This Homemade Blueberry Lemonade made with frozen blueberries is one of the most popular recipes on my site and I completely understand why because it is absolutely stunning and tastes incredible. I love lemonade during the hot summer months but I do not like all the added ingredients and chemicals in store bought lemonade mix so my solution was to make my own blueberry syrup from scratch and mix it with fresh lemon juice and cold water.
The result is the most gorgeous deep purple lemonade that is bright, sweet, tangy, and so refreshing that I make it constantly from spring through the end of summer.
The best part of this recipe is that frozen blueberries work just as well as fresh which means you can make this beautiful lemonade any time of year without waiting for blueberry season.
The homemade blueberry syrup takes just 5 minutes on the stovetop and once it is strained and cooled it keeps in the refrigerator for up to a week so you can make a big batch and have gorgeous blueberry lemonade ready to pour all week long.
One reader told me she adds a little extra lemon juice for an even more lemony flavor and I love that tip!
If you are looking for more refreshing drinks you might also like my Lemon Lime Homemade Sports Drink, this Homemade Raspberry Lemonade or my Strawberry Daiquiri Mocktails.
You can find all of my drink recipes here: Gluten Free Drink Recipes
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Ingredients
Instructions
In a saucepan over medium heat cook the blueberries, sugar and lemon zest until the mixture is warm and bubbling. Be sure to stir the mixture so it doesn't stick to the pan.
Pour the blueberry mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove the seeds and pulp. Let the syrup cool.
In a pitcher add the cold water, lemon juice, blueberry syrup and ice. Stir to combine.
Serve immediately in tumblers with ice.
Supplies
Substitutions
- Frozen Strawberries - instead of frozen blueberries you can use strawberries
- Frozen Mixed Berries - the berry lemonade will be a bit more purple, but it will still be delicious and is a great way to use up leftover frozen berries.
- Lime Juice - you can easily use lime juice and/or lime zest in the place of the lemon in this recipe
I get a lot of my ingredients from Thrive Market. Thrive Market has been a game changer for me eating gluten free. They have so many options I can't get at my rural grocery stores! Use this link to get 40% off your first order!
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Homemade Blueberry Lemonade made with Frozen Blueberries
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This Homemade Blueberry Lemonade made with frozen blueberries starts with a quick homemade blueberry syrup of frozen blueberries, sugar, and lemon zest that is strained and mixed with fresh lemon juice and cold water for the most gorgeous deep purple lemonade that is bright, sweet, tangy, and completely refreshing. Ready in just 10 minutes with simple everyday ingredients and so much better than anything from a mix. Naturally gluten free and the most beautiful and delicious summer drink you will make on repeat all season long!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup Frozen Blueberries
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Lemon Zest
- ½ cup Lemon Juice
- 5 cups Cold Water
- Ice to serve
Instructions
In a saucepan over medium heat cook the frozen blueberries, sugar and lemon zest until the mixture is warm and bubbling. Be sure to stir the mixture so it doesn't stick to the pan.
Pour the blueberry mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove the seeds and pulp. Let the syrup cool.
In a pitcher add the cold water, lemon juice, blueberry syrup and ice. Stir to combine.
Serve immediately in tumblers with ice.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: American
If you made this Homemade Blueberry Lemonade I would love to hear what you thought! Please leave a star rating and a comment below. This is one of my most popular summer drink recipes and I hope it becomes a staple in your home too!
Storage
You can store this drink in the pitcher or a sealed glass container in the refrigerator for up to a week. If you know you aren't going to serve this recipe immediately you can mix everything together except for the ice. Add the ice right before serving to keep the drinks cold.
Top Tip
The key step in this recipe is properly straining the blueberry syrup after cooking. Pour the hot blueberry mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl and use the back of a spoon to gently press the mixture and separate as much juice as possible from the pulp. The more you press the more beautiful deep purple syrup you will get. Let the syrup cool in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before adding it to the lemonade so it blends smoothly without melting all your ice immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes and I actually recommend it! Make the blueberry syrup ahead of time and store it in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. When you are ready to serve simply combine the cold syrup with fresh lemon juice and cold water in a pitcher and serve over ice. If you know you are not serving this immediately mix everything together except the ice and add ice right before serving to keep it perfectly cold without diluting the flavor.
Yes! Fresh blueberries work beautifully in this recipe especially during peak blueberry season in summer when they are at their sweetest and most flavorful. The process is exactly the same. Simply cook the fresh blueberries with sugar and lemon zest until the mixture is warm and bubbling and then strain. Frozen blueberries are my preference for convenience since they are available year round at a great price but fresh blueberries will give you a slightly brighter and more intense flavor.
Absolutely! Simply double or triple the recipe and mix everything in a large pitcher or drink dispenser. The blueberry syrup can be made days ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator so all you need to do on the day of your party is combine it with fresh lemon juice and cold water. This lemonade is absolutely beautiful served at summer parties, baby showers, bridal showers, and backyard barbecues.
Yes! Add a splash of vodka or gin to individual glasses for a simple and stunning blueberry lemonade cocktail. You can also use sparkling water instead of still water for a beautiful effervescent blueberry lemonade that is especially refreshing on a hot day.
This recipe is easily adjustable to your taste. For a sweeter lemonade add a little more sugar to the blueberry syrup while it is cooking or add a small drizzle of honey to the finished pitcher and stir. For a more tart and lemony lemonade add an extra quarter cup of lemon juice as one of my readers recommends. Taste as you go and adjust until it is perfect for you.
Destiny R. says
Super simple recipe! Came together very quickly, and tastes delicious! I did add about 1/4 cup more lemon juice, just to get a more lemonier taste. Will definitely make again!
smallfarmbiglife says
I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe Destiny! Thank you for leaving a comment. ~Elaine