Homemade Elderberry Syrup

This easy elderberry syrup recipe needs just 5 simple ingredients, and takes less than 45 minutes to prepare.

5 from 1 vote

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Course: Natural Remedies

Keyword: Herbal remedies, Natural remedies

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 35

Total Time: 45

Servings:

Calories: 48kcal

Author: Dolly | Little Home in the Making

Equipment

Ingredients

▢ 2 cups dried elderberries (*for fresh elderberries see notes)
▢ 4 cups water
▢ ¾ teaspoon grated fresh ginger
▢ ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
▢ 1 cinnamon stick
▢ 1 ½ - 2 cups honey raw preferred

Instructions

Add the elderberries, water, ginger, clove, and cinnamon to a medium saucepan with a lid.
Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring often.
Once the berries start to simmer, reduce the heat to low and place the lid on the pot, leaving it slightly ajar so that steam can escape.
Allow the berries to cook over low heat until the liquid level is reduced by about half, or approximately 20-35 minutes.
Once the liquid level has reduced by half, remove the berries from the heat and strain them by lining a colander with cheesecloth and setting it over a large bowl.
Press the solids to extract any remaining juice and compost anything that remains in the cheesecloth.
Transfer the liquid to a measuring cup, taking note of its volume.
Measure an equal amount of honey (so if you have 2 cups of elderberry juice, measure out 2 cups of honey).
Add the elderberry juice into a large bowl, along with an equivalent amount of honey. Stir well until the honey is fully incorporated.
Allow the elderberry syrup to cool to room temperature, then cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to chill.
Once the elderberry syrup has chilled for about 4-12 hours, transfer it into clean jars for storage.
Store in the fridge for 4-12 weeks, discarding if there are any signs of spoilage.
Take 1-2 teaspoons per day during cold and flu season, or 1-2 tablespoons several times per day if not feeling well.

Video

Notes

Important: Please note that honey is not safe for babies under 1 year of age.

Using elderberry syrup: Take 1-2 teaspoons per day during the cold and flu season as a preventative, or 1-2 tablespoons several times a day during an active cold or flu.

Using fresh elderberries: To use fresh elderberries you will need to increase the total amount to 4 cups of elderberries, and scale the water down to ¼ cup. The fresh berries will release juices during cooking, creating the required amount of liquid. Simmer them with ¾ teaspoon of grated fresh ginger, ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves, and a cinnamon stick (optional) until the liquid is reduced by half. Then strain and follow the rest of the recipe as directed.

With elderflower: From Rosemary Gladstar, “Adding elderflowers to the syrup introduces a diaphoretic property, helping you to “sweat out” a fever. After cooking down the juice with the ginger and cloves, you can turn off the heat, add ½ cup dried elderflowers to the hot juice, put the lid on, and let infuse for 20 minutes. Then strain the flowers from the syrup and proceed with the honey.”

Elderberry variety: There are many varieties of elderberries, with black elderberries being the ones that are used for herbal remedies. The cultivar with the best medicinal properties is Sambucus nigra.

Nutrition