I’ve always been a big fan of homemade lemonade, especially when they’re something a little different than the norm. Strawberry lemonade, lavender lemonade – you name it and I typically love it! This blueberry lemonade is my new favorite addition to my lemonade collection! It’s a great way to use up fresh blueberries you may have leftover and the flavor is just amazing. A little tart, a little sweet, and delicious. And while the color is more purple than blue, you could still serve this up when you want a blue drink – 4th of July parties, a boy themed baby shower, you name it. If you want it to be a touch more blue, you could even add a drop of food color like I did with these ocean blue popsicles!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Easy to make – you just need a few ingredients and a few minutes to whip up a pitcher of this blueberry lemonade! Great for all ages – kids and adults will love this lemonade recipe! Unlike store-bought lemonade, this one has a very complex flavor that adults will appreciate! Versatile – want it a little sweeter, add a bit more simple syrup. Want it a little more tart, add less! It’s easy to make this work for your lemonade taste buds (and those are totally a thing!).
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
Blueberries – make sure to use fresh, not frozen, blueberries in this recipe. Frozen blueberries always tend to retain a little liquid when thawed and can dilute the lemonade. Lemons – use fresh lemons for the fresh-squeezed lemon juice, not bottled juice. It makes a huge difference since the lemon is such a prominent flavor in this recipe! Sugar & Water – the two of these will be used to make a simple syrup. The simple syrup is a little sweeter than a typical simple syrup (to help counterbalance the tart lemons), so I highly recommend making your own compared to using a store-bought simple syrup or a one you used for another recipe.
Instructions
Okay so are you ready to make your new favorite summer drink? Once you get all of your ingredients out, make sure to wash your blueberries and pat them dry before using. Then you’re ready to go!
1 – Make a simple syrup
First, combine 1/2 cup of water and 3/4 cup sugar in a small pan then heat over medium heat until sugar is completely dissolved to create a simple syrup. A typical simple syrup uses a 1:1 ratio, but I like the bit sweeter simple syrup in this recipe. While you’re making the simple syrup, cut your lemons in half and squeeze to get fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Or use a juicer for the most juice possible. I have this citrus juicer and absolutely love it!
2 – Make the Blueberry Juice
Once the simple syrup is done, you’re ready to make the lemonade! In a blender or food processor combine 1 cup blueberries, 1/2 cup of fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and a 1/2 cup of the simple syrup and blend until smooth. Pour the blended mixture through a mesh strainer to get the juice out and leave the larger chunks of blueberries behind. This will give you the juice you’re going to need in the next step!
3 – Make the Lemonade
Combine 3 ounces of the juice and 4 oz of cold water in an 8 ounce or larger glass. Add ice when ready to serve (not before, so the ice doesn’t dilute the lemonade). Garnish with fresh blueberries and a lemon wedge for serving! Serve chilled and enjoy!
Expert Tips
Double the recipe to make a 2 quart pitcher and add all of the blueberry juice (should be about 24 ounces of juice) along with 32 ounces of water into the pitcher and stir. Refrigerate until you’re ready to serve. Store the blueberry lemonade in the fridge chilled (without ice) for up to a week. I recommend storing in a pitcher with a lid.
More Easy Berry Recipes
If you like berries, you are going to love these other berry recipes – strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and more!
Best strawberry scones – these fresh strawberry scones are a wonderful way to start your day, even better when paired with a little fresh juice! Strawberry poke cake – fresh strawberries, homemade whipped cream, and make – is there anything more you could want? Cranberry orange bread – this viral recipe is popular for a reason, it’s the best cranberry bread you’ll ever try! Blueberry muffins with crumb topping – these sweet and moist blueberry muffins will become a new family favorite! It’s easy to make and bursting with blueberry flavor! Homemade raspberry sauce – raspberries, lemons, and a little sugar make this the perfect topping for cheesecake, angel food cake, or just regular old cake!
