Easy Blueberry Syrup Recipe – Maple Sweetened to Can or Freeze

You will not believe how quick and simple this easy blueberry syrup recipe is to make! Just three main ingredients, less than 5 minutes to cook and no straining any of the blueberry deliciousness out. Boiling water can or freeze to use all year long on SO many things.

easy blueberry syrup recipe

This recipe is sponsored by the Oregon Blueberry Growers. Some links in this article are affiliate links and if you click on them I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.

I’m really excited to share this recipe for an easy, maple sweetened blueberry syrup with you, not only because, hello, delicious Oregon blueberries – but also because this is SO simple and quick, you aren’t going to believe it.

You know those syrups that are half sugar and need to be drained for hours? Yeah, that’s not this syrup.

You will not be throwing away any bit of that blueberry goodness – or covering up the flavor with so much sugar.

In fact, you will be using the fiber of the berry (ahem- one of the healthiest parts of blueberries) to help naturally thicken the syrup.

You basically need three ingredients and about five minutes to make this incredible syrup – yep, really!

After that you can store this in the fridge for a couple weeks or freeze for longer storage – or can it in a simple boiling water bath for a few more minutes (hint: which makes it perfect for gift-giving later!).

picking blueberries at Oregon farm

The most important part of the syrup is the blueberries of course. You can find them at fruit stands and markets, but if you have a blueberry u-pick farm near you I highly recommend a visit.

Picking blueberries is really easy – there are no thorns and most of the berries are higher up on the bushes. Brian and I picked five gallons in less than an hour – and it was fun, too.

I used this list of Oregon U-Pick Farms to find a farm close to me and it was a perfect summertime activity – I saw quite a few families at the farm I visited and the kids sounded like they were having fun, talking and picking (and eating!).

And just look at that view in the photo above of the farm we visited – just spending time there was such a nice break from our everyday routines.

blueberries in enamel bowl

The blueberry syrup recipe only needs one and a half pounds of berries for a batch. It’s a small batch recipe, though, so if you’d like more or to give as gifts you can easily double or triple it.

I made two batches with the five pounds of berries we picked, leaving two pounds to make a batch of blueberry chutney and this yummy skillet cobbler, which is a favorite summer treat.

That still left me with enough berries to freeze in a quart bag, though I’m not sure how long they’ll last – eating cold frozen blueberries on a hot day is one of my favorite things. Hopefully I’ll have enough left to make some healthy blueberry bars.

What will you make with this season’s ripe blueberries?

Recipe Video

Blueberry Syrup Recipe

blueberry syrup ingredients

Simple Ingredients

Your three basic ingredients are:

  • blueberries
  • lemon
  • maple syrup

You’ll also need water and just a pinch of salt.

water bath canning stockpot-jars in rack

Supplies

boiling blueberry syrup

Directions

You will love how easy this is – like “throw everything into a pot and boil” easy.

AND it only needs to cook for a couple minutes – this is preserving anyone can do, no matter how time-crunched.

Once it’s cooked, you have two choices about the texture of your syrup.

You can leave it as a very chunky whole-fruit type syrup:

blueberry syrup before blending

OR, you can use an immersion blender to whir it up right in the pan into a thicker, smoother syrup:

blending blueberry syrup

You can use a regular blender, too, but you’ll need to be very careful in transferring the hot syrup to the container and back – which is why I LOVE the hand-held blender.

Can or Freeze

Once your syrup is ready, decide if you want to take a few more minutes to can it in a boiling water canner (to be able to store in the pantry) or to freeze.

To Freeze:

Simply let the syrup cool, ladle into freezer containers (the jar funnel works here, too), label and freeze for up to a year.

To Can:

water bath canning supplies

New to canning? Check out this step-by-step water-bath canning video tutorial to see how easy it is!

Fill a canner or 10-12 quart stockpot with water and bring to a simmer with the rack in place.

Wash jars with soapy water, rinse well, fill with hot water and keep warm while gathering the rest of the supplies.

Gather your supplies:

TIP: Stage your canning on a tray next to your stove – fill the jars on it, set dirty spoons on it, etc. and then simply pick it up to hose it off when you’re done. It contains the mess and makes clean up a breeze!

adding blueberry syrup to canning jars

Turn the syrup down to low to keep it warm while you transfer the syrup to the warm jars.

Ladle hot syrup into one hot jar at a time, leaving a 1/4 inch headspace.

blueberry syrup-removing air bubbles

Remove air bubbles with the spatula (or chopstick), wipe rim with the damp cloth, and attach lids, screwing band until just fingertip tight.

Place jar in simmering water canner. Repeat until all jars are filled.

blueberry syrup half pint jars

Bring water to a boil and process both pint and half pint jars 15 minutes, adjusting for altitude.

Turn off heat, remove lid and let jars sit in canner 5 minutes. Transfer jars to a towel lined surface and let cool 12-24 hours.

Check lids to make sure they sealed, label and store in a cool dry place.

blueberry syrup on ice cream

Ideas for Using Blueberry Syrup

  • Spoon onto vanilla ice cream.
  • Pour on pancakes and waffles.
  • Drizzle over a yogurt and granola bowl.
  • Mix into hot oatmeal.
  • Use as a simple syrup for spritzes and cocktails (blueberry syrup + club soda + twist of lemon peel + optional white wine for spritzer or vodka for a cocktail).
  • Make Blueberry Lemonade: 3/4 cup lemonade + 1/4 cup blueberry syrup (or to taste) + optional mint sprig. Make it sparkling by adding club soda.
  • Simply mix the syrup with seltzer for a homemade soda.

Blueberry Syrup Recipe Frequently Asked Questions

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blueberry syrup on spoon
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5 from 6 votes

Easy Blueberry Syrup Recipe (Maple Sweetened)

Delicious, quick, super easy blueberry syrup recipe made healthy with just maple syrup for a sweetener. Choose small batch canning or freezing and use it all year long on everything from pancakes to drinks.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Canning Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Yield: 3 half pints
Author: Jami Boys

Equipment

  • 3-quart or larger pot
  • Immersion blender or regular blender
  • Canning and/or freezing jars or containers
  • Water bath canner (or 12-quart stockpot with rack), canning option
Click for Cook Mode

Ingredients

  • 4 cups Oregon blueberries (about 1.5 pounds)*
  • 2/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1 large lemon, zest & juice (2 TB juice and about 2 tsp lemon zest)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • pinch salt

Instructions

  • Combine maple syrup, salt, water, lemon juice and zest in a stainless steel 3-quart or larger stock pot and stir to combine.
  • Add the blueberries and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, to prevent burning.
  • Reduce heat to low. Leave as is for a chunkier syrup or use a hand-held blender to create a smoother, thicker syrup.(Note: you can use a regular blender or food processor, but you'll need to be very careful transferring the hot syrup from the pot and back.)
  • To Freeze: Let syrup cool and then transfer to freezer-safe containers. Label and use within a year.

To Can:

  • Prepare boiling water canner, jars and lids while the blueberries are coming to a boil. Keep jars warm by keeping filled with hot water and bring canner to just a gentle simmer.
  • Once syrup is ready, ladle hot syrup into one hot jar at a time, leaving a 1/4 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles, wipe rim, and attach lids, screwing band until just fingertip tight. Place jar in simmering water canner. Repeat until all jars are filled.
  • Bring water to a boil and process both pint and half pint jars 15 minutes, adjusting for altitude.
  • Turn off heat, remove lid and let jars sit in canner 5 minutes. Transfer jars to a towel lined surface and let cool 12-24 hours.
  • Check lids to make sure they sealed, label and store in a cool dry place. Use within 18 months.
  • Once syrup is opened, store in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.

Notes

*Fresh or frozen blueberries both work in this recipe.
Other sweetener substitutions:
  • Honey: it has a stronger flavor than maple syrup, so do a test batch to see if you like it before making a larger batch.
  • Other liquid non-sugar sweeteners (like stevia): It may work if it’s a 1:1 type of sweetener, but I haven’t tried it so test it first (I’d use a half batch for testing).
  • Regular sugar: yes, you can use regular white sugar.

Nutrition

Serving: 1TB | Calories: 30kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 34mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 11IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @anoregoncottage or tag #anoregoncottage!
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blueberry syrup-can or freeze

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Disclosure: I received product and/or compensation for this post. As always, the opinions, thoughts, and projects are all mine and I will NEVER promote something I don’t love and think you will find helpful – promise!

This article also contains affiliate links which earn commission based on sales, but it doesn’t change your price. For more info, you can read An Oregon Cottage’s entire disclosure page here.

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Recipe Rating




5 from 6 votes (4 ratings without comment)

8 Comments

  1. I love this recipe! I have made it multiple times and it has always turned out wonderfully. My family now insists that I always keep some in the pantry.5 stars

  2. I would like to make this but I was wondering, if I wanted to use white sugar, do I need to add water? How much sugar should I use?

    1. No, you can just use white sugar in place of the maple syrup in equal amounts, no additional liquid is needed!

  3. This was amazing! Can I sub blackberries for the blueberries? I’d love to stick with this recipe but swap the berries.5 stars