipe (remove seeds to tone down the spice) 

I’m sure there are many more fruit and herb combinations that would work with this recipe. If you experiment with the flavor, please leave me a comment below! 

Blackberry Simple Syrup FAQs

Have questions about making flavored simple syrup? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.

How long do infused simple syrups last?

This simple syrup infused with blackberries will last up to 1 week in the fridge, and up to 3 months in the freezer. To prevent the simple syrup from becoming cloudy, I recommend storing it in an airtight container. 

Does simple syrup need to be refrigerated?

Yes! You need to refrigerate simple syrup to prevent it from going bad. Let the syrup cool to room temperature in the saucepan before storing in the fridge. 

Can you freeze simple syrup?

Yes! I like to freeze my syrup in ice cube trays so that I can thaw smaller portions when making cocktails or batch drinks. 

Do you need to boil simple syrup?

Typically you do not need to boil simple syrup to get the sugar to dissolve in the water. However, because this is an infused simple syrup recipe, you need to boil the mixture so that the blackberries have time to break down and release their flavor. 

Do homemade simple syrups go bad?

Yes! In fact, flavored simple syrups (like this one!) go bad more quickly than regular simple syrup. Simple syrup that’s gone bad will likely be cloudy, smell bad, look discolored, and might even have mold on it. 

Why is my simple syrup cloudy? 

If you made the blackberry flavored simple syrup less than a week ago, the cloudiness is likely due to the sugar crystallizing slightly in the fridge. If it’s been over a week and the syrup is cloudy, it’s probably spoiled and must be thrown out. 

Ways to Use This Blackberry Syrup 

My favorite way to use this blackberry syrup is for drinks! It adds both sweetness and a lovely blackberry flavor to any beverage. 

Blackberry simple syrup uses for cocktails: 

• Blackberry Whiskey Sour (replace the strawberry rhubarb syrup in this recipe) 
• Blackberry Mint Julep 
• Blackberry Cosmopolitan (replace the raspberry syrup in my Raspberry Cosmo recipe)
• Blackberry Basil Margarita (replace the strawberries in my Strawberry Basil Margarita recipe)
• Blackberry Gin Spritz (replace the raspberries in my Raspberry Gin Spritz recipe)

Blackberry simple syrup uses for non-alcoholic drinks: 

• Sparkling Lemonade (replace the raspberry rhubarb syrup in the recipe)
• Watermelon Blackberry Lemonade (replace the mint simple syrup in this recipe) 
• Raspberry Blackberry Sparkling Iced Tea (add the blackberry syrup to this recipe) 
• Watermelon Blackberry Limeade (replace the simple syrup with the blackberry syrup) 
• Blackberry Iced Tea (replace the raspberry syrup in this recipe) 
• Blackberry Lemonade (adjust my Strawberry Lemonade recipe)

Tip: You can also use the blackberry simple syrup for cakes and cupcakes, like this Lemon Blackberry Cupcake recipe. Brush the tops of the cupcakes with the syrup to keep them moist before frosting and serving! 

Try This Flavored Simple Syrup Recipe at Home! 

Next time you want to add both sweetness and flavor to a drink, give this blackberry simple syrup recipe a try! 

Did you think it was delicious? Leave a comment below and give this infused simple syrup recipe a review for others to see what you thought.

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your photo of this blackberry infused simple syrup. 

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