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
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Homemade Elderberry Syrup Recipe
- Total Time: 50 mins
Description
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.
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.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Category: natural medicine
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!
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First time making elderberry syrup. Very easy to make and it tastes good. I been sick for 5 weeks and am trying everything to help my immune system.
Can it be frozen if I can’t use all of it within 2-weeks?
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Yes, I did try them as gummies! I used agar agar, which is vegan “gelatin,” and the result was gummy bears with a jello texture.
I usually play Duck Life game for free online after cooking, this is an exciting racing game and you can play for free online.
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Hi!
I have elderberry bushes on my property. Do the berries have to be dried? Or can they be use fresh picked?
I have a lot of them on our place and I use them fresh …
I’m pretty sure if you are using fresh, you double the berries. for example, if yhe recipe says 1/2 cup dried, you use 1 cup fresh.
When you say dried, does that mean I can use ground powdered cinnamon and cloves ?
Hi, I attempted to make this twice, but by the end of the 40-45 minutes, there was no liquid in the pot. Next time, I will reduce the simmer time but I don’t want to hinder the effectiveness of the syrup by stopping the simmering too soon (if that makes sense LOL). Also, since there was no liquid left and just berries, is it okay to add more water and resimmer, using the same berries and ingredients? Or I should I just completely start over with new ingredients? Thank you!
It sounds like your heat was on too high. Keep it at a gentle simmer. You can also keep your pot covered or partially covered to not reduce the liquid too much. I would add more water and use the same ingredients.
Thank you!
Hi I have fresh frozen berries, can this be used instead of the dried berries & how would that affect cooking time etc?
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Curious about the honey. Diabetic and it seems like a lot of sugar. Can I reduce the amount. I realize the honey has its own value but wondering if it needs to be that much!!
We don’t have diabetes but try to keep the sugar consumption in our lives low. I have made this recipe several times in the past two years. I just put in enough honey to taste good. I just keep tasting it til it’s right. I’d say I usually use about 2/3 the suggested amount but I’m thinking you could half it and it would still be palatable. Good luck to you.
I have halved the honey, but noticed the syrup went bad after a week. Honey is antibacterial, and actually helps preserve it. 🙂
I use organic monk fruit sweetener, this will not raise your numbers.
I did not know all its qualities and benefits. Thanks for sharing.
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