How to Make Elderberry Syrup (Potent Cold + Flu Remedy)

Health

Why make your own?

For one, you’ll save a lot of money!

Several natural elderberry syrups are available at health stores or online, but usually for around $15 or more for 4-8 ounces. This recipe makes 16 ounces for a cost of under ten dollars and kids love the taste!

You can also fully customize this recipe based on your needs and flavor preferences

How to Make Elderberry Syrup to Avoid the Flu

prep 5 minscook 1 hourtotal 1 hour, 5 mins
author wellness mama
yield 1 quart

A simple elderberry syrup recipe made with dried elderberries, honey and herbs for an immune boosting and delicious syrup. Can be used medicinally or on homemade pancakes or waffles.

Ingredients

2/3 cup dried black elderberries (about 3 ounces)
3 1/2 cups of water
2 Tablespoons fresh or dried ginger root
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1/2 teaspoon cloves or clove powder
1 cup raw honey (we get from our farmer's market)

Instructions

Pour water into medium saucepan and add elderberries, ginger, cinnamon and cloves (do not add honey!)
Bring to a boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour until the liquid has reduced by almost half. At that point, remove from heat and let cool enough to be handled. Mash the berries carefully using a spoon or other flat utensil. Pour through a strainer into a glass jar or bowl.
Discard the elderberries (or compost them!) and let the liquid cool to lukewarm. When it is no longer hot, add 1 cup of honey and stir well.
When honey is well mixed into the elderberry mixture, pour the syrup into a quart sized mason jar or 16 ounce glass bottle of some kind.
Ta Da! You just made homemade elderberry syrup! Store in the fridge and take daily for its immune boosting properties. Some sources recommend taking only during the week and not on the weekends to boost immunity.
Standard dose is ½ tsp to 1 tsp for kids and ½ Tbsp to 1 Tbsp for adults. If the flu does strike, take the normal dose every 2-3 hours instead of once a day until symptoms disappear.

More of a Visual Person?

Here is my one-minute tutorial video:

How long does elderberry syrup last in the fridge?

The short answer is that it really depends. I’ve found that placing the finished syrup in a mason canning jar while it is still warm creates an air-tight seal and allows it to last much longer in the fridge, up to several months. As a general rule, it lasts about two weeks in the fridge and I typically freeze whatever I won’t use during that time. You can also freeze small amounts in an ice-cube tray and defrost small amounts when needed.

If you know how, you can also can the elderberry juice concentrate or the finished syrup to greatly extend the shelf life.

Can I harvest my own elderberries?

You can, and in fact, you can even grow your own elderberry bush, but it is important to make sure you are growing the correct plant. I also recommend working with a local herbalist to find/harvest elderberries and make sure that only the berries are harvested (the stems and leaves can be dangerous).

Where is the best place to order elderberries?

We don’t have a local source, so I’ve always ordered in bulk from an online source.

What is elderberry syrup used for?

Our family uses it as a preventative remedy by taking 1/2 to 1 teaspoon a day during peak cold and flu season. If we get hit with a minor illness, we double or triple that dose until we feel better.

The unique and complex flavor of elderberries also makes this syrup a great ingredient in certain recipes and I’ve made an elderberry panna cotta by substituting elderberry syrup for the sweetener in recipes.

How much to take?

This is really a question for an herbalist or naturopath, but I personally take 1 teaspoon a day as an adult and give half of this to my kids. During illness, I double or triple this amount.

Is there a substitute for honey in elderberry syrup?

Some people prefer not to use a sweetener and honey is not recommended for babies under 1-2 years old. Some easy substitutes are:

Use maple syrup or nutrient rich molasses in place of the honey.
Omit the sweetener all together (this will make elderberry juice which will need to be consumed much more quickly).
Make an elderberry tincture for adults. Mix the concentrated elderberry syrup with equal parts food grade alcohol like vodka or brandy instead of sweetener. This obviously wouldn’t be for kids, but is a sweetener free option for adults.

Can I use powdered elderberries?

Yes, I’ve used powdered elderberries when whole elderberries weren’t available. Just use about 1/2 cup in this recipe instead of 2/3 cup.

Can the elderberries be reused?

I don’t recommend reusing them. Ideally, the boiling/mashing process removes much of the nutrients from the berries. Also, there is some evidence that consuming large amounts of the whole berries can be problematic.