Homemade Elderberry Syrup
See how easy it is to make this antioxidant filled Homemade Elderberry Syrup for cold and flu prevention!
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Homemade Elderberry Syrup
I started taking Elderberry Syrup for cold and flu prevention last winter when I was pregnant with my daughter because it’s full of vitamins and immune boosting antioxidants.
I love to use natural products instead of over the counter medicine when I can because I feel it is better for my health and the health of my family.
I knew I wanted to try making Elderberry Syrup at home this year because the store bought stuff is really expensive especially if you are taking it daily during cold and flu season. Last year I paid around $10 for an 8 oz bottle and I made it this year at home for a fraction of that price. I ordered my berries through Amazon.
Once you see how easy it is to make your own Elderberry Syrup, you’ll wonder why you ever bought used store-bought in the first place! Also, click here for instructions on how to make this syrup in your Instant Pot.
How to Make Homemade Elderberry Syrup:
(makes a little over 1 pint)
Simmer berries, spices and water in a sauce pot, stirring occasionally until liquid is reduced by half. This should take around 45 minutes.
Strain liquid into bowl and discard elderberries. This works best using something like a fine mesh strainer, coffee filter, sheer curtain, or fine cheesecloth.
Mix in honey and then add apple cider vinegar mixing well.
Pour into clean glass jar and refrigerate for up to 3 months.
Standard Dose for Cold and Flu Prevention:
1 tsp daily for kids and 1 tbsp daily for adults
If sick, take the above dose every 2-3 hours as needed.
Have you ever taken elderberry syrup? What kinds of natural remedies do you use for cold and flu prevention? I’d love to know!
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. Please do your own research before taking home remedies. This is not intended to replace a professional opinion.
Want more healthy home remedies? You may want to try my Homemade Herbal Tonic (also called Fire Cider).
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Homemade Elderberry Syrup
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup dried elderberries
- 3 cups water
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground clove
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 cup honey raw and local is best
- 2/3 cup raw apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Simmer berries, spices and water in a sauce pot, stirring occasionally until liquid is reduced by half. This should take around 45 minutes.
- Strain liquid into bowl and discard elderberries. This works best using something like a fine mesh strainer, coffee filter, sheer curtain, or fine cheesecloth.
- Mix in honey and then add apple cider vinegar mixing well.
- Pour into clean glass jar and refrigerate for up to 3 months.
Notes
1 tsp daily for kids and 1 tbsp daily for adults
If sick, take the above dose every 2-3 hours as needed.
I began making homemade elderberry syrup last winter season. All three of my children came down with influenza, and this was a tremendous blessing in their treatment!!! I have been using it this winter also, although ordering elderberries has been difficult the past few months.
I believe you are a fan of the Homestead Blessings series (like me!), right? Well, back in August, I watched their “Herbs” DVD, and I decided to make one of their herbal tonics which they mentioned was good to take during flu season. It has equal parts of ginger, onion, garlic, horseradish root, and cayenne pepper steeped in apple cider vinegar (for at least 2 weeks) and strained. Anyway, I’m very thankful to have two quart jars of it in the fridge for the season. Horseradish was hard to find though! Here is a link to a similar recipe from another great blog:
http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/master-tonic-natural-flu-antiviral/
Blessings to you!
Katie
Yes, I have been meaning to try their tonic and post a similar recipe. I’m so glad that you’ve tried it and liked it!
I have been meaning to try this for some time! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
I LOVE this! My husband scavenged for loads of elderberries in local forests for me this fall. (Supposedly they are best if they go through a frost or two first and they had 🙂 I made a couple batches and still have some berries in the freezer. I make mine with echinacea tea in it and then can it in a waterbath so that it is shelf stable. I used to make it for the referigerator but it doesn’t last past a couple months there.
Anna would you Please share your recipe on how you canned it? I would love to make some for my family. I love the ideal of being able to store it on the shelf.
Thank You,
Ann
Does water bath canning it destroy some of the health benefits? I normally can my elderberry but wasn’t sure if that’s ok to do with acv
I believe the high heat does kill some of the beneficial properties.
Thank you for sharing! I didn’t know you could buy the berries online. That changes everything. I started taking elderberry a few years ago and swear by it. When I get a cold my asthma gets pretty bad. Elderberry has saved me from having to get some nasty prescription medicine and I am so grateful! Now I am even more excited to make my own 🙂
Hi there! Just popping in to say that I loved this post. It’s my favorite this week for the From the Farm Blog Hop. I hope you’ll be back to party with us! 🙂
~ Christine
http://onceuponatimeinabedofwildflowers.com/2015/01/16/from-the-farm-blog-hop-and-elderberry-syrup/
Oh this is amazing, right up my alley! I love all kinds of berries and currants. I remember actually having an elderberry tree in front of the house where I grew up but that was many years ago and the internet wasn’t available yet. I always knew that something could be made with elderberries but I didn’t know what. Thank you for this article! Aren’t berries just amazing?
Oh my goodness…what can I say but THANK YOU all! These recipes, ideas and posts are so wonderful and helpful!
Elderberry syrup is one of my husband’s favorite “tonics” and remedies for what ails him in the wintertime! I will be making this from now on!
My grandmother made this and rosehip syrup. We got one or the other in a large serving spoon full every morning during the winter. We were rarely ill. She made elderflower cordial and dandelion and burdock in the springtime. My brother and I were sent out to gather the flowers while my dad was tasked with digging the roots. Miss my granny, we loved to take our medicine!
Sounds wonderful! Do you have her recipes?
Could you substitute blueberries? I’m in the south and have tons.
Will this syrup be watery or thick like store bought?
It’s pretty runny, but you can always cook it down until you reach the desired consistency.
This is one of few recipes that includes apple cider vinegar. I would imagine that effects the taste some. Are the benefits worth adding it? Also, I made a batch for myself and my sister and this awful flu this both of our homes…I’m so glad I had it on hand. Thank you so much for sharing!
I just made this. I’m not such a fan of the apple cider vinegar in it…but I also modified this and added thyme, black pepper and an orange. I think the apple cider vinegar competes with the additions a bit. It’s not horrid. 😉
I just made this recipe. Very good! I could hardly wait to try it once I made it, as I’ve been sick with flu symptoms. I used 100% raw organic honey (Naturally Healthy Mountain Ridge, from Wal-mart) just to test the recipe. Good recipe!
I just made this. Than you for sharing your recipe!
Hi,
Wondering if you can substitute frozen elderberries instead of dried? If so would the portion size be the same for the recipe? Also wondering if I wanted to add dried rosehips to the recipe, how much you’d recommend? Thank you
I’m sure you could substitute frozen for dried. I would do more of the frozen since the dried are small and concentrated. I’m not sure about the rose hips.
all botanical recipes should be covered if boiled,vital ingrediants escape in the steam and using a crockpot is ideal slowly extracts phytochemicals from berrys and spices(yes the spices are important in so many ways
also sterlize the containers with boiling filtered water and rinse with acv
lids as well
and for those who have friends who tend bar or drink it save guiness bottles with attached corks style cap are excellent for storing
If you use fresh or frozen elderberries, would the amounts change?
How careful do you need to be to not have the stems or little bits of twigs in there? If I miss one or two is that dangerous??
I have a question. I am wanting to make the Homemade Elderberry Syrup.
Please tell me what “dried” elderberries. Are they dried from picking after cleaning them or do I dry them by another means.
Thank you for clarifying this for me.
I purchased them dry. If you are using fresh then you will use a larger quantity.
This is my first try at making elderberry syrup and it was so easy. Thank you! I typically buy it from a friend but I had some dried berries so I wanted to try. This makes a lot for how few berries it used. I was surprised. I might be making it more often from now on.
Does this have to be refrigerated? And when you refrigerate it does the honey harden and separate? If it does harden and separate then how do you quickly mix it again?
Yes, you should refrigerate the syrup. It will not separate or harden. It will stay liquid.