Blueberry lemonade is a refreshing and easy drink to make for hot summer days. This “magic” version combines ingredients like butterfly pea powder and edible glitter for an enchanting spin on classic lemonade. You also have the option to customize the sweetener–use stevia, agave syrup, or simple syrup.
Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council. All opinions are my own; I never feature a brand that I don’t love! This post may also contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy for more details.
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Is this blueberry lemonade nutritious?
Yes! This blueberry lemonade is lightly sweetened and contains simple ingredients that offer several health benefits. The real star of this recipe is blueberries alongside butterfly pea flower powder and vitamin C abundant lemons.
What is butterfly pea flower powder?
Along with blueberries bright blue hue, this recipe uses butterfly pea flower powder to achieve its unique color. Butterfly pea powder is ground from the petals of the butterfly pea flower. Although it’s much less researched than blueberries, butterfly pea flowers contain anthocyanins.
Why are blueberries healthy?
Blueberries are a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, and phytonutrients like “anthocyanins”. Anthocyanins are a type of pigment which gives these berries their bright blue hue. Blueberries can also have the following benefits.
Heart health benefits
A growing body of scientific evidence shows blueberries can be considered a heart-healthy fruit. For example, blueberries are a good source of dietary fiber (4 grams per 1 cup serving), which can help to promote overall heart health.
Brain health benefits
June is Brain Health Month! Did you know blueberries can play a role in keeping our mind sharp? This is important because in the United States, nearly six million older adults live with dementia. Since limited treatments for cognitive decline exist, preventative approaches and proper nutrition are so importance.
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, “Blueberry Supplementation in Midlife for Dementia Risk Reduction,” looked at the impact of blueberry supplementation for potential brain benefits (in the context of aging and insulin resistance). Twenty-seven participants which included men and women between the ages 50-60 years old with subjective cognitive decline and moderate insulin resistance were involved in the study. Over the course of 12 weeks, participants were randomly assigned to consume either freeze-dried blueberry powder or placebo powder daily.
The study results found blueberries may induce metabolic and other benefits that could serve as an early intervention for preventing the cognitive decline associated with aging. Though, further research is needed to look at blueberry supplementation over a longer time period, with a larger sample size.
Hydration Benefits
Drinking this blueberry lemonade can help keep you hydrated throughout the day. Blueberries are about 85% water too so once you get to the bottom of your lemonade–be sure to pop in that boost of blue!
How do you make magic blueberry lemonade?
This recipe is super simple to make but adds a major wow factor to any picnic, girls night, or summer cookout. Gather your ingredients and get ready to make this blueberry butterfly pea lemonade in no time.
1. Combine blueberries and butterfly pea powder
Stir blueberries and the powder in a pitcher of water until it turns bright blue. You can use either fresh or frozen blueberries. You can find the butterfly powder at a local spice/tea shop or online.
2. Add lemon juice
This is where it gets magical! The acidic nature of lemons triggers a color transformation when added to the blue water. As the lemon juice is added, the water changes from blue to a delightful light purple, and then eventually deepening into a captivating dark purple. Pretty cool, right?
There’s many different ways to juice a lemon. Ultimately, be sure to juice them before adding to the water to prevent any seeds from getting in.
3. Stir in all other ingredients
Finally, you’ll stir in the sweetener, edible glitter, and ice. You can find edible glitter at specialty baking supply stores or online. If you can’t get any in time, no worries. You can simply skip it.
Tips and tricks
- Sweetness – Adjust the sweet level to your preference by adding more or less sweetener.
- Infusion – The longer this lemonade sits, the better the blueberry infusion will get!
- Muddling Tip – If you’re wanting a more pronounced blueberry flavor right away, gently muddle a few blueberries before adding them to the water.
- Variations – Feel free to get creative with different variations! You can add over fresh mint or replace the still water with sparkling water for a fizzy twist.
Customize it your way
Like all of my other recipes, this blueberry lemonade is completely customizable. You get to choose what liquid sweetener you want to use. Here are a few options to consider:
- Agave Syrup – If you prefer a natural and mild sweetness, agave syrup is an excellent choice. It blends seamlessly with the flavors of blueberries and lemon.
- Simple Syrup – For a classic touch, you can use simple syrup as your liquid sweetener. Made from equal parts sugar and water, simple syrup dissolves easily and evenly distributes sweetness throughout the drink.
- Liquid Stevia – We often like to make a stevia lemonade. This is a great zero-calorie, zero-sugar option. You’ll find liquid stevia in the baking aisle or online.
- Other Options – If you have another favorite liquid sweetener in your pantry, feel free to use it! Maple syrup, honey, or date syrup are all great alternatives that will add their unique flavor notes to the Blueberry Lemonade.
Can you make it ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can prepare this blueberry lemonade ahead of time and store it in the fridge. Just don’t add the ice ahead of time or it will dilute it. Then once you’re ready to serve, top it off with ice cubes, give it a good stir, and pour.
What if there’s leftover lemonade?
You can store any leftover blueberry lemonade in a covered glass or pitcher in the fridge. It will stay fresh for up to 4 days. If you’d like to prolong its shelf life, pour the remaining lemonade into ice cube trays and freeze. You can then use the frozen cubes to chill and flavor more homemade blueberry lemonade!
Blueberry Lemonade
Ingredients
- 4 cups cold water
- 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries, plus more for garnish
- ½ teaspoon butterfly pea flower powder
- 4 medium lemons, juiced
- Liquid sweetener of your choice, to taste* (I prefer to use about ½ teaspoon liquid stevia but you could also use about 1/4 cup agave syrup or simple syrup)
- Blue or silver edible glitter, optional
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- In a 1 quart or larger pitcher, add 4 cups of cold water and blueberries.
- Gradually stir butterfly pea powder into the water. Continue stirring until the powder is dissolved and the water turns a vibrant blue color.
- Next, pour the juice of the lemons over the water. The acidity will turn the water from a blue color to light purple at first. Then, as it settles it will turn into a darker purple color.
- Next, add the liquid sweetener of your choice and a sprinkle of edible glitter if desired. Stir well until fully incorporated.
- Add ice cubes into the pitcher before pouring into individual glasses filled with ice.
- Garish individual glasses with more blueberries.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Have extra blueberries? Try making these other recipes:
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