Blackberry & Lilac Simple Syrup

Use this Blackberry and Lilac Simple Syrup to infuse floral and fruity flavor into cocktails, baked goods, and more. The process is simple and the flavors are perfect for celebrating spring and summer.

Jump to:

• Homemade blackberry simple syrup for cocktails
• What is simple syrup?
• Ingredient notes
• How to make blackberry and lilac simple syrup
• Tips and tricks
• Blackberry and lilac syrup uses
• Storing
• Looking for more blackberry recipes?
• Blackberry & Lilac Simple Syrup

Homemade blackberry simple syrup for cocktails

You’re going to love having this Blackberry and Lilac Simple Syrup on hand for cocktails, desserts, and so much more. Just like my other custom simple syrup recipes, this elegant, sweet, and botanical concoction is easy to make and deliciously fresh. All you need are lilac petals, blackberries, sugar, and water!

Recipes with lilac fill your home with an incredible aroma while being completely edible and delicious. When added to simple syrup with blackberries, the syrup takes on a fragrant and floral flavor and gorgeous purple color. Just a splash of syrup is the best way to enhance gin gimlets, brandy sours, and more!

What is simple syrup?

Simple syrup is made with equal parts sugar and water. The two ingredients are heated together until the sugar dissolves and the mixture thickens. It comes in handy in the kitchen in many ways and is the ideal liquid sweetener for iced tea, cocktails, and lemonade. 

The best part? Simple syrup serves as a canvas for infusing a variety of flavors. This custom simple syrup recipe features juicy blackberries and fragrant lilac. See my Flavored Simple Syrup Recipes for more flavoring ideas.

Ingredient notes

• Water - It’s best to use distilled water or filtered water here for the cleanest taste and to avoid the risk of bacterial growth. 

• Sugar - Granulated sugar works best, however, honey, brown sugar, molasses, maple syrup, maple sugar, coconut sugar, and agave are interchangeable with sugar. Keep in mind that they each lend a different degree of sweetness. 

• Lilac petals - These fresh flower petals are edible as long as the lilac bush hasn’t been exposed to toxins or pesticides. If you’re looking for culinary-grade lilacs, check your local farmer’s market, grow them yourself, or order them online. Take a walk around your neighborhood during spring and summer and you’re sure to find some lilac. 

• Blackberries - Feel free to use fresh or frozen blackberries here. 

How to make blackberry and lilac simple syrup

Step 1: Dissolve sugar in water. Pour the water and sugar into a saucepan and heat over medium heat. Gently stir until the sugar dissolves.  

Step 2: Infuse with blackberries and lilac. Add the muddled blackberries and lilac to the saucepan and heat for 30 seconds.

Step 3: Let it cool. Take the saucepan off of the heat and let the syrup cool to room temperature. 
Step 4: Strain and store. Once cooled, strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a sterilized airtight container and keep it in the fridge.

Tips and tricks

• The muddle matters - The more you muddle the blackberries, the more condensed blackberry flavor and purple color you’ll infuse into the syrup. 
• If substituting white sugar - The same 1:1 water to sugar ratio should still work if you replace the granulated sugar with liquid sweetener, like honey.
• Gomme syrup - Add gum arabic if you want to take your syrup a step further. It’s used as an emulsifier to give food and drinks a silky smooth mouth-feel. 
• Store in sanitized containers - To make the most out of the shelf-life, sterilize your storage container before adding the syrup.

Blackberry and lilac syrup uses

Behind any well-stocked bar are a variety of simple syrup infusions. This blackberry and lilac infusion takes homemade cocktails to the next level. It’s my go-to in this lilac gimlet and can even be used instead of regular simple syrup to elevate a pear brandy sour or lemon lavender sour.

Looking for more ways to use this custom syrup? I have a few ideas:

• Cakes - Brush the syrup over top of cakes before frosting to keep them moist while enhancing the flavor. This syrup pairs well over a lemon cake before adding the mascarpone buttercream as well as on top of blueberry muffins.
• Sparkling water - Add one tablespoon of syrup at a time to a glass of sparkling water until it’s flavored to your liking. 
• Iced tea and lemonade - Stir lilac and blackberry syrup into cold drinks for instant sweetness, balance, and flavor.

Storing

Fridge: The beauty of simple syrup infusions is that they store well for weeks and make great gifts. After cooling completely to room temperature, store the jar of syrup in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. 

Freezer: The best way to freeze homemade simple syrup infusions is in ice cube trays. Once they’re frozen solid, transfer the syrup cubes to an airtight bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Looking for more blackberry recipes?

• Blackberry & Lilac Gin Gimlet
• Poppyseed Cake with Blackberry Buttercream 
• Blackberry Cream Brioche Doughnuts
• Lemon Mascarpone Cream Tart

As always, I love seeing your creations and hearing from you! If you give this simple syrup infusion a whirl, please leave a review or share your creation with me on social media! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and Pinterest - for more delicious recipes sent straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter!