Finnish Blueberry Milk
Finnish blueberry milk is a fun drink for kids! Vibrant, creamy, and bursting with flavor, it’s made with fresh berries that are cooked down and mixed with milk. Easy, colorful, and delicious!
Blueberry milk from Finland is a delightful fusion of creamy goodness and the tangy sweetness of fresh blueberries. Bursting with flavor with a beautiful all natural color, this fun drink offers a taste of Scandinavian charm and a fun twist on a glass of milk.
Finnish cuisine is known for their use of berries – from blueberries to lingonberries and cloudberries, but blueberries hold the crown of being the most poplar berry. Wild blueberries naturally grow in their forests and the climate is perfect for the most flavorful berry (Even the airline FinAir has been serving blueberry juice on its airplanes since 2015!) (see source).
Trying new foods from around the world is so important for kids, and a great way to help teach them about new flavors and how favorites can be combined into something new.
Drinks are a great way to do that – like Mango Lassi from India, Strawberry Milk from Korea, Watermelon Aqua Fresca from Mexico and Pineapple Ginger Juice from West Africa. There are so many easy ways to take ingredients and flavors that are already familiar but to combine them in a way that teaches young palates something new.
Ingredients Needed:
You only need a few ingredients on hand to make this simple recipe:
- Blueberries – Fresh are best, but you definitely want in season and flavorful blueberries. If the fresh blueberries aren’t flavorful in your area yet, you can use frozen but thawed blueberries.
- Granulated Sugar – This is going to help us create our syrup and sweeten any tart berries. You can substitute honey or maple syrup for the sugar.
- Water – You need the water to help cook the blueberries and create the syrup. Tap water is just fine for this.
- Milk – Use any kind of milk you drink for this. I prefer using a 2% cows milk, but if you use whole it feels like a super special treat. If you need to use a non-dairy milk, use a plain unsweetened version.
How to make Blueberry Milk
This recipe is very simple to make! Here is a brief overview of the recipe to give you an idea of how it works. For the full set of directions and measurements, please make sure you scroll down to the recipe card below!
- Wash the blueberries and pick out any that are not good.
- In a small saucepan, add the blueberries, granulated sugar, and water.
- Turn on the heat to medium low and allow to come to a slow simmer. Stir occasionally and cook for 10-15 minutes, until the blueberries have broken down and a slightly thick syrup has formed.
- Puree the syrup (while still warm) to really break down any big chunks of blueberries left in the syrup. If the syrup has set up and your food processor doesn’t like it, you can add 2 Tablespoons of water to think it out enough to blend. If your kids have texture issues in drinks, I recommend straining it through a fine mesh sieve as well.
- Place the syrup in a glass jar with a lid and refrigerate at least 1 hour, or until chilled.
- Serve by spooning some blueberry syrup into a jar and topping with milk. Stir to combine.
Storage Information
Store the blueberry syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days. Mix with milk right before drinking.
Kids in the kitchen
One of the best ways to get kids interested in trying new foods is to get them involved! Here are some easy ways your kids can help you make blueberry milk:
- Kids aged 1-3 can help you measure out ingredients and wash the blueberries. They can also help you stir the blueberry syrup and milk together.
- Kids aged 4-6 can help you do everything above, plus help create the syrup with assistance.
- Kids aged 7-10+ can help you do everything above.
*Please note that these recommendations are generalized, and to please use your personal discretion with your child’s skill level. And always, always supervise! Read more about how to have your children help you in the kitchen.
Looking to try other kid friendly Scandanavian recipes? Try serving our super popular Swedish Meatballs (my kids can never get enough of this meal!), or the utterly delicious Chocolate Swedish cake, or even let your kids make their own Viking bread!
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Finnish Blueberry Milk
Ingredients
- 1 pint blueberries
- ⅔ cup water
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 8 cups milk
Instructions
- In a small or medium sized saucepan, combine the blueberries, water, and granulated sugar.
- Place on medium-low heat and allow to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the blueberries have cooked down and you have a slightly thickened syrup, about 10-15 minutes.
- Transfer the blueberry syrup to a food processor to blend as smooth as you can get it, if desired.
- If desired, strain the blueberry syrup through a strainer to remove any leftover solids.
- Transfer to an air tight container and place in the fridge to cool.
- When cool, add a few Tablespoons of blueberry syrup to a glass, and fill the glass with milk. Stir to combine.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe is loosely adapted from The Best of Finnish Cooking by Taimi Previdi, but I took a lot of liberties and changed the ratio of milk
