Easy Blueberry Sauce Recipe (2024)

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5 from 15 votes

15 minutes minutes

by Marly

27

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You’re 10 minutes away from serving a gorgeous blueberry sauce bursting with blueberries over pancakes, waffles, vegan ice cream, and more.

Serve this sauce over simple vegan pancakes to make breakfast something special!

Easy Blueberry Sauce Recipe (1)

I’m always looking for simple hacks to transform my meals from good to great. What I’ve discovered is that toppings make all the difference. That’s why I love this homemade blueberry syrup recipe so much! It transforms something as simple as pancakes into a luxurious breakfast!

Table of Contents show

Why This Recipe is a Winner

  • Adding lemon juice brightens the flavor and cuts the sweetness of this sauce
  • Just enough sugar is added to sweeten the fruit without overpowering the flavor of the blueberries
  • Cornstarch is added to thicken the berries’ juices.
Easy Blueberry Sauce Recipe (2)

Key Ingredients

You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe, including substitution ideas:

  • Cornstarch — This my thickener of choice. Substitute arrowroot powder or tapioca starch.
  • Granulated sugar — for a healthy blueberry sauce, use either a zero-calorie sweetener (such as monkfruit) or use coconut sugar.
  • Water — adding just a bit of water creates a nice consistency.
  • Blueberries — Fresh or frozen blueberries work great.
  • Lemon juice — lemon and blueberries are a nice flavor combination and we’re adding just a bit of lemon juice (fresh or bottled) to enhance the sauce’s flavor.

Ingredient Spotlight

Easy Blueberry Sauce Recipe (3)

What Blueberries are Best for Blueberry Sauce?

When buying fresh blueberries, choose berries that are plump and smooth-skinned. The color of the berries is an indicator of ripeness (not the size of the berries), so choose berries that are deep purple-blue. You can use fresh or frozen blueberries with this recipe. Frozen blueberries are great because they’re frozen at the peak of ripeness, and they hold their shape better while cooking.

How to Make Blueberry Sauce

Let’s talk about making this blueberry reduction.

Here are two ways to make this tasty syrup:

  1. Stir cornstarch to a saucepan along with sugar and water.
  2. Add the blueberries.
  3. Stir it together and then turn up the heat up to medium to bring it to a boil.
  4. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for a minute or two until the sauce thickens.
  5. Remove the pan from the heat and add the lemon juice.
  6. Transfer it to a lidded jar and set it aside to cool completely.
  7. Add the lid and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve.

Marly’s Tips

You can add different seasonings, such as a ½ teaspoon of vanilla, lemon zest, a few sprigs of dried thyme, rosemary, or even basil. There are lots of great flavor profiles that complement blueberries.

Making Blueberry Sauce in a Microwave

Here are the steps to make your blueberry sauce in the microwave:

  1. Use a sturdy pyrex measuring cup or a tall microwave-safe bowl.
  2. Stir together the ingredients as directed above.
  3. Microwave for one minute, then stir.
  4. Repeat this in 30-second increments until the sauce thickens.
Easy Blueberry Sauce Recipe (4)

How to Enhance Blueberry Flavor

You can add a blueberry flavor boost by adding a bit of coriander to your blueberry sauce. I’d suggest adding no more than a quarter teaspoon of dried coriander is necessary. We want to enhance the flavor, not overwhelm it.

In addition, the lemon juice also helps enhance the flavor in this tasty blueberry sauce recipe.

Storage Tips

Once the sauce cools, pour it into a sealable container, like a mason jar and store it in the fridge. This sauce will keep in the fridge for up to 10 days.

Frequently-Asked Questions

How do you thicken a berry sauce?

Cornstarch is a great thickener for a berry sauce because it creates a perfect consistency. If your sauce is too thick, add a little more water or if it’s too thin, you can add cornstarch combined with water and bring the sauce to a boil.

How can I thicken sauce without cornstarch?

Cornstarch is a favorite thickener, but there are options you can use besides cornstarch. For example, agar agar flakes make a great zero carb thickener. You can also use arrowroot powder and even tapioca starch as a thickener.

Reader Reviews

★★★★★
First time in making a sauce like this. Easy and very good. I’ll be making it again.

Shirley

★★★★★
I love this easy blueberry sauce. I cannot eat my waffles without it!

Sandra
Easy Blueberry Sauce Recipe (5)

How to Use Blueberry Sauce

There are so many ways to use a tasty blueberry topping. Drizzle it over:

  • Pancakes or Waffles
  • Vegan Ice Cream
  • Vegan Cheesecake
  • Vegan Pound Cake
  • Banana Chia Pudding.

You can get creative with the ways you use this sauce.

More Berry Recipes

So, you’ve made this blueberry sauce for cheesecake, and now you’re ready for even more blueberry recipes. Here are some favorites to tickle your taste buds:

Vegan Blueberry Lemon Cake

80 mins total

Blueberry Chocolate Chip Cookies

22 mins total

Blueberry Overnight Oats

125 mins total

Here are even more delicious blueberry dessert recipes for your festive parties all year long!

Easy Blueberry Sauce Recipe (10)

That’s it for this blueberry sauce recipe!

Easy Blueberry Sauce Recipe (11)

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Easy Blueberry Sauce Recipe (12)

Easy Blueberry Sauce Recipe (13)

Easy Blueberry Sauce

Make this delicious blueberry sauce and use it as a topping for vegan cheesecake, pancakes, puddings, and more!

5 from 15 votes

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 74kcal

Author: Marly McMillen

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 cup blueberries fresh or frozen
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

  • Prepare the blueberry sauce by adding the cornstarch to a saucepan.

  • Add sugar.

  • Now, stir in the water.

  • Add the blueberries.

  • Stir together then turn up the heat to bring it to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for a minute or two until a thick sauce forms.

  • Remove from heat and gently stir in lemon juice.

  • Once the sauce cools, pour into a sealable container, like a mason jar, and store in the fridge.

(The products above contain sponsored links to products we use and recommend)

Calories: 74kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Did you make this recipe?

Leave a rating below then tag @namelymarly on Instagram and hashtag it #namelymarly. I love seeing your creations!

Enjoy!

Easy Blueberry Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make blueberries taste good? ›

Macerating—soaking or steeping in liquid and/or sweetener—is one of the easiest and fastest ways to doctor up sub-par berries. Toss them in sugar, honey, or maple syrup, along with a little fresh juice or alcohol (an herbal liqueur, like elderflower spirit, would be great).

How to intensify blueberry flavor? ›

Lemon Juice and Lemon Zest

The zest of one lemon and one teaspoon of fresh lemon juice are all you need to elevate the flavor. Just add the juice and zest to your blueberry muffin mix and bake as usual. The lemony tang adds a new flavor profile and you might never make blueberry muffins without lemon juice again.

What to add to blueberries? ›

Sometimes, eating blueberries everyday means mixing them with unsweetened whipped cream and sliced almonds. If you haven't been enjoying this treat for dessert, you should be. It is one of our favorite better-for-you desserts to recommend to our patients because it tastes fantastic and is super good for you.

Why is my blueberry compote not thickening? ›

For a thicker and chunkier blueberry compote, almost like pie filling texture, remove the fruits about ⅔ of the way through the cooking time and allow the liquid to reduce by half.

What spice brings out the flavor of blueberries? ›

Mixing a little coriander in with your blueberry desserts or pancakes will make the blueberries taste more, well, blueberry-y. And there's a scientific reason why.

What makes blueberries better? ›

Wild Blueberries

They contain even higher level of anthocyanins than their larger cousins. Anthocyanins are antioxidants that may help with reducing signs of aging, risk of cancer, and damage to DNA. A cup of organic wild blueberries has about twice as much fiber and calcium as farmed blueberries.

What flavor pairs well with blueberry? ›

Classic Blueberry Flavor Combos

Lemon: At the very top of the list is sweet-tart blueberries and sharp lemon, an almost unbeatable combination. (But don't sleep on blueberries + other citrus flavors, including lime, orange and even grapefruit.)

What happens when you add sugar to blueberries? ›

In this case, combining fresh berries with sugar causes the fruit to release its juices as it sits, which then forms a syrup in which the fruit soaks. Stirring the fruit frequently will help ensure all of the berries make contact with the sugar and syrup, resulting in the juiciest and most flavorful result.

What herb pairs well with blueberries? ›

Blueberries: This milder berry wins the award for most versatile; it worked wonderfully with everything but mint. Lavender was my absolute favorite—it lightly perfumed the berries and made them sweeter somehow. Try 1 finely chopped teaspoon in a batch of pie or jam.

What is the best mix for blueberries? ›

Use a 50-50 mix of potting soil and peat moss as your planting media. Wet it thoroughly before placing it in the container. If the shrub is pot bound gently tease the roots to encourage root expansion into the potting media.

What do coffee grounds do for blueberries? ›

Coffee grounds are highly acidic, they note, so they should be reserved for acid-loving plants like azaleas and blueberries. And if your soil is already high in nitrogen, the extra boost from coffee grounds could stunt the growth of fruits and flowers.

What to do with too many blueberries? ›

When you've exhausted your blueberry repertoire, try these 11 ways to use this gently sweet fruit.
  1. Cocktails. Muddle the summer fruit in a gin-based pomegranate cocktail, a refreshing limeade, or a simple bourbon old-fashioned.
  2. Infused booze. ...
  3. Syrup. ...
  4. Healthy PB&J. ...
  5. Salads. ...
  6. Barbecue sauce. ...
  7. Frozen Yogurt. ...
  8. Shortcakes.
Jun 20, 2017

Why do you add lemon juice to blueberries? ›

The tartness of lemon provides a bright and zesty contrast to the sweetness of blueberries. Lemon can enhance the flavor of blueberries by adding a touch of acidity that brings out their natural sweetness. Both lemon and blueberry are versatile flavors that can be used in a variety of dishes, from sweet to savory.

What can I use to thicken my berry sauce? ›

Whisk 1 teaspoon cornstarch and 1 teaspoon water until smooth. Pour the slurry into the compote after it has broken down and simmer 1-2 minutes, or until thickened to your desired texture.

How do you make blueberries bigger and sweeter? ›

The fruit size and sweetness increase very quickly at the end of the ripening process. Ensuring that your blueberry plants are grown in acidic soil and keeping them fertilized annually will also help to sweeten the blueberries.

What to do with blueberries that taste bad? ›

However, the best trick for sweetening up a bitter batch of berries is to cook them down. As the juice of the berries is released, the berries will turn sweeter, especially when combined with sugar, honey, and spices.

How to eat blueberries if you don't like blueberries? ›

Use blueberries as fresh toppings on oatmeal, waffles, pancakes, yogurt, or cereal for an extra burst of flavor and nutrition in your breakfast. Whip up a quick and easy smoothie using frozen berries, low-fat milk, and yogurt. Mix fresh or dried blueberries into a spinach salad with walnuts and feta cheese.

How do you make blueberries less bitter? ›

You can also lessen their tartness with a process known as "macerating." To do this, you simply add sugar, honey, or another sweetener to the blueberries to make them more palatable. Mix the sweetener and the berries, then let them sit for a few minutes to allow the flavors to blend together.

Should blueberries be soaked in vinegar? ›

Berries have thin skins and are full of moisture, making them very susceptible to mold. Fortunately, common household vinegar is quite effective at killing the mold spores and bacteria that spoil fruit. 1 By washing berries in a mixture of white vinegar and water, you can make your berries last longer in the fridge.

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