Old-Fashioned Blackberry Lemonade

Nothing tastes more like summer than a cold, refreshing glass of Old-Fashioned Blackberry Lemonade! Let the berries sit in a mason jar with sugar and water, squeeze in some lemons, and you’ve got an easy treat ready with just a few minutes of work. The perfect balance of sweet and tart, this fresh juice is a simple and delicious way to take advantage of ripe summer blackberries!

Easy homemade lemonade is prepared in a mason jar and infused with fresh blackberry juice. What’s not to love about the old-fashioned combination of sweet summer berries and tart lemons?! This Blackberry Lemonade is a refreshing drink that’s perfect for lazy afternoons on the front porch or for relaxing by the pool.

The Inspiration Behind this Old-Fashioned Blackberry Lemonade Recipe:

Years ago I came across a recipe for “Blackberry Ade” in an antique community cookbook at our local library here in rural Central Virginia. Instead of cooking the berries on the stovetop, the old-fashioned recipe simply combined blackberries with sugar and boiling water in a mason jar. Genius! I’m a big fan of shortcuts and simple kitchen “hacks” that make my life easier, so of course I had to try it.

While the original Blackberry Ade was a bit too sweet for my liking, I decided that the strained blackberry juice would be perfect when combined with bright, fresh lemons. This Blackberry Lemonade recipe was born, and we’ve never looked back! It’s a summertime tradition in this house when the local blackberries are ripe, and I hope that it will become a staple in your home as well.

Why this No-Cook Lemonade Recipe Works:

The recipe is so easy because you don’t have to cook the fruit or make a simple syrup! Instead, the berries macerate in the boiling sugar water as they sit in a mason jar. The combination of the sugar and water creates the liquid sugar or “simple syrup” that you typically need to make lemonade. At the same time, the sugar macerates the blackberries, softening the fruit and drawing out the juices.

How to make Blackberry Lemonade:

You’ll need to be patient to allow the berries about 4 hours to sit in a jar, but the effort is almost entirely hands-off.

Ingredients for Blackberry Lemonade from Scratch:

• Blackberries
• Granulated sugar
• Boiling water
• Lemon juice

Step 1: Place Blackberries and Sugar in a Jar

Place the blackberries and the sugar in a quart-size mason jar.

Step 2: Fill Jar with Boiling Water

Fill the jar with boiling water (you’ll need approximately 2.5 cups).

Step 3: Stir to Dissolve Sugar

Use a long spoon to gently stir until the sugar dissolves (this will only take a few seconds).

Step 4: Let Sit

Allow the jar to sit at room temperature for at least 4 hours (or up to overnight). The berries will release their juices and the liquid will become a dark purple color.

Step 5: Strain the Blackberry Juice

Use a wooden spoon or spatula to gently mash the berries a little bit more, and then strain the juice through a fine mesh sieve.

I have this mason jar kit that includes a lid with a built-in strainer, but you can use any fine mesh strainer.

Step 6: Add Lemon Juice

Stir together the strained juice and the freshly squeezed lemon juice…and you’re done!

How to serve homemade Blackberry Lemonade:

Pour the homemade lemonade over ice and garnish with lemon wedges and fresh mint leaves, if desired.

Preparation and Storage Tips:

• Make Ahead: The blackberries need to sit in the sugar water for at least 4 hours, but you can leave them overnight if it’s more convenient. The sugar macerates the berries, softening and breaking down the fruit and helping to release the juices.
• The blackberry lemonade will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days.
• You can obviously boil your water on the stovetop, but I find that it’s even easier to just heat the water in a glass measuring cup in the microwave for 5-7 minutes on high (until I see it boil). Fewer dishes to wash in the end!
• I like to use this citrus juicer to easily squeeze all of the lemons with no effort in about 1-2 minutes. It’s so sturdy and strong! The handy tool is also great for salad dressings, marinades, and any other dishes that call for fresh citrus juice. It’s so easy to throw in the dishwasher when I’m done, too!

Cook’s Tips and Recipe Variations:

• I have tested this recipe using different amounts of sugar. My preference is a more tart lemonade, so I find that 1/2 cup of sugar is perfect. If you prefer a sweeter lemonade, use 3/4 cup of sugar. My boys, who think that a sweet drink like Kool Aid is great, like the recipe best with 1 cup of sugar. You can adjust the amount of sugar according to your family’s taste preferences. Don’t cut out too much sugar, though, because you need it to help macerate the berries.
• The Blackberry Lemonade isn’t too tart. If you prefer a stronger, more tart lemon flavor, increase the amount of lemon juice to 1 cup. Similarly, for a sweeter (less tart) drink, cut the amount of lemon juice back to 1/2 cup.
• For a larger batch, use two mason jars or a big pitcher that can accommodate twice as many ingredients.

More blackberry recipes that you might enjoy:

• Blackberry Cobbler
• Berry Overnight Oatmeal
• Angel Food Icebox Cake with Fresh Berries
• Baked Oatmeal with Fresh Berries
• Honey Lemon Fruit Salad

Old-Fashioned Blackberry Lemonade

5 from 1 vote

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 0 minutes

Inactive Rest Time 4 hours

Total: 4 hours 10 minutes

Servings 4 cups

Calories 107 kcal

There's no cooking necessary for this easy Blackberry Lemonade! Just let the berries sit in a mason jar with sugar and water, add lemon juice, and enjoy the refreshing summer drink!

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Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 cup fresh blackberries (about 6 ounces)
• ½ cup – 1 cup of granulated sugar (see note below to adjust the sugar to suit your taste preferences)
• Boiling water (about 2 ½ cups)
• ¾ cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice (from about 6-8 lemons)
• Ice, for serving
• Optional garnish: fresh mint leaves

Instructions

• Place the blackberries and the sugar in a quart jar. Fill the jar with boiling water; stir to dissolve the sugar. Let sit at room temperature until cool (at least 4 hours or overnight).
• To serve, mash the berries slightly with a wooden spoon or potato masher; strain the liquid from the jar. Stir together the strained liquid and the lemon juice. Pour over ice; garnish with fresh mint leaves (if desired).

Notes

• I have tested this recipe using different amounts of sugar. My preference is a more tart lemonade, so I find that 1/2 cup of sugar is perfect. If you prefer a sweeter lemonade, use 3/4 cup of sugar. My boys, who think that a sweet drink like Kool Aid is great, like the recipe best with 1 cup of sugar. You can adjust the amount of sugar according to your family’s taste preferences. Don’t cut out too much sugar, though, because you need it to help macerate the berries.
• The Blackberry Lemonade isn’t too tart. If you prefer a stronger, more tart lemon flavor, increase the amount of lemon juice to 1 cup. Similarly, for a sweeter (less tart) drink, cut the amount of lemon juice back to 1/2 cup.
• For a larger batch, use two mason jars or a big pitcher that can accommodate twice as many ingredients.
• Make Ahead: The blackberries need to sit in the sugar water for at least 4 hours, but you can leave them overnight if it’s more convenient. The sugar macerates the berries, softening and breaking down the fruit and helping to release the juices.
• The blackberry lemonade will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days.
• You can obviously boil your water on the stovetop, but I find that it’s even easier to just heat the water in a glass measuring cup in the microwave for 5-7 minutes on high (until I see it boil). Fewer dishes to wash in the end!
• I like to use this citrus juicer to easily squeeze all of the lemons with no effort in about 1-2 minutes. It’s so sturdy and strong! The handy tool is also great for salad dressings, marinades, and any other dishes that call for fresh citrus juice. It’s so easy to throw in the dishwasher when I’m done, too!

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 107kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 47mgFiber: 1gSugar: 26gVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 3mg

Keyword: Blackberry Lemonade, Blackberry Recipes, Homemade Lemonade

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Author: Blair Lonergan

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