It’s sweet, it’s tart, it’s a beautiful shade of pink that looks gorgeous with fresh lemon slices and mint leaves. This blackberry lemonade uses a from-scratch blackberry sugar syrup mixed with fresh lemon juice and served over ice. It’s a Southern favorite, and also perfect with a splash of bourbon.
Making lemonade from scratch might seem like extra work, but it’s mostly hands-off time. The berry syrup simmers while you juice the lemons, and everything just needs a quick mix before chilling. You’re left with a refreshing drink that’s not too sweet and has actual fruit flavor.
Table of Contents
Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need
Use fresh lemons! Freshly squeezed lemon juice is so much better for homemade lemonade. Fresh or frozen berries work here, depending on whether they’re in season or not. You can add club soda and a splash of vodka to make this a cocktail.
This makes enough for 6 glasses, but it is so easy to double or triple for a party. You can make adjustments in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
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Equipment
- saucepan
- strainer
Ingredients
- 1 cup blackberries, frozen is fine
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup water for the syrup
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice
- 3 cups of water for mixing
How to Make
Step One: Make The Syrup. In a small saucepan, heat the berries, sugar, and a half cup of water. Bring it to a boil and cook for 5 minutes.
Step Two: Strain And Chill. Strain the syrup through a mesh strainer over a bowl. Press down on the berries to get as much of the syrup as possible. Cover the bowl and chill it in the fridge for 1 hour.
Step Three: Mix And Chill. Combine everything into the pitcher (the syrup, lemon juice, and 3 cups of water). Let it chill and serve it over ice with some blackberries for garnish.
Storing & Serving
If you have any leftover lemonade, tightly cover the pitcher and store it in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Serve this at a summer party with:
- Grilled marinated chicken drumsticks
- This pasta salad with mozzarella and summer veggies is so easy to prep ahead.
- Or have a simple and classic cucumber salad.
- Finish off with this light and refreshing easy pineapple and mandarin orange cake.
Answering Your Questions
Sure! You can make the whole recipe, start to finish, and keep it in the fridge for 24 hours. Or you can make just the syrup and refrigerate or freeze it, then mix everything else up right before serving.
You can use an artificial sweetener. Or, try boiling the blackberries in half water and half apple or grape juice. This will sweeten them up without adding white sugar.
You can use raspberries or strawberries, too. You might want to reduce the sugar a tad since these have more natural sugar.
Not Meyer lemons, just “regular” ones.
More Blackberry Recipes
- If you’re in the mood for a non-lemonade drink, try this recipe for Southern blackberry sweet tea.
- And if you prefer an adult drink, try blackberry mojitos or a blackberry old-fashioned.
- A Bundt cake with blackberries is so simple and delicious.
Printable Recipe
Blackberry Lemonade (From Scratch!)
Equipment
- saucepan
- strainer
Ingredients
- 1 cup blackberries frozen is fine
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup water for the syrup
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice
- 3 cups water for mixing
Instructions
- Make the blackberry syrup. Heat the berries, sugar, and ½ cup of water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and heat for 5 minutes until berries break down and a syrup is formed.
- Strain. Place a strainer over a bowl and strain the syrup through a mesh strainer, pressing down to get as much of the syrup as possible. Cover the berry syrup and chill in the fridge for an hour.
- Mix and chill. Combine the berry syrup, lemon juice, and 3 cups of water in a pitcher and chill. Serve over ice.
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Notes
Nutrition
Love,
It is great
And some of the best blackberry lemonade I’ve had
Thank you Andrew! Enjoy your summer 😊