Homemade elderberry syrup recipe with lemon and sweetened with honey or monk fruit to boost the immunity. Use dried elderberries (Sambucus nigra) for the syrup and take 2-4 times per day.
When your feeling a little under-the-weather a spoon full of elderberry has powerful natural healing benefits. Plus it is remarkable how this easy elderberry syrup recipe is to make at home!
Why this Homemade Elderberry Syrup Works
- Amazing health benefits of elderberry syrup: Elderberries are loaded with antioxidants to boost the immune system, fighting symptoms of cold and flu, sore throat, bronchitis, cough, fever, and other respiratory problems. This makes it important to take elderberry syrup frequently at the first on-sight of symptoms and can prevent a full-blown cold from happening.
- Save money making homemade elderberry syrup. For years I have been giving my family elderberry syrup right at the onset of symptoms to a cold, or when we know are traveling on an airplane. But the thing is it can be painfully pricey to purchase store-bought elderberry syrup and constantly take it four times a day, especially as a family of four. Making it at home is much cheaper and I share all the steps on how to make elderberry syrup.
What Ingredients Go Into This Recipe
- Dried Elderberries: First get your dried elderberries. These can be found in most specialty grocery stores and natural markets. You can also order it online here.
- Honey: Preferably raw and local so you get the local allergens. This adds flavor and coats the throat. You can also use Monk Fruit sugar for a sugar-free syrup.
- Lemon Juice: Adds a pop of flavor and vitamin C.
- Cinnamon Sticks: Cinnamon is an anti-inflammatory and helps reduce inflammation and gives the elderberry syrup recipe delicious flavor!
- Ginger: Aids to reduce inflammation.
- Nutmeg: More flavor.
- Whole Cloves: Bonus flavor.
Tools you will also need are:
- Mesh Bag or Cheese Cloth: Along with that you will need a good mesh bag or cheese cloth to strain the elderberry juice after it has been boiled and the berries have been strained. I love Ellie's Best and use it also for making cauliflower pizza crust and nut cheese. It does not get fibers in the food and rinses off well for easy cleaning!
- Strainer: This separates the cooked elderberries and cinnamon sticks from the water.
How to Make Elderberry Syrup
First cover and boil the elderberries in filtered water with cinnamon sticks, fresh ginger, nutmeg and cloves. When the water gets to a boil turn the heat down to a simmer. Let it simmer for 30 minutes, covered. It is optional to mash the berries to release extra flavor in the juice, but not needed.
Strain out the berries and spices with a strainer or nut bag over a large bowl (squeeze out extra juices if using a nut bag).
Add the honey and lemon juice to elderberry juice and mix well. You can also substitute honey for maple syrup if giving to children under 1 as they should not have honey.
Transfer your elderberry syrup recipe into a mason jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator.
FAQs
Store this elderberry syrup recipe in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
Elderberry syrup is safe to take everyday, but should not exceed recommended dosage. Take elderberry syrup 1-4 times a day but do not exceed 4 times per day. As I am not a doctor it is best to consult with a healthcare practitioner.
Do not eat the dried elderberries as that can cause nausea, dizziness, weakness, and vomiting.
I hope you enjoy this elderberry syrup recipe! This makes a bunch of syrup which is way more bang for your buck than buying it at the store! We keep ours in the fridge all the time and take about 2-4 tablespoons daily. Making elderberry syrup at home is a wonderful way to get all the health benefits of elderberries everyday to keep your body healthy, glowing and vibrant!
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Elderberry Syrup Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup elderberries dried
- 1 cup honey Can also use Monk Fruit or Maple Syrup in place of honey for vegan and babies
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 cinnamon sticks (can break each in half)
- 1 inch fresh ginger skin peeled off
- 10 whole cloves
- 1 whole nutmeg
Instructions
- In a medium pot, cover and boil the elderberries, cinnamon sticks, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg in water. When the water gets to a boil turn the heat down to a simmer. Let it simmer for 30 minutes, covered. It is optional to mash the berries to release extra flavor in the juice, but not needed.
- Over a large bowl, strain the berries and spices with a strainer or nut bag, releasing the juice into the bowl.
- While it is warm, add 1 cup of honey and lemon juice to the elderberry juice and mix well. Another option is to substitute honey for maple syrup if giving to children under 1 as they should not have honey, or use Monk Fruit sugar for sugar-free.
- Transfer the elderberry syrup into a 32 ounce mason jar with a lid and store it in the refrigerator. Serve 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day.
Notes
- If using monk fruit sweetener, add it with the juice in the pot and stir until the sugar crystals melt, then strain.
- Take 10 ml of elderberry syrup 2-3 times a day to boost the immune system and 4 times a day to fight a cold or sickness.
- Store this elderberry syrup recipe in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
- Serves about 32, 1 ounce servings
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