Blueberry maple syrup is an incredibly simple, three-ingredient recipe that brings an extra burst of flavor to breakfast and brunch. This homemade infused syrup is ready in under 15 minutes and is a family favorite for pancakes, waffles, and more.

You will never find me complaining about pure maple syrup on pancakes and waffles. My preference is to not even top them with butter - just maple syrup. Maybe a shake or two of ground cinnamon.
But every now and again I like to shake it up and try something new. Faced with a carton of blueberries that wrinkled way more quickly than I thought they would (harumph), I threw them into a pot with maple syrup, gave them a quick simmer, and gawked at my new, semi-homemade, fancy creation.
This blueberry maple syrup is the same one you'll see in this recipe for blueberry cornbread waffles. In my humble opinion it's so good that it warrants its own post!
Reasons to Love Blueberry Maple Syrup
- Infusing maple syrup with blueberries provides a fruit-forward, just-sweet-enough flavor that adds a special touch to breakfast.
- It's less expensive to make than purchasing specialty fruit syrups.
- You can prepare just as much as you need, preventing the fridge from cluttering up with store-bought bottles.
- It's a great recipe (if you can even call it that!) for using up fresh blueberries that are a little past their prime. They get mashed up so a wrinkly texture will go completely unnoticed.
Recipe Ingredients
- Blueberries: Fresh or frozen blueberries work for this recipe. If you're using frozen, you don't need to thaw them.
- Maple Syrup: Pure maple syrup is the pick here, not a generic pancake syrup. I find that the best price locally for a good quality maple syrup is at Costco.
- Vanilla Extract: This is optional, but just a small amount ties together the maple and blueberry flavors. I love how it enhances the flavors in blueberry chia jam and this blueberry maple syrup is no different.
Step-by-Step Instructions
It bears repeating from before - this process is so easy, it almost doesn't count as a recipe recipe.
- Heat - Add maple syrup and blueberries to a saucepan on the stove. Bring to a low boil, then reduce heat to simmer for 5-6 minutes.
- Mash - Remove from the heat and add vanilla extract. Mash the berries until they burst. They don't have to be 100% broken up and smooth. In fact I like to leave some texture because it makes this syrup take on a blueberry compote like vibe.
- Cool - Let the syrup cool off some before drizzling over pancakes and waffles, or store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Serving Suggestions
This syrup is pourable but features texture, not unlike a blueberry compote. Use it in place of maple syrup in your favorite recipes, including the following.
- Pancakes - All kinds, naturally, but this blueberry maple syrup is especially good jazzing up cottage cheese pancakes.
- Waffles - Berries are my fruit pairing of choice when making waffles. These whole wheat waffles crisp up so nice and fluffy.
- French Toast - Whether made in casserole form (like baked cornbread french toast) or individual slices (challah french toast) french toast always benefits by a syrup accompaniment.
- Oatmeal - Swirl this syrup in to your favorite hot oatmeal or overnight oats, or top healthy baked oatmeal bars.
- Yogurt - Make your own fruit-on-the-bottom variety. The maple syrup will also sweeten plain Greek yogurt just right.
- Ice Cream - Drizzle over vanilla bean ice cream!
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- The syrup will continue to thicken up as it cools to room temperature and is stored in the refrigerator.
- With the quantities written below, this syrup recipe is relatively small batch, yielding about six two-tablespoon servings. It can easily be doubled, tripled, etc. in line with your needs.
- For an extra flavor twist, squeeze in a little fresh lemon juice when adding the vanilla extract.
Recipe FAQs
Yes you can. Once cooled completely, add syrup to an air-tight container and freeze for up to several months. Thaw in the refrigerator before use.
It should last up to 5-6 days in the refrigerator, making it a great make-ahead element for brunches or weekend breakfasts. But as always, use your best judgment. Toss it if it begins to look, smell, or taste off.
I know very little about safe canning practices so I will always err on the side of caution and say it is not suitable for canning.
If you’ve enjoyed this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating in the recipe card and/or a comment review below!
Blueberry Maple Syrup
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup (not pancake syrup)
- ¾ cup blueberries fresh or frozen
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract optional
Instructions
- Add maple syrup and blueberries to a small saucepan set on the stovetop over medium heat. Allow mixture to bubble up and reach a boil, then adjust heat to simmering. Let simmer 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the berries are well-heated and beginning to burst.
- At this time remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Mash blueberries with a fork, the back of a wooden spoon, or a potato masher. The mixture will become a deep purple color. Leave as much texture in the syrup as you like.
- Let the blueberry maple syrup cool off some before drizzling over pancakes, waffles, and french toasts. Store syrup in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5-6 days.
Notes
- Blueberries - If using frozen blueberries there's no need to thaw.
- Texture - If you prefer a completely smooth syrup you can strain it after mashing the blueberries, but I didn't mind the little bits of blueberries in the finished product.
- Flavor - Add a small squeeze of fresh lemon juice along with the vanilla extract if you'd like a little extra burst of flavor.
- Yield - This recipe yields a total of about ¾ cup of syrup.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as an estimate. As it can vary due to many factors (brands used, quantities, etc.), we cannot guarantee its accuracy.
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Matt says
This would be awesome on Vanilla Ice Cream
Alyssa says
Agreed!
Bob says
Can a person can this syrup after making a batch to save for a later time
Alyssa says
Hi Bob, I'm not familiar with the canning process so I couldn't say.
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says
Is it bad that I would just eat this gorgeous stuff and skip the waffles entirely? It looks SOOOO delicious! Love it, Alyssa!
Ashley@CookNourishBliss says
Gah this sounds so good! Blueberries make just about anything better!! I feel like I would put this on everything... lol
Alyssa says
Haha I'm tempted to do that for sure! Thanks girl!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
O yum!! This will make for one happy pancake breakfast 😉
Alyssa says
Yes, agreed! Thanks Rebecca. 🙂