Each jar costs me about $3.85; that’s including the fancy wild blueberries we had too. Storebought comparatives (that are somewhat “natural”) are $15 or more!

This blueberry syrup has no food dyes, no thickeners, no artificial nothing. It’s just blueberries, lemons, sugar, and water.

It’s very easy to make at home, and this recipe is aimed to give you a full canner’s worth (7 pints).

Here I go into tools you need, ingredients, and instructions on how to water bath can this Blueberry & Lemon Syrup, right at home.

1. Blueberry Syrup Water Bath Canning Recipe
2. How to use Canned Blueberry Syrup
3. Video
4. FAQs
5. That’s It!
6. Visit The Cottage Vegetable Shop

Blueberry Syrup Water Bath Canning Recipe

Tools you need

• Water Bath Canner
• 7 Pint sized mason jars with lids/bands
• Large Stock Pot
• Potato masher

Ingredients

Makes 7 pints

• 6 pounds of blueberries (frozen or fresh)
• Zest to 2 lemons
• Juice of 2 large lemons, or 4 tablespoons of bottled lemon juice (or more see instructions)
• 2.5 cups water
• 2 cups sugar (or more, see instructions)

Instructions

Please note, this syrup keeps the berries in it and skips any straining.

1. Set up your water bath canner on the stove and allow it to warm up while you make your syrup. Also, place your jars in hot water at the same time.
2. In your large stock pot, add your berries. If they are frozen, allow them to thaw out half way on medium heat, stirring occasionally.
3. After this, add your lemon zest, lemon juice, water (not the sugar yet). Stir until well combined.
4. With your potato masher, slightly mash the berries. You don’t need to break them all apart, but you do need as much juice out of them as you can get.
5. Now, add in your sugar. Allow to dissolve and taste test. Syrup should be thin.
   • At this point you can adjust to taste: you can add more sugar if you want or add more lemon juice. The blueberry and lemon flavor should be noticeable, while being slightly sweetened.
6. Once syrup is tasting very good, allow to come up to a simmer to make sure all the berries and syrup is heated (and thawed) throughout. Simmer 5 minutes.
7. Pull your syrup off the heat so nothing scorches on the bottom. Pull your jars out of the hot water.
8. Fill your jars with berries and syrup leaving 1/2-inch headspace. You can use hot water to make the headspace if you need too.
   • Jars will be about 1/4th full of berries and 3/4th full of syrup, give or take some.
9. Wipe rims, place lids and bands on finger tight.
10. Carefully lower into your water bath canner. Canner should be hot at this point.
11. Water bath can these pint jars for 15 minutes. Make sure to follow the instructions to your water bath canner for proper use.
12. Allow to cool on a dry tea towel for 12 hours undisturbed. After this, check seals, wash jars, and store on the shelf. Enjoy!

How to use Canned Blueberry Syrup

Wherever you would normally put maple syrup or storebought blueberry syrup this homemade blueberry syrup can go.

Canned blueberry syrup is going to be thinner than storebought comparatives; simply because we skip using any thickener to safely can this at home.

If you wish to have a thick syrup you will need to add cornstarch to the mixture before serving.

You can use this canned blueberry syrup in:

• Sparkling or carbonated water
• Added to lemonade
• Pancake/waffle/muffin toppings
• Yogurt or Ice cream toppings
• Oatmeal
• Fruit salads
• Coffee drinks
• Homemade salad dressings
• Homemade whipped cream (replace maple syrup with this blueberry syrup)

Any berries you don’t use from the jars can be tossed into:

• Muffins
• Pancakes/Waffles
• Oatmeal
• Smoothies
• Pies or Crisps
• Cakes

Just remember the whole jar can be used in multiple ways, so don’t waste any of it!

Video

FAQs

Can you substitute honey for the sugar? Yes, you can substitute sugar 1:1 with honey. However, the raw properties of honey will be lost during the canning process because of the heat.

Can I use frozen berries for canning? Yes, you can always use frozen berries for canning, no matter what berry you are trying to process. Allowing them to thaw prior to using them in a recipe helps speed things up.

How long will canned foods last? Home canned foods are guaranteed to last 18 months. This is the typical time frame companies who make canning lids give. However, some would claim that home canned foods can last longer than that. My rule of thumb at home is make sure all my jars on my shelf are two years or less. If a jar is more than two years old, then it’s probably something we don’t want to eat anyways; I will either try to use it up in the kitchen, or simply toss it and fill it with something I know my family will eat.

That’s It!

Hope this helps you get some delicious blueberry syrup up on your shelf.

Frozen berries are not cheap anymore but remember it’s about $4 dollars a jar at home for syrup versus the $15 at the store! Plus, you avoid any unnecessary (and dare I say, not edible) ingredients when you make this syrup at home.

Enjoy!

The Cottage Vegetable

Gardening & Preserving for a Practical Kitchen

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