Easy Sparkling Blueberry Lemonade || It’s Like Spring In A Glass

A tall glass of sparkling blueberry lemonade on a sunny spring afternoon is one of life’s small pleasures. It’s simple things like this that bring joy to the every day grind. So, you should go ahead and indulge in them whenever you can.

This beverage is so easy to make. And it takes just a few minutes of your time to put it together.

I’m going to show you how to make a concentrate that you can easily use to make just a glass or two of sparkling blueberry lemonade at a time. Or, if you’re having a get together with a few friends, you can whip up a full pitcher of this refreshing beverage so there’s plenty to go around.

INGREDIENTS

Following is a list of ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this ahhhhhmazing lemonade …

Making the blueberry brew …

• Frozen Blueberries – this beverage can definitely be made with fresh blueberries, I’m not certain of the measurements you would need to use as I’ve never done it, fresh berries tend to be eaten as quickly as they come in the house around here, frozen berries are always available for treats like this when needed
• Honey – this is my preferred sweetener for just about everything, you can use any sweetener you like for this recipe though, just remember to do a quick google search to see how they compare to honey so you will know how much to use
• Ginger – this tasty spice offsets the tartness of the lemons beautifully, for me it is a must-have ingredient for this recipe, however it can be made without the ginger if you prefer

Turning it into lemonade …

• Water – using fresh well water for this recipe is easy enough if you have a well, if you don’t have a well I would suggest using bottled spring water, as any residual taste from the treatment of public water could very easily come through in the final product
• Lemons – it is important to use fresh lemons for this recipe, I have tried to make it with lemon juice concentrate in the past and it was not nearly as tasty
• Ice – once the concentrate and the club soda have been chilled in your fridge for some time you can make a glass of this delicious sparkling blueberry lemonade without ice if you prefer, I never do that as the ice makes all the difference to me and is definitely preferred when serving this beverage to guests
• Club Soda – the only ingredients in club soda are water and carbonation making it the preferred choice for this beverage, however any sparkling water will work.

MAKE A SPARKLING BLUEBERRY LEMONADE CONCENTRATE

The first step in making a delicous sparkling blueberry lemonade is to brew a strong blueberry concentrate. It’s very easy to do and takes next to no time at all.

The concentrate will be quite hot when it’s done cooking. So, you’ll want to let it cool completely before you use it to make an ice cold glass of lemonade. For this reason, be sure to make the concentrate at least a few hours ahead of when you want to actually serve your beverage.

Making the concentrate is as simple as simmering down a few ingredients in a small saucepan on the stove.

You’ll place your blueberries, honey, and ginger (if you’re using it) in a small saucepan along with a little water. Then you’ll allow it to simmer for 10 minutes or so.

Next, you’ll run the blueberry brew through a small sieve to remove the blueberry skins. Toss the berries in the compost and leave the liquid out on the counter to cool.

While it is cooling off, juice your lemons into a small bowl. Be sure to juice them over a sieve to catch the seeds so they aren’t in your juice.

Once your blueberry brew has cooled completely, mix it together with the lemon juice. This completes your concentrate, and it is ready to be used to make some sparkling blueberry lemonade when you are.

USE THE CONCENTRATE TO MAKE SPARKLING BLUEBERRY LEMONADE

You can use your blueberry concentrate to make a single glass of sparkling blueberry lemonade. Or you can make a whole pitcher if you’re serving more than one or two people.

This beverage is a great option for get togethers, because so much of the preparation is done ahead of time. It frees up those very important hours just before company arrives. AND it’s always a big hit.

Mixing the beverage with sparkling water before you serve it can be done by eye if you feel confident enough to ‘wing it’. Or you can go ahead and measure out the ingredients if that’s easier for you.

You will use 3-4 ounces of concentrate per 8 ounces of sparkling water. A standard shot glass holds 2 ounces of liquid, making it a great tool for measuring out the concentrate for this beverage when making it by the glass.

To make a pitcher, simply mix the entire batch of concentrate with 8 cups of sparkling water.

DOES MY BEVERAGE HAVE TO SPARKLE?

No, you’re beverage does not have to sparkle. You can make it with plain old water if you are craving a more traditional style lemonade.

Most of the blueberry lemonade that gets served is not of the sparkling variety. Simply because club soda is not something that I keep on hand.

I do adore the sparkling version of this beverage though. And that’s one of the reasons I’m bringing it here to you today.

Another reason I’m suggesting the sparkling version of this recipe with this post is that it makes a really nice addition to spring and summer gatherings.

Adding just a little bubbly, to an already iconic drink like fresh lemonade, is generally well received by just about everyone. AND the truth of the matter is … it’s just fun!

VARIATIONS OF THIS RECIPE

The variations of this recipe are pretty endless. So, use your imagination, mix it up, and have fun!

Here’s just a few suggestions to get you started …

• Substitute another berry for the blueberries in this recipe; raspberries, strawberries, elderberries, or cranberries are all great choices.
• Substitute any stone fruit for the blueberries in this recipe; peaches, cherries, plums, or apricots come to mind.
• Substitute another sweetener for the honey in this recipe; be sure to adjust the measurements according to the level of sweetness that the substituted sweetener provides. For instance, if you choose to use white sugar, you will have to use 1 1/2 times the amount of white sugar, as honey is 1 1/2 times sweeter than white sugar.
• Substitute some of the lemon juice with another citrus juice; lime juice or grapefruit juice both work really well. The juice of just one or two limes is a great option when using cherries for this recipe. And a bit of grapefruit juice compliments an elderberry version of this recipe quite nicely.

HOW TO SERVE SPARKLING BLUEBERRY LEMONADE

The single most important thing to remember about serving sparkling blueberry lemonade is that you should never add the ‘sparkle’ until just before serving. Pour that bubbly liquid (club soda in my case) into the pitcher or glass just before you serve it. Otherwise, you’ll have a flat beverage.

I don’t always garnish this beverage when I’m serving myself or my family. Although, I do occasionally take a minute to ‘pretty it up’ with a lemon slice, a few blueberries, a slice or two of ginger, or even a sprig of mint. After all, it’s good to take the time to make yourself feel as special as you would a guest in your home every now and then.

I can’t recall a time that I’ve served it to a guest without a garnish and a straw. It makes it so much more fun. And there’s a certain satisfaction that comes from serving someone a beverage that’s been all dressed up just for them.

So, make a batch of sparkling blueberry lemonade. Treat yourself, treat your family, and treat your friends.

It’s been wonderful having you here today and we’ll get together again real soon!

Best ~ Diane

Recommended For You …

If you try this recipe and love it, please give it 5 stars! It supports my work more than you may realize, and I appreciate that a great deal!

You can also show your support by tagging me on Facebook @sustainableslowliving and/or Instagram @slowlivingbydianegail when you post a pic of your finished dish.