Use this homemade Elderberry Syrup recipe to keep your family healthy all year round!
I started using elderberry syrup when my daughter Meghan was a toddler. Elderberries are rich with health benefits, including:
Health Benefits of Elderberries
- Boost the immune system
- Fight and protect against bacterial infections
- Fight and protect against viral infections
- Reduce the symptoms and duration of a cold or the flu
- helps clear sinus infections
- has natural diuretic effects and promotes bowel movements
- anti-inflammatory properties
- anti-carcinogenic properties
- eases symptoms of allergies
- high in antioxidants
- high in vitamin A, which makes it great for healthy skin
Clearly elderberry is a powerful plant! Through the years I’ve tried to be consistent in having our whole family take elderberry syrup, especially during the cold and flu season. The problem? Elderberry syrup is expensive!
I would much rather buy a product than have to make it. I’m a busy mama and adding one more thing to my plate can cause me to drop and break the whole plate. Nobody wants to see that.
However. When I discover I can make something for significantly cheaper at home and it’s really not that difficult, I make room on my plate. I might have to take something else off the plate, but I make room.
This homemade elderberry syrup recipe is really easy and worth the effort for the money saved. One of my lovely readers actually first shared the recipe she uses for homemade elderberry syrup with me last year when I was lamenting about the cost of buying the syrup.
Can I take a minute to tell you how much I love this community of readers? You guys are awesome and I love that we can help each other!
I use the basics of that recipe, but changed it slightly. I use dried cinnamon rather than a cinnamon stick and instead of using dried ginger and whole cloves, I use ginger and clove essential oils. I note in the recipe below that you can use either.
How to Make a Homemade Elderberry Syrup Recipe
The first step will be to get yourself some dried elderberries, which I get on Amazon. (affiliate link) Oh, how I love my Amazon Prime membership. 2 days later and you’ll be ready to make some immune-boosting syrup!
The whole process is easy and can be done while doing other household chores. You start by simmering some dried elderberries with water and spices for about 45 minutes. That’s when you can be doing other things. No need to hover over the pot here.
Once the liquid is reduced by half, you drain the liquid. I use a fine mesh strainer which makes it super easy. (Mine are very similar to these and I use them for everything!)
Make sure you squeeze all the liquid out of the berries so you aren’t wasting any. The back of a wooden spoon should do the trick.
Make sure the liquid is cooled, and then you can add your raw honey. Raw honey sweetens the syrup so kids will take it easily, but also has its own medicinal benefits. Win-win!
Then you store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and it will last for about two months. For adults, take 1 tablespoon daily and for children, 1 teaspoon daily. If you or your children are experiencing sickness or feel something coming on, that dose should be repeated four times daily.
Here’s a video to show you how easy it is to make homemade elderberry syrup at home!
Here’s to a healthy cold and flu season!
Homemade Elderberry Syrup Recipe
PrintHomemade Elderberry Syrup Recipe
This homemade elderberry syrup can be made in less than an hour and will keep your family healthy all year long. It’s the best natural immune booster you can use.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Total Time: 50 mins
- Category: natural medicine
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup dried elderberries
- 3 cups water
- 1 teaspoon dried cinnamon or 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 teaspoon dried cloves or 4 whole cloves or 1 drop clove essential oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger or 1 teaspoon dried ginger or 1 drop ginger essential oil
- 1 cup raw honey
Instructions
- In a large pot, bring the elderberries, water, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger to a boil.
- Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer until the liquid has reduced by half, about 40-45 minutes.
- Allow the liquid to cool, and then drain the liquid using a fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth.
- Press all liquid out of the berries using the back of a wooden spoon.
- Add the raw honey and mix well.
- Store in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to two months.
Nutrition
- Calories: 1113
- Sugar: 278g
- Sodium: 21mg
- Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 299g
- Protein: 2g
Take along with this Vitamin C Smoothie for extra immune-boosting power!
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting my mission to help as many people as possible live a happy, healthy life!
Dana says
October 17, 2016 at 6:20 pmNever heard of this! Thank you! It sounds like a good thing to have around for Michigan winters. Have you ever added it to foods like smoothies? or does it need to be taken straight?
Maryea says
October 17, 2016 at 7:17 pmYou can add it to smoothies! 🙂
Heather Hurt says
October 18, 2016 at 7:32 pmI made my own elderberry syrup last year and couldn’t believe how easy it was. The recipe was very similar to this. I had added thieves (Young Living essential oil) to mine and the taste was too strong for my kids so this year I won’t be doing that. I like the idea of the cinnamon sticks. Thanks!!
Maryea says
October 19, 2016 at 9:31 amSo easy! Yes, I can see how that would be too strong. I thought about adding On Guard (I think it’s DoTERRA’s version of Thieves?) but thought it would be too much for the kids.
Leah Titus says
November 7, 2017 at 10:23 pmDo you aadthe oils while boiling or after you boil with the honey?
Maryea says
November 10, 2017 at 11:05 amBefore.
sharon says
March 14, 2018 at 1:51 pmI would imagine you add the essential oils after it cools down with the honey. you should not heat the oils up if you want the best out of the essential oils.
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Erica says
February 19, 2017 at 7:52 amWhere do you purchase your honey?
Maryea says
February 20, 2017 at 10:24 amI often purchase it at Costco. Sometimes I also purchase it at our local grocery store. It just depends on what store I’m at when we are out. 🙂
Kay says
November 7, 2017 at 8:30 pmWhat can be used for a honey allergy?
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Maryea says
November 10, 2017 at 11:08 amYou can use a different liquid sweetener like maple syrup or agave nectar. Unfortunately they won’t have the same anti-bacterial benefits as the honey, but will do the job of sweetening the elderberry. Good luck!
Elaine says
December 9, 2017 at 8:36 amI have been searching for the recipe and wouldnt you know it! kombucha mama to the rescue! i bought my 1st scoby from you about 6 yrs ago , i make a strong cough syrup i add minced garlic, cayenne pepper turmeric and apple cider vinegar and let it sit i just ran out of my store bought syrup and am in desperate need as im suffering from the flu right now. always have elderberries for tea so off to the kitchen i go before this flu creep in real time.
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Michelle says
December 20, 2017 at 3:18 amPlease don’t add Thieves oil, On Guard, or any essential oils to elderberry syrup. These oils are very potent and not meant to be taken internally. They could be especially dangerous for the liver, and children are especially vulnerable. Essential oils are the most concentrated essences of the plant and are often misused and overused. Please be careful with essential oils, and try to use the whole plant whenever possible, such as ginger, cinnamon, clove, etc. – Michelle, holistic RN
Melynda says
January 15, 2019 at 11:22 amI appreciate your concern for this. I had personally emailed Edensgarden about using theirs internally and they said the same thing to me. They do not recommend consumption of essential oils. I’m not sure if the other suppliers do or not but I like a company that puts me ahead of the money.
Mandy says
February 7, 2019 at 6:19 pmSo I’m curious about the internal consumption of oils. I know some aren’t supposed but some are ok? Lemon? Wild orange etc? Or others ok in a veggie capsul? Are you saying no to all essential oils internally? For the reader that started the post too.
Maryea says
February 12, 2019 at 7:11 amSome people do say no to all essential oils internally. I guess it’s not universally agreed upon.
Tracy says
October 22, 2019 at 11:37 amThe YL Vitality oils are meant to be internally consumed. As long as they are “vitality” oils they are fine for consumption.
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Kat Martinez says
January 20, 2018 at 10:01 pmI have always wanted to make the cold remedy of Elderberries. Thanks for you simple recipe. I pick about 20-35# of Elderberries a year. I have only made jelly and Pancake Syrup until tonight I just made 3 quarts of this , late Christmas for a lot of friends ?
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Maryea says
January 24, 2018 at 10:19 amPerfect!! 🙂
Nan says
February 3, 2018 at 5:08 pmHave you ever tried just blending the whole thing after it has cooled and leaving the elderberries etc. in it instead of straining it? Would that work?
AJ says
February 3, 2018 at 8:45 pmMade another batch tonight would love to put the rest of the berry to use, too… If there’s a benefit. For now I compost them.
We keep the full cinamon stick in the finished amount. Also- 4 cups h2o + 1 cup dried berries. 2 table spoons chopped fresh ginger. Boil, simmer 50-60 min, let sit at least 3 hour. Warm slightly, strain. Add honey/sweetener.
The potency is higher, ginger impact mellows but deepens, max berry benefit.
Maryea says
February 3, 2018 at 10:26 pmI’ll have to research more, but it’s a really interesting thought!
Thanks for your tips.
Taylor says
October 14, 2018 at 5:18 pmHow much does this make? I just want to know how many jars of this I can do!
Maryea says
February 3, 2018 at 10:26 pmThat’s an interesting thought! I’ve not tried it, but now I want to.
Maryea says
February 6, 2018 at 6:23 pmI just read that there is a part of the whole berry that can make you feel sick if consumed. I think it’s best to discard.
Rebecca says
September 20, 2018 at 10:11 amMaryea, I believe that is only in raw elderberries, but they are fine once cooked.
Curly's Crafts says
October 3, 2019 at 7:01 pmI don’t think you should do this, from my understanding. the berries themselves are poisonous – they are ok once boiled, and we use the liquid from them, but I don’t think we are supposed to eat/ingest the berries in any way themselves. I could be wrong, but that’s my understanding.
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Martha Schwartz says
November 2, 2019 at 6:25 amThey are highly beneficial when prepared properly, as in this recipe.
PARADISA says
February 4, 2018 at 8:06 amI MAKE PLAIN ELDERBERRY JUICE/SYRUP, NO SPICES OR HERBS. I WATER BATH CAN IT LIKE I DO WHEN MAKING ANY BERRY JUICE USUALLY IN HALF PINTS SO IT IS SHELF STABLE.
I ALSO TAKE ALL THE LEFTOVER PULP AND DEHYDRATE IT FOR MAKING ELDERBERRY TEA.
Roza Gutsulyak says
February 4, 2018 at 9:04 amTell my super novice self more. Id love some step by step directions.
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Maryea says
February 6, 2018 at 6:22 pmThanks for letting me know you need more specific instructions. I’ll update this soon to make sure it is more clear!
Maryea says
February 6, 2018 at 6:22 pmVery smart!
Rita says
March 6, 2018 at 5:16 pmWhat happens if you add your honey at the same time as the berries?
Maryea says
March 7, 2018 at 6:48 amI don’t advise that because you want to use raw honey and it will lose some of its beneficial properties with the heat.
Dr. Osborne says
December 21, 2018 at 1:57 amthe honey would burn on the bottom of the pan anyway. You’d have a big mess and a difficult pan to clean. Your batch would be ruined because of the burnt flavor. Honey is pure sugar and sugar Burns very easily so I should always be added at the very end of a recipe if possible.
Amanda says
November 17, 2018 at 7:25 pmHow do you dehydrate the leftover pulp? For now I am just storing it in the fridge and will pull out and use in tea, but it won’t last long enough for me to use it all.
Amber says
February 5, 2018 at 6:33 pmWho do you buy your elderberries from on Amazon? I see lots of sellers, but I’m a little iffy about purchasing berries from a random person.
Maryea says
February 6, 2018 at 6:18 pmI always buy the certified organic Frontier Co-Op berries. I’ve never had a problem. You can read about the co-op here: https://www.frontiercoop.com/?SID=od60evhffnmmc8v2v1ukc4v573
Tacey says
November 14, 2018 at 11:57 amIt’s too bad that in this past year it looks as though they have at least tripled their prices!!!! $60 for one pound!!!!
Maryea says
November 14, 2018 at 3:43 pmI did find some for $44/pound. I need to do the math to see the price comparison for buying vs making now that the prices are higher! I will report back once I figure it out.
Kat Martinez says
November 27, 2018 at 9:59 amMaryea, I was at our local Amish Bulf food store yesterday and they had dried Elderberries 1 # for 9.99 When I go mack over there I will make sure I ask to see if I can read the main label that comes with the bulk product.
I think this year I will try dehydration on a good batch 1, to see how long it will take and 2, the amount it will take to make a pound of dehydrated.
The information that is gathered will only be shared with you and this blog.
Huge plus we have our 1st Bee Hive this last spring so fingers
are crossed they make it through this winter lol.
Maryea says
November 28, 2018 at 12:51 pmOOOh what a great deal!! Thanks for sharing!
Dorothy says
October 25, 2019 at 12:38 pmI just bought a pound of organic Frontier elderberries from Vitacost for a little over 14$. Their price was in the 18$ range and they had 20% off. Amazons price is ridiculous .
Maryea says
October 28, 2019 at 9:30 amThanks for the heads up. The prices seem to vary greatly.
Teresa says
February 7, 2018 at 8:58 amHi I make choke cherry syrup a lot. Yes the pits of choke cherry and elderberry are actually very toxic to ingest whole. You just want the juice. I am excited to try your recipe. Sounds great!
Maryea says
February 8, 2018 at 6:51 amThanks for the info!
Daniel Devries says
February 12, 2018 at 6:33 pmHow long is one patch good for before it looses its strength and benefits.
Liz says
February 13, 2018 at 12:33 amNo one told me these things would stink so much! lol Be advised, everyone! That said, I chose not to include cinnamon, cloves, etc. so I am thinking now that these additives may have helped while the mixture simmered. I just finished airing out the house and I hope this syrup lasts a while!
Maryea says
February 14, 2018 at 12:08 pmHaha! I’ve not tried making this without the spices, so I can only imagine how it smelled. Hope it still tasted okay for you! 🙂
Liz says
February 14, 2018 at 12:12 pmI got the drained berries out of the house pretty quickly, so that helped. lol The syrup tastes just fine, and I am adding it to our morning smoothies. Thanks for the recipe!
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Maryea says
February 15, 2018 at 11:54 amYou’re welcome!
Zen Tree Wellness says
February 11, 2019 at 6:08 pmI know!!!! It smells terrible. My second batch I was prepared. I left my fan above the oven on high and put a bowl of white vinegar on the stove. That helped a lot.
Stephanie says
February 16, 2018 at 12:57 pmI think you should add that you can not give this to infants under 1 if honey is added. It can potentially cause botulism and which is deadly. All pediatricians will advise this.
Maryea says
February 16, 2018 at 2:08 pmI will add that in! I should never assume people know that.
April Ashburn says
October 9, 2018 at 1:37 pmThank you for this. I’d like to give to my 6 month olds who are at higher risk for illness. If I sub maple syrup for honey, how much of the benefit am I losing? Is it still worth it?
Maryea says
October 10, 2018 at 11:21 amYes, I think it’s still worth it. You’ll be getting all of the benefits of the elderberry, just not the raw honey. Babies won’t need as large of a dose, of course. 1/4-1/2 teaspoon should be plenty, but always check with your child’s pediatrician to be sure.
Ashley says
February 20, 2018 at 9:29 pmCan I leave out the cloves? I can’t stand the taste!!
Maryea says
February 20, 2018 at 10:32 pmYes, you can. 🙂
Justine Kolstad says
February 21, 2018 at 3:43 pmThere’s absolutely no reason to use clove essential oil or Ginger essential oil in this recipe. There is no nutritional value in the central oil. The whole idea of this recipe as for the nutritional value of the herbs…… don’t waste your essential oils ingesting them
Kelly Jones says
February 24, 2018 at 4:09 pmHow do you make cough syrup?
Maryea says
February 26, 2018 at 10:03 amI use raw honey, cinnamon, and lemon essential oil. There are lots of recipes out there!
Angela says
February 24, 2018 at 11:52 pmHi! I’m wondering how you can accurately measure the fresh ginger. I’m using Clove oil and cinnamon bark oil but I don’t have Ginger oil yet so I got fresh ginger root but I already boiled the elderberries earlier today and not sure if I should just boil the fresh ginger in the same amount of water and for the same amount of time that I did the elderberries?? The recipe I’m using calls for 3 drops of Ginger Oil so I’m going to adjust the amount from your recipe. Thank you in advance for the advice! My little has been sick for a week now and I’m desperate to get this made and done so she can start taking it ASAP!
Maryea says
February 26, 2018 at 10:01 amI would just leave the ginger out of this batch and add it next time!
Joan F Kiddie says
March 5, 2018 at 4:53 pmThe Apothecary in the small town I live in only carries ground elderberry. Would you know how to use it measurement wise or if it is as theraputic as dried?TIA
Maryea says
March 6, 2018 at 1:44 pmI’m sorry, but I’m not sure.
Carrie says
March 19, 2018 at 9:21 amHave you ever added turmeric? Is there any added benefit? A vendor at our farmer’s mkt adds it to her recipe.
And I know this is dumb, but I’m assuming the calorie count in the nutrit Info is per recipe?
Tina Humphries says
June 30, 2018 at 10:27 pmHelllo! Do you think you could can this (water bath can)? I’m not sure it would all get taken at my house and I don’t want it to go to waste.
Tina Hargis says
August 26, 2018 at 4:10 pmHow much do you let it cool before you add the raw honey? You want it to mix together, but you also don’t want to heat the raw honey, per se, correct?
Maryea says
August 27, 2018 at 9:19 amYes, you want it to cool to room temperature before adding the raw honey.
Kat Martinez says
August 26, 2018 at 11:38 pmI made a huge batch in January and gave alot away to my Amish families and our close friends, had nothing but great comments on the benefits. Personally I got that cold sickness taste one day and I took this for 2 days and my cold symptoms disappeared.
We have got to figure out how this can be canned to help the shelf life. Just this year I cooked down and preserved 25# of Elderberries, thank goodness I have never had to buy them. Seriously thinking of how to dehydrate them for sale next year, we have alot here on our farm. And this year we started our our bees. We look forward to our 1st harvest next year 🙂
Thanks again for such a successful recipe 🙂
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Maryea says
August 27, 2018 at 9:19 amYou’re welcome! I’m really happy to hear this!
Shelly says
February 12, 2019 at 5:49 pmDoes it have to be refrigerated? Asking because I may want to ship some to a friend…thank you!
Shelly says
February 12, 2019 at 5:50 pmTyped in wrong email on that comment…
Maryea says
February 13, 2019 at 12:13 pmIt has no preservatives, so it does need to be refrigerated, but it may be fine for the time it takes to ship it. Especially during these colder months. I’m sorry I can’t say for certain, though, as I haven’t tried shipping this!
Ami Petersen says
September 9, 2019 at 5:09 pmI have been taking a class on natural healing and health drinks and other things. Simple syrups are shelf stable at room temp for about a year. That means that the sugar is equal to the juice or other liquid. This works for both sugar and honey so this should be safe to Can and leave on the shelf for the duration of the canning life. However I would still refrigerate as soon as it was opened and then use within 2 months. I don’t know if this helps anyone but that is what I learned in my class.
Misty Neely says
August 30, 2018 at 12:38 pmKat, I just found that we have elderberries here and I picked some today! I was so thankful not to purchase them.either! Do you just use those picked berries the same as the dried in this recipe?
Liz Lee says
August 27, 2018 at 10:31 amAlso, I use raw honey that flows at room temperature. (Not the kind that you have to dig out of the jar.)
Misty Neely says
August 30, 2018 at 12:35 pmIf I’m using actual berries picked from a tree instead of dried, do I use the same amount and go through the same process? Thanks!!
Maryea says
August 31, 2018 at 9:29 amHi hope Kat can answer your question as I’m not sure. I’ve only used dried berries for this recipe! 🙂
Kat Martinez says
August 31, 2018 at 2:42 pmI use 4 cups of pure juice and it turned out amazing. I’m sure 3 cups would work as well 🙂
Kat Martinez says
September 25, 2018 at 11:07 pmMisty, I apologize, yes you can use fresh elderberries. Personally I fill my largest pot with washed berries and I only add maybe 1 cup of water to help the break down process to cook the berries. After the berries are cooked down and then cooled down I run mine through pantyhose a couple times. And I free 3 cups at a time in ziplock freezer bags.
I do nothing with scrapes other than feed my chickens, I sure hope that help. PLEASE feel free to ask anything about fresh processing 😉
Maryea says
September 26, 2018 at 8:41 amThank you so much for your reply, Kat!
Paula says
September 29, 2018 at 12:44 pmKat, same ratio for frozen berries? Food mill instead of pantyhose?
Kat Martinez says
September 29, 2018 at 7:14 pmMisty , what I do is I measure out 3 cups (Juice)and freeze because that’s what my jelly recipe calls for, so that’s why I have to make adjustments to this cold medicine recipe. 🙂
Only if I’m extremely tired do I freeze whole unprocessed berries.
Hope that helps 🙂
Melissa kincaid says
September 10, 2018 at 5:13 pmIs it normal to be thinner? Ours reminds me of grape juice the consistency.
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Maryea says
September 12, 2018 at 11:06 amYes, that’s fine. Sometimes mine is like that.
Graye says
September 24, 2018 at 5:43 pmWish you had an obvious email contact given.
Also wish you had answered the person who asked if you can keep the batteries in the syrup instead of discarding them if you’ve carefully boiled the whole thing for a long time
Kat Martinez says
September 25, 2018 at 11:17 pmGrayer, I’m sure you are speaking of berries and not batteries. Either was ,personally I have never used anything other than the juice. The fruitcain hold.a thin layer of resume.
Good luck ,)
Natasha says
October 30, 2018 at 11:01 amCan I use cinnamon bark essential oil instead of dried cinnamon or cinnamon sticks?
Natalie says
November 8, 2018 at 8:06 amThe recipe says 3/4 dried elderberries do you know about how much weight that equals? I am trying to figure how many batches I can get from 1lb dried elderberries. Thanks!
Maryea says
November 9, 2018 at 10:02 amI’m sorry I’m not sure and I’m out of dried elderberries at the moment! I am getting ready to order some, so when they get here I can weigh 3/4 cup for you. 🙂
Samantha says
November 27, 2018 at 12:16 amCan you tell me how many 8oz jars this recipe yields? Thank you!!!
Carli says
December 8, 2018 at 10:56 amIs this safe for children under 3 being that it has EOs in it?
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Maryea says
December 9, 2018 at 9:36 pmI would make it without the essential oils for under 3.
Annoyed Enough to Comment says
January 21, 2019 at 10:55 amHoly ads everywhere! I can barely read this article. Not to mention it looks like a Wellness Mama knock-off.
:/
Maryea says
January 21, 2019 at 11:06 amIn case you aren’t aware, the content you read on my website is free to you. I spend time creating recipes, photographing recipes with expensive equipment, and writing the content you read. Not to mention the money I pay to host this site. All of this is free to you. Without ads, I would not only be working for free, but paying money out of my pocket to give away this free content. Ads are what allow me to keep this blog and continue to provide FREE content to my readers rather than offer it as a subscription service they have to pay for.
As for the comment about this recipe being a Wellness Mama knock-off, that’s like saying there’s only room for one Elderberry Syrup recipe on the Internet. Wellness Mama didn’t invent Elderberry Syrup and this recipe isn’t a knock off any more than the 5,000,000 other search results you’ll get when you type “elderberry syrup” into your google search bar are. The beauty of the Internet is that you can find many versions of a similar thing and decide which you like best. There are choices. Thomas Jefferson invented Macaroni and Cheese. Does that mean no one should put their version of good ol’ mac and cheese on their website? Please.
Rachel says
January 28, 2019 at 10:08 pmWell said
Impressed enough to comment says
August 26, 2019 at 9:24 pmNailed it! Thanks for the free content (:
Liz says
January 21, 2019 at 11:06 amI’m glad Wellness Mama is not the only source of information out there on this and other family wellness topics. I have used this recipe to keep my family healthy for a year now and I’m grateful to have this website to refer back to when needed. That said, yes, it’s important for a blogger to be mindful of the user experience, which includes opening their website in “incognito mode” so they can see all the ads and popups that the user sees when they first arrive at the site. Then, they should prioritize what actions they want the user to take, and deactivate elements that are not needed on a given post.
CP Young says
February 1, 2019 at 10:11 pmHow long can the jars be stored in the refrigerator? Also, can they be frozen?
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Kathy says
February 2, 2019 at 8:58 amI was just given a pint of the Elderberry syrup. And I was wondering how much will a 16 oz bag of the dried berries will this make I d rather make it myself using your recipe.
Mare says
February 7, 2019 at 10:40 amCan I substitute something for the cloves? I cannot eat them.
Maryea says
February 7, 2019 at 11:15 amYou can just leave them out. 🙂
Tracy howlett says
February 8, 2019 at 12:19 pmHi, I just made my very first batch of elderberry syrup. It was a different recipe that called for lemon and orange..zester, juiced, and peels thrown in while cooking in the IP…needless to say, I can tolerate it, but it is very bitter. I am thinking that it is the rinds that make it bitter. (I am now trying your recipe even as I type this). My question is, do you know anyway to salvage the batch I already made? Not sure how to make it not as bitter.
Thank you
Danielle says
February 8, 2019 at 3:04 pmHow much syrup does this recipe yield? I am looking to make a big batch to share with friends and family, would I just double/triple the ingredients?
Maryea says
February 12, 2019 at 7:09 amYes, you should double or triple the recipe to make a big batch. 🙂
Kristen Thigpen says
February 15, 2019 at 11:05 amWhere do you purchase the elderberries?
Maryea says
February 15, 2019 at 11:09 amFrom Amazon! 🙂 These are the ones I usually get: https://amzn.to/2EchfcU
Jessie says
February 16, 2019 at 10:23 amIf we are doubling this batch, do we need to allow it to simmer longer?
Maryea says
February 19, 2019 at 10:01 amNo, that’s not necessary. 🙂
sS says
February 23, 2019 at 4:47 pmSo I forgot to cover it while simmering,,, is this ok? Or do I need to start over?
Maryea says
February 26, 2019 at 10:28 amTotally fine! It probably just evaporated more than it should have, but it’s still okay.
Tyler Durden says
March 20, 2019 at 6:08 pmWhat can I do with the elderberries once pressed ?
Maryea says
March 22, 2019 at 2:21 pmI’m not aware of another use for them.
Kat Martinez says
March 22, 2019 at 9:24 pmMaryea,
With them being loaded with acidity, I place mine in a flower bed, around blue berries or give the scraps to my chickens.
Just my thoughts 😉
Melissa says
June 12, 2019 at 11:16 amI’ve been making elderberry syrup for about 2 years now. I take 1 tablespoon per day, 5 days a week, for maintenance and haven’t been sick since even being around people with the flu…I swear by it. Something to note, small children and people with berry allergies should not take this. Another note… using Ceylon cinnamon is the best cinnamon for you you rather than the typical cinnamon. Elderberry seeds and stems should not be consumed because they are poisonous, just the juice should be consumed. I recommend this recipe,it has a great flavor! Thank you
★★★★★
Maryea says
June 13, 2019 at 12:46 pmThank you, Melissa! Great info.
Wendy Jones says
July 28, 2019 at 8:39 pmHelp!
Need elderberry advice.
This is the first time I have tried making any elderberry juice – anything.
I started with one elderberry plant (ordered from a nursery) and four-years later, they are all over the growing area. I thought I would try making some elderberry juice in 2019.
Here is what I did – please tell me if I can use it!
I picked the big bunches of fruits, froze them to get them off the stems, then tried to remove as many small sticks as possible.
There were plenty of tiny stick left with the berries when I began.
I juiced about 3 cups of berry-small twig mixture and three quarts of added water in a blender.
Strained out the juice leaving anything solid behind.
I put ONLY the liquid in a pot to cook.
Total berry juice and water when I started cooking was about 3-quarts.
Cooked it for ONE HOUR (rolling boil first — followed by 45 min of simmering).
Put sugar in it (it is too bitter to drink alone) and stirred.
Put remaining liquid (about 2-quarts) in small mason jars and tossed them in a pressure cooker (5 lb pressure for 10 minutes).
Is this safe to use?
How much do I use daily?
Thank you.
Lisa says
August 3, 2019 at 6:58 amCan this really last 2 months in the fridge? Most recipes I see say only 2 weeks in the fridge.
Kay says
August 14, 2019 at 9:06 pmIs this safe to take all year around
Amy says
September 7, 2019 at 6:18 pmIm planning on making this and storing it in mason jars, about how many ounces does this recipe make?
Michelle says
September 30, 2019 at 8:33 pmIs the calories for one tablespoon? Wow that’s a lot
★★★★
Craig says
October 7, 2019 at 9:04 pmI think I reduced it too much. Ended up with less than 2 cups after straining. Should I add water back in to dilute? If so, how much? You said to reduce to about half so should I end up with 3 cups or will there be some additional loss since there will still be some liquid that won’t fully come out of the berries?
Basically, how much should I end up with when it’s all done?
craig says
October 8, 2019 at 12:10 pmOh, and what is the purpose of waiting until its completely cool to add honey? I figured it would dissolve better if slightly warm?
Maryea says
November 5, 2019 at 8:40 amMy honey dissolves fine after the liquid is cool. I cool the liquid to avoid destroying the properties of raw honey with heat.
Craig says
October 8, 2019 at 12:24 pmI should mention that I doubled it, so 6 cups water and ended up with less than 2 cups. Is it too concentrated?
Maryea says
October 8, 2019 at 4:20 pmI am making another batch tomorrow. I will measure to give you an exact answer!
Maryea says
November 5, 2019 at 8:38 amI doubled the recipe and ended up with 3 cups liquid before adding the honey, so yes, that is too concentrated. After adding honey I had 5 1/2 cups liquid.
Linda says
October 23, 2019 at 1:10 pmhoney is the preservative.