Homemade Blackberry Syrup with Rosemary and Vanilla
A few years ago, I’d left my holiday shopping until the last minute. San Francisco was hit with a furious rainstorm and I had to brave the mall. People were wet, they were cranky, and with only four days to go before Christmas, the panic was palpable. I was so overwhelmed that I sat down at one of those teeth whitening kiosks and forked over way too much money just to escape the mêlée.
When I got home, a few presents in hand, I vowed to myself and to my husband that I would never do that again. I haven’t. We buy gifts for the children in our lives, but rarely for any of the adults.
Instead, I spend time in the kitchen making things for the people we love, so when Driscoll’s Berries told me about their Made With Love campaign, I knew it was a perfect fit. From chutneys to jams to flavored sugars and salts, we try to put a lot of love into our homemade gifts and that’s what this season is all about for Driscoll’s.
This year, I’ll make a big batch of chutney and some caramels to ship to out of town friends. For our neighbors and friends close by, I’ll be whipping up a jumbo sized batch of this honey-sweetened blackberry syrup infused with vanilla and rosemary. I’ve collected some pretty vintage bottles and designed labels, which I’ll print at home and affix to hang tags.
This homemade blackberry syrup is perfect for homemade sodas, creative cocktails, pancakes and waffles, drizzling over ice cream or cake, or even dressing up a nice piece of grilled meat. It keeps for a couple of weeks in the refrigerator or up to six months in the freezer. The hint of rosemary adds sophistication to the sweet berry flavor.
There is something so joyful in making gifts for the people in my life, and I like to think that they can taste the love with which those gifts were handcrafted.
I’d like to thank Driscoll’s Berries for sponsoring this post. While I received compensation, my thoughts and feelings are 100% my own. If you’ve ever eaten Driscoll’s Berries, you’ll know they’re easy to love.
- INGREDIENTS
Makes 16 oz of syrup. Keeps in the refrigerator for two weeks or in the freezer for up to six months - 6 cups Driscoll’s blackberries
- 1 ½ cups water
- ¼ cup dark honey
- 3 inch piece of rosemary
- 2 tablespoons vanilla, divided
- INSTRUCTIONS
- Add blackberries, water, honey, rosemary, and 1 tablespoon of the vanilla to a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Remove the sprig of rosemary (leave in longer for a more pronounced rosemary flavor) and reduce the syrup over low heat until thick and syrupy. This should take about 30 minutes. In the last five minutes, add the remaining vanilla.
- Strain in a fine sieve and cool before bottling.
- Pro Tip: Don’t toss the fruit in the strainer. Save for toast, grilled cheese sandwiches, or simply eat it with a spoon.
This is a wonderful idea. I do like making sodas at home , just mixing pomegranate juice with seltzer or mineral water. I started doing that after I quit diet coke. This is going to be a good addition – especially if I can find some berries 🙂
Hi Ilke
I also love bubbles. Usually, I just drink seltzer with lemon, but I also love a splash of tart cherry or pomegranate juice. Yum!
This sounds AMAZING! I definitely want to try this holiday season!
Thank you! I love making syrups for hostess gifts and they\’re great to have around if you\’re the hostess too 😉
this is beautiful! i love making homemade sodas
Thank you love! Homemade sodas #FTW.
This with the rosemary, the blackberries, and the vanilla, this needs to happen in my house.
Thanks Shaina! I love that flavor combo so much. We spooned the fruit over some pork chops and I nearly wept for the deliciousness 😉
Hope you\’re doing well. XO
Sabrina, pure and utter gorgeousness you've share for us here! I'm likely to make this over the weekend to include in a cocktail I had at a cute hipster bar in England a couple months ago! I'll report back to tell you how lovely it was! 🙂
Oh, thank you love! I\’m so glad to know my syrup may pass British hipster muster. X
I am soooooo making this! My mouth WATERS just looking at your pics! xo
Thanks, Tracy! We tried this with bourbon and with rye, so I can attest to the cocktailiness of the thing. I still have a bit left from Thanksgiving- maybe we\’ll try gin and homemade bitters next.
These photos are amazing and this drink looks divine! My sister made something like this for Thanksgiving except she used sage instead of rosemary and she added whiskey! MY sister! I couldn't believe it. Thanks for sharing this because I don't think my sister was planning to give me that recipe. Now I've got yours!
I actually had this with a splash of bourbon and it was awesome. I\’m going to try the sage version now too. You\’re a peach, lady.
Blackberries and rosemary are such a winning combo. Lovely photos too
When you say 'Vanilla' is that extract? or actual vanilla seeds?
Extract, although you could certainly do a vanilla bean, split and scraped of its seeds.
Can you water process for shelf life?
I don\’t know that this would be high enough acid to can.
I am going to give it a try this weekend. Thanks for sharing.