Homemade elderberry syrup recipe with lemon and sweetened with honey or monk fruit for cold and flu season. Use dried elderberries (Sambucus nigra) for the syrup.
When you're feeling a little under-the-weather a spoonful of elderberry syrup is my go-to comfort. Plus it is remarkable how this easy elderberry syrup recipe is to make at home! See more in my Immune Boosting Recipes.
Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 30 minutes, covered at a simmer
- ⏳ Total Time: 40 minutes
- 🍽️ Yield: 32 ounces
- ⚡ Calories: 37kcal per serving, per the recipe card
- 🥣 Ingredients: dried elderberries, water, honey, lemon juice, cinnamon sticks, fresh ginger, whole cloves and whole nutmeg
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Dark berry, warm spice and honey
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, one pot and a strainer
Quick Answer
In a medium pot, cover and boil 1 cup dried elderberries in 4 cups water with 2 cinnamon sticks, 1 inch fresh ginger, 10 whole cloves and 1 whole nutmeg. When it reaches a boil turn the heat down and simmer covered for 30 minutes. Strain the berries and spices over a large bowl. While the juice is warm, stir in 1 cup honey and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Pour into a 32 ounce mason jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
Jump to:
- Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Homemade Elderberry Syrup Works
- Why You'll Love This Elderberry Syrup
- What Ingredients Go Into This Recipe
- Tools You Will Also Need
- How to Make Elderberry Syrup
- How Much Elderberry Syrup to Take
- More Wellness Recipes
- Elderberry Syrup FAQs
- More Wellness Recipes
- Elderberry Syrup Recipe
For years I have been giving my family elderberry syrup right at the onset of symptoms to a cold, or when we know we are traveling on an airplane.
Why This Homemade Elderberry Syrup Works
Click to see why it works
- Amazing health benefits of elderberry syrup: Elderberries are loaded with antioxidants, and many families like mine reach for elderberry syrup during cold and flu season. We like to take it at the first sign of the sniffles.
- Save money making homemade elderberry syrup. 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.
- Add the honey while it is warm so it mixes in well.
- Mashing is optional. You can mash the berries to release extra flavor in the juice, but it is not needed.
Why You'll Love This Elderberry Syrup
- Way more bang for your buck than buying it at the store.
- Makes a bunch of syrup. One batch fills a 32 ounce jar.
- Keeps for up to 3 months in the refrigerator.
- Sugar-free and vegan options with monk fruit or maple syrup.
- Warm spices give it delicious flavor.
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.
See recipe card for quantities.
Tools You Will Also Need
- 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. 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
1Simmer. First cover and boil the elderberries in filtered water with the 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.
2Strain. 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).
3Sweeten. While it is warm, add the honey and lemon juice to the 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.
4Store. Transfer your elderberry syrup into a 32 ounce mason jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator.
As always, be sure to check out the full recipe details in the recipe card below.
How Much Elderberry Syrup to Take
- Serving. Serve 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day, per the recipe card.
- Is it safe to take elderberry syrup everyday? Many people take elderberry syrup daily, but do not take more than the recommended amount. Do not exceed 4 times per day. As I am not a doctor it is best to consult with a healthcare practitioner.
- Using monk fruit? Add it with the juice in the pot and stir until the sugar crystals melt, then strain.
- Children under 1 should not have honey. Use maple syrup instead.
- Do not eat the dried elderberries. Strain them all out.
More Wellness Recipes
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! We keep ours in the fridge all the time.
Related recipes: Immune Boosting Recipes, Wellness Shot For Immunity Health, Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie, Natural Cold and Flu Remedies, 4 Detox Water Recipes For Weight Loss & Body Cleanse and Ginger Turmeric Wellness Shot.
Warm and cozy favorites for chilly days: Turmeric Golden Milk Tea and Spicy Ginger Vegetable Zoodle Soup.
Elderberry Syrup FAQs
Store this elderberry syrup recipe in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
Do not eat the dried elderberries as that can cause nausea, dizziness, weakness, and vomiting.
Yes. Use Monk Fruit sugar for a sugar-free syrup or maple syrup in place of honey. Children under 1 should not have honey.
32 ounces, enough to fill a 32 ounce mason jar.
A strainer, nut bag, mesh bag or cheese cloth over a large bowl.
Bring the water to a boil, then simmer covered for 30 minutes.
More Wellness Recipes
Try my Wellness Shot, this Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie or these natural remedies next. If you make this homemade elderberry syrup recipe from Delightful Mom Food I would love to see your creations and share it! Follow along with me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter for a feature and more recipe inspiration! And don't forget to leave a comment below!
Elderberry Syrup Recipe
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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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