Blueberries are a delicious and nutritious fruit that can be enjoyed fresh or used in a variety of recipes. However, some people find that store-bought blueberries can be a bit tart or sour for their taste. If you prefer a sweeter blueberry flavor, there are several natural ways to make blueberries taste sweeter without adding any artificial sweeteners.
Use Riper Blueberries
The riper the blueberry, the sweeter it will taste. When blueberries are allowed to fully ripen on the bush, they develop higher sugar content which gives them a sweeter flavor. If you are buying blueberries at the grocery store or farmers market, choose plump, deep blue berries that appear ripe. Avoid pale green or red berries which are underripe and will be more sour. Local blueberries in season will typically taste sweeter than store-bought berries which may have been picked early before reaching peak ripeness.
Sweeten with Honey or Maple Syrup
drizzling a small amount of liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup over fresh blueberries is an easy way to sweeten them naturally. The sweet viscosity of the syrup will coat each berry and provide added sweetness with pure natural sources. Use a light hand when drizzling as a little goes a long way. About 1-2 teaspoons of liquid sweetener per cup of berries is a good rule of thumb. Stir gently to evenly coat the berries. Honey and maple syrup contain trace nutrients and minerals that regular white sugar lacks.
Macerate the Berries
Macerating blueberries draws out the natural juices and allows the berries to soften and absorb more sweetness. Simply wash and pat dry fresh blueberries, then place them in a bowl. Sprinkle over a pinch of sugar per cup of berries and allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to 2 hours. The sugar will dissolve into the released juices creating a light syrup. Gently stir or turn the berries occasionally so the sweetened juice is evenly distributed. The berries will plump up and become infused with sweetness.
Layer with Sweet Fruits
Combining blueberries with other sweeter fruits can provide a overall sweeter flavor. Fruits like mangoes, pineapples, pears, figs, bananas, and stone fruits naturally have a higher sugar content. Chop the sweeter fruits into chunks or slices and gently fold together with the blueberries. Allow to sit for 30+ minutes so the blueberries can soak up the surrounding fruit juices. The added fruits lend their sweetness to balance and enhance the flavor of the berries.
Bake into Sweet Treats
When baked into muffins, cakes, tarts, crisps and other desserts, blueberries absorb surrounding sugars and flavors that lend natural sweetness. As the blueberry mixtures bake, the high heat intensifies the sweetness. Adding a dusting of sugar or drizzle of honey over a blueberry cobbler or fruit crumble while baking provides extra sweetening power.
Dehydrate into Fruit Leather
Dehydrating blueberries into fruit leathers or fruit rolls concentrates their natural sugars into an intensely sweet, chewy treat. Puree fresh blueberries, spread thinly onto dehydrator trays, and dehydrate at 135??F for 6-8 hours until dry and leather-like. The water content evaporates away allowing the natural sugars to concentrate. Cut into snackable pieces. No sugar added!
Infuse into Simple Syrup
Steeping blueberries into a sugary simple syrup imparts deep berry flavor and boasts an impressive magenta hue. Simmer 1 cup blueberries with 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar until softened. Mash berries and strain out solids. Use the infused syrup to sweeten teas, lemonade, cocktails, fruit salads and more. The syrup provides pure fruit sweetness without excess sugars.
Whip into Sweetened Yogurt
Stirring fresh blueberries into sweetened Greek yogurt creates a naturally sweetened treat with protein power. The thick creamy base coats each berry and lightly sweetens them from the inside out. Use full fat Greek yogurt and add a touch of honey, maple syrup or vanilla extract to provide extra sweetness. Top with extra berries for fresh fruit flavor and crunch.
Simmer into Compote
Simmering blueberries into a warm compote concentrate their sugars into a thick, syrupy sauce. Cook blueberries with a bit of lemon juice, orange zest, cinnamon and just a touch of sugar or honey over medium heat until broken down. The mixture will thicken up and the berries will taste intensely sweet. Dollop warm blueberry compote over yogurt, ice cream, ricotta cheese, pancakes and more.
Make No-Sugar Jam
Blending blueberries into a homemade jam without any added sugar highlights their natural sweet-tart flavor. Cook down fresh berries on the stovetop then blend in a food processor until smooth. Return to the saucepan and continue simmering until thickened to a spreadable jam texture. Bottle in sterile jars and store refrigerated. Spread on toast, stir into yogurt or swirl into oatmeal.
Reduce into Sauce
Simmering blueberries into a sweet sauce reduces their liquid content drawing out their inherent sweetness. Gently cook fresh berries on the stove with a tablespoon or two of water or juice until softened and broken down. Mash slightly for a thicker consistency. The concentrated berry flavors create rich sweetness. Drizzle reduced blueberry sauce over ice cream, cheesecake, waffles, and angel food cake.
Toss with Sweet Herbs
Tossing blueberries with sweet fresh herbs like mint, basil, lemon verbena or lemon thyme adds a subtle herbaceous sweetness. The aromatic oils from the fresh herbs naturally enhance and lightly sweeten the berries. Gently mix a few tablespoons of minced herbs into a bowl of berries and let sit for at least 10 minutes so flavors can mingle before serving.
Mix with Sweet Spices
A dash of warming spices can help bring out hidden sweetness in blueberries. Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cardamom and ginger gently complement the flavor of fresh berries. Sprinkle a pinches of ground spices over blueberries and fold together. Let sit briefly to allow the spice flavor to infuse. The spices lend a subtle sweetness and complexity.
Blend into Smoothies
Blend blueberries into smoothies along with fresh bananas, pineapple, Greek yogurt and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup for an easy way to naturally sweeten their flavor. The blended mixture will infuse the berries with sweet creaminess. Coconut water or milk also enhances the sweetness. Adjust added sweeteners to taste.
Bake into Oatmeal
Baking fresh blueberries into a warm bowl of oatmeal softens their texture and concentrates their sweet-tart taste. Cook old fashioned oats with milk or water and top with blueberries before baking in the oven or microwave until thick and creamy. The berries will plump and absorb surrounding sweet flavors. Maple syrup, brown sugar, honey or vanilla extract can also be stirred in for extra sweetness.
Conclusion
With some simple tricks, blueberries can be naturally sweetened at home using ripe fruit, sweet fruits and herbs, spices and other wholesome ingredients. Employing cooking methods like baking, simmering and reducing intensifies their sweet side. Blending berries into smoothies, yogurt and compotes gives them a sweet creaminess. Any of these techniques can help coax out their hidden sweetness and delicious fruit flavors without any added refined sugar.
