Okay, so I’ve been on this huge cocktail kick lately, trying to up my home bartending game. And what’s a better way to do that than with homemade syrups? I saw some gorgeous blueberries at the market the other day, and boom – inspiration struck! Blueberry simple syrup, here we come.
Getting Started
First things first, I gathered my ingredients. Nothing fancy, just the basics:
- Fresh blueberries (about a cup, I didn’t really measure, just eyeballed it)
- Sugar (same amount as the blueberries, roughly)
- Water (again, same as the blueberries)
I washed the blueberries thoroughly, because, you know, hygiene. No one wants dirt in their fancy syrup.
Making the Magic Happen
Next, I dumped the blueberries, sugar, and water into a small saucepan. I put it on the stove over medium heat. The goal here is to get the sugar to dissolve and the blueberries to release their juices. It’s not rocket science, folks.
I stirred everything occasionally, making sure the sugar didn’t stick to the bottom and burn. As it heated up, the mixture started to turn this beautiful, vibrant purple. Seriously, it was mesmerizing. I probably stared at it for a good five minutes.
Once the sugar was completely dissolved, and the blueberries looked like they’d given up all their color (they were kinda pale and wrinkly), I took the pan off the heat. This took maybe 10-15 minutes? I wasn’t really timing it, just going by looks.
Straining and Storing
Now for the slightly messy part. I grabbed a fine-mesh strainer and placed it over a bowl. Then, I carefully poured the hot blueberry mixture through the strainer. I used a spoon to press down on the blueberries, squeezing out every last drop of that precious syrup. You don’t want to waste any of that goodness!
Once I had strained it all, I let the syrup cool down completely. Patience is key here, people. Don’t go burning yourself on hot sugar.
Finally, I poured the cooled syrup into a clean jar and popped it in the fridge. And there you have it – homemade blueberry simple syrup! It was surprisingly easy, and the color is just stunning.
I’ve already used it in a few cocktails, and it’s amazing. Adds a nice fruity sweetness and a gorgeous hue. Definitely a win in my book! I am thinking I will try some other berries next time!
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