After my toddlers suffered from a terrible bout of the flu one year, I knew I needed to pull together a homemade Elderberry Syrup recipe!
I had been hearing a LOT of, dare I say “wonders”, about the benefits of Elderberry Syrup. As a mom, I would give just about anything for our family to avoid the flu again! Because, let’s be honest, no matter if you or your kids are sick, it’s never convenient, it’s always costly, and it throws basically everything out of whack.
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Why is Elderberry Syrup so popular?
Elderberries have been used for HUNDREDS of years for medicinal purposes. Elderberries are the fruit from the Sambucus nigra plant. They contain antioxidants (specifically anthocyanidins), antivirals, and nourishing vitamins such as Vitamin A, Fiber, Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Vitamin C, and Folate! Elderberries along with the branches, twigs, and leaves need to be cooked before they are consumed. If eaten raw, side effects may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or more serious complications.
Is homemade Elderberry Syrup good for you?
Absolutely! Elderberry Syrup is shown to alleviate:
- Cold and flu
- Respiratory infections
- Signs of aging
- Acne
- Allergies
- Joint and muscle pain
- Inflammation
- Fever
- Constipation
- Kidney problems
- Fluid retention
- Stress
If you’re a “prove it to me” kind of person, check out these efficacy studies:
Elderberry Syrup has been shown to shorten the duration of influenza by 4 days compared to those who did not take Elderberry Syrup per this study.
In another study, taking Elderberry Syrup was shown to shorten the duration of cold symptoms and reduce the severity of symptoms experienced when compared to those who did not take Elderberry Syrup.
As a whole, the FDA acknowledges that more research needs to be completed on the effectiveness of elderberry on health and healing.
Is Elderberry Syrup safe for kids?
Always consult with your pediatrician first before giving your child Elderberry Syrup. This Elderberry Syrup recipe contains honey which is not advisable to give to children under the age of 2. It will be up to you and your pediatrician’s discretion of when to administer it to your child. In our experience, we started giving our children Elderberry Syrup at the age of 3 and older.
How often should you drink homemade Elderberry Syrup?
You can drink Elderberry Syrup daily as allowed by your physician. The suggested dose for Elderberry Syrup for immune boosting and prevention:
Children: ½-1 teaspoon per day
Adults: 1 tablespoon per day
If you become sick, continue taking the recommended dose but increase the frequency from once per day to every 2-3 hours.
What does homemade Elderberry Syrup taste like?
The taste of Elderberry Syrup will widely vary based on the type of sweetener, how much sweetener is used, and any additional ingredients in the mixture. Our homemade Elderberry Syrup recipe tastes like a lightly sweetened spiced berry cider in my opinion!
Is it easy to make Elderberry Syrup at home?
It is very easy and cost-effective to make your own syrup! Purchasing from a store will cost you about 4x MORE than what it would cost to make it yourself. Not only that, it’s easy peasy, and it makes your house smell nice when it’s cooking. And I’ve heard that the store-bought varieties do not always taste very appealing to kids.
What do I need to make Elderberry Syrup?
Fresh or Dried Elderberries
Local Raw Honey
Spices (optional)
Dried Rosehips (optional)
Arrowroot Powder (optional thickening agent)
A pot to boil
Measuring Cups
My first choice for organic dried elderberries is from Frontier Co-op which is usually easy to grab on Amazon (linked above). If they are out of stock, I’ve also purchased from alternate shops on Amazon as long as they have good reviews. Or you can check your local health food store to see if they have any in stock.
Why do you add extras into the syrup?
I add extra spices and herbs for taste and additional nutrients! For example, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits. And I add dried rosehips for an extra punch of Vitamin C! I add local raw honey to sweeten, preserve, and PACK the syrup with extra nutritional goodness. You can also add Arrowroot Powder to thicken the syrup for a more “syrup-like” consistency.
How long does Elderberry Syrup last?
If you keep it refrigerated and tightly sealed, Elderberry Syrup should last up to 3 months.
Now that you know the answers to common questions about Elderberry Syrup, it’s time to get to the recipe!
How can I thicken homemade Elderberry Syrup?
This homemade Elderberry Recipe leans more on the thin side and isn’t necessarily a thick, syrup consistency. If that’s what you prefer to make, make the following changes to the recipe:
- Create a slurry using 1/4 cup of Arrowroot Powder and 1/2 cup of water in a separate bowl.
- Add the slurry once the Elderberry Syrup has boiled for 30 minutes.
- Remove from heat after 10-15 mins and allow to cool to room temperature.
- Continue with remaining recipe instructions.
Homemade Elderberry Syrup Recipe
1 cup of dried elderberries (or 4 cups of fresh elderberries)
4 cups of water
1 tsp of cinnamon or 1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp of ground ginger or 1 tablespoon of minced fresh ginger
1/2 tsp of cloves or 2 whole cloves
1 tablespoon of rosehips (optional)
½ to 1 cup local raw honey (or pure maple syrup)
Add elderberries, water, and all herbs/spices into a large pot.
Set to medium heat and allow for it to boil.
Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for approx. 45 mins or until the mixture has reduced to half.
ALTERNATE OPTION: If you prefer a thicker consistency, you can create a slurry using 1/4 cup of Arrowroot Powder and 1/2 cup of water in a separate bowl. Add the slurry once the Elderberry Syrup has boiled for 30 minutes. Allow mixture to simmer for 10-15 mins then proceed with instructions below.
Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Once cooled to room temperature, use a mesh strainer or a cheesecloth to strain liquid from berries. Use a spoon to press into the berries to release any additional liquid. Discard remaining pulp.
Add honey to liquid and stir to combine (I usually use about ½ cup but you can use up to 1 cup if you prefer it sweeter).
Pour into a storage jar, seal tightly, and refrigerate for up to 3 months.
If you love soothing, homemade recipes for wellness, you’ve got to check out this elixir from my friend Shelby that uses honey and garlic for cough!
Homemade Elderberry Syrup Recipe
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Mesh Strainer or Cheesecloth
- Measuring Cups
- Mason Jars
Ingredients
- 1 cup Dried Elderberries
- 4 cups Water
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Ground Ginger
- 1/2 tsp Ground Cloves
- 1 tbsp Rosehips (optional)
- 3/4 cup Local Raw Honey or Pure Maple Syrup (use more or less depending on your preference)
- 1/2 cup Arrowroot Powder (optional thickening agent)
Instructions
- Add elderberries, water, and all spices into a large pot.
- Set to medium heat and allow for it to boil.
- Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for approx. 45 mins or until the mixture has reduced to approximately half.
- ALTERNATE OPTION: If you prefer a thicker consistency, you can create a slurry using 1/4 cup of Arrowroot Powder and 1/2 cup of water in a separate bowl. Add the slurry once the Elderberry Syrup has boiled for 30 minutes. Allow mixture to simmer for 10-15 mins then proceed with instructions below.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Once cooled to room temperature, use a mesh strainer or a cheesecloth to strain liquid from berries. Use a spoon to press into the berries to release any additional liquid. Discard remaining pulp.
- Add honey to liquid and stir to combine (I usually use about ½ cup but you can use up to 1 cup if you prefer it sweeter).
- Pour into a storage jar, seal tightly, and refrigerate for up to 3 months.
I hope this article has helped to inform you about the benefits of Elderberry Syrup! We have truly seen a difference in our family’s health since we began to incorporate it into our daily diet.
Looking for another soothing recipe packed full of nutrients? Don’t miss this Calendula Tea recipe!
Let us know in the comments below your feedback and any questions you may have on our homemade Elderberry Syrup recipe!
Can you can this afternoon making?
I’m sorry, Lynn. Can you clarify what you’re asking? 🙂
Not speaking for Lynn but I think she is like me and wants to know can this syrup be canned in a water bath or pressure canner for longer storage? Thank you for sharing your recipe. I am going to make some this weekend.
I have not personally preserved this to be shelf stable through canning. I know that some people do it and I believe it’s best to omit the honey until being served because heating it during the preservation process takes away many of those natural benefits the honey provides. I’ve heard that preserving it through a freezing method is better than canning it. But again, I have no personal experience doing this and encourage you to research it a bit more and decide what you feel is best!
Great, easy recipe to follow. Thank you so much for sharing this with everyone.
You’re most welcome! Thanks for commenting, Shemery!
Love it! And the house smelled DIVINE while I made it!
Oh my heavens, YES! We love how the house smells on elderberry syrup making days. I just made a fresh batch yesterday and the smell still lingers just a tad today. Thanks for commenting Hannah!
Great recipe! I had a total of 12 cups fresh berries so I tripled the recipe. Turned out great!
That is wonderful! I’m so glad it turned out great. Thanks so much for the feedback Becky!
About how much does this make? Just wondering how many jars I will need. Thanks!
It should make about 2.5 cups. So you may want to have two pint mason jars on hand!
What is a serving considered? Teaspoon? Tablespoon?
Children should do 1/2 to 1 teaspoon daily.
Adults 1 tablespoon daily.
You can use the same doses every 2-3 hours during illness.
Mine is not a syrup consistency. And only about made about 1cup, did I do something wrong?
While this is called a “syrup,” it isn’t thick like a typical syrup but more like a “juice” consistency. If you really want to thicken it up, you can add Arrowroot Powder to it while it’s boiling. But it’s best to create a slurry of the powder with a little bit of water so it doesn’t get clumpy when you add it to the elderberry liquid as it’s simmering. You can order Arrowroot Powder here off of Amazon (ad): https://amzn.to/3WspPKG
I hope this helps!
I added the honey while it was on the stove (my mistake) ..,,, seems fine 🤓
Hey Julie!
Adding the raw honey to the hot liquid won’t affect the consistency or taste. But it has more health benefits to wait until it’s cool as the high heat could destroy the nutritional benefit of the raw honey.
Thanks for commenting!
How long does it need to simmer for if doubling or tripling the recipe?
The same amount of time no matter if you’re making a larger batch.
Does it need to be in a manson jar? I have these glass square food storage containers. I really need to make this. My family has been getting illness after illness.
Any container is fine as long as it’s clean and has a good seal on it for freshness!
Can you tell me what the rosehip is? Is it powder?
Rosehips are seed pods from a rose plant! I just use the dried organic type found here (ad): https://amzn.to/3Yhanlq
Can I freeze the syrup once its made?
You can freeze it for up to 6 months!
Seems like the recipe turned out well, but it only made about a cup. Any ideas why?
It could be based on the size of the pot you used, how vigorously you allowed it to boil (and further reduce), how long you cooked it for, and if you left the lid on or off. I’m glad it ended up tasting good though!
Thanks! I’ll try again with the cover on.
Turned out great! This was easier than I thought and so much more affordable than what I’ve bought at the farmer’s market!
Oh yes, so much more affordable when you make it yourself! Thanks for visiting Sharon!
I was looking for a recipe like this to actually add to some cocktails (hehe) and this was so easy to make. Plus, LOVED how the house smelled while making it too. A fan for sure!
The fragrance it gives off is definitely one of my favorite things too! Thanks for commenting!
This was so delicious and perfect for the cold that has been going around our house this week!
Great to hear your family enjoyed it! Hope you all get to feeling better soon!
This was my first time having homemade elderberry syrup, and I thought this was waaay better than storebought! The addition of ginger and nutmeg was really beautiful, and I personally loved the floral notes from the rose hips.
I’m so glad it turned out well for you!
This was just what I needed to kick this cold I’ve had! It tasted much better than store-bought ones I’ve had and I loved having my daughter help make it!
Sounds like a win-win! So glad your family enjoyed it Heidi!
Can you reuse the elderberries for another batch or should you throw them away after you’ve used them once?
I wouldn’t recommend it for another batch because it will much less potent. But a lot of people like to make an elderberry tea from the leftover pulp!
Great to have on hand for supporting immune systems.
Absolutely! Thanks for stopping by, Keira.
What a great reminder I need to have this made for cold season.
Hope you enjoy, Mary!