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Want to knock out cold and flu season like a pro? The best defense starts in your kitchen, not the pharmacy. This isn’t your grandma’s syrup—well, actually, it is–but with a modern twist that’ll make you feel amazing in no time. My homemade elderberry syrup recipe has five ingredients and combines science with comfort in every spoonful! 🥄 And don’t miss my homemade immunity shot or electrolyte drink recipes, which are also good when you’re feeling under the weather.
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Homemade Elderberry Syrup Recipe
A study suggests that elderberry might help shorten the duration of colds and the flu. Elderberry’s benefits come from anthocyanins, a type of flavonoid that may have immunomodulating and anti-inflammatory effects.
At the beginning of cold and flu season, I make a batch of dried elderberry syrup and freeze it for easy access all fall and winter. When I have a tickle in my throat, I pop a cube in hot water and drink it as tea. 🤧
🍵 Homemade Elderberry Syrup Ingredients
- 🫐 Elderberries: You can buy dried elderberries on Amazon.
- 🚰 Filtered Water is the base of the syrup.
- 🫚 Fresh Ginger and Cinnamon Sticks contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. Plus, they simmer in the water, imparting a warm, spiced flavor.
- 🍯 Honey provides sweetness. My go-to is manuka or raw honey, but any kind will work.
👩🍳 How to Make Homemade Elderberry Syrup
- Simmer: Heat the elderberries, water, cinnamon sticks, and ginger in a saucepan over medium-high heat. When the water boils, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 50 minutes.
- Honey: Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the honey.
- Strain: Place a small strainer over the top of a jar and pour in the syrup, pressing the berries to extract extra liquid.
📹 Watch me make this easy elderberry syrup at home!
🪄 Tips and Tricks
- 🫚 How to Peel Ginger: Use a spoon to scrape off the brown skin from the ginger root. Then, cut off a two-inch piece and chop.
- 🍵 Mugs: You can get my favorite glass mugs on Amazon.
🗒 Substitutions
- 🍯 Sweetener: Swap honey with maple syrup or agave.
🍽️ How to Use Elderberry Syrup
- Chilled Elixir: Stir the elderberry syrup into sparkling water over ice. Or skip the ice and put an elderberry ice cube into the sparkling water.
- Elderberry Tea: Stir the liquid or melt an elderberry ice cube in the hot water.
👝 How to Store Elderberry Syrup
- Homemade elderberry syrup will last for two weeks in the refrigerator.
- You can also freeze it in ice cube trays. Once frozen, transfer to an airtight freezer-safe container and store for a few months.
🤔 Common Questions
Two tablespoons of elderberry syrup per day is a reasonable dose. As with any new supplement, it’s always a good idea to check with your doctor first.
Some of elderberry syrup benefits include:
-High vitamin C content
-Contains anthocyanin, an anti-inflammatory antioxidant
-May reduce cold and flu symptoms
Homemade Elderberry Syrup
Equipment
- Strainer
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried elderberries
- 2 cups filtered water
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled, chopped
- ½ cup honey, preferably manuka or raw
Instructions
- 1 cup dried elderberries
- 2 cups filtered water
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled, chopped
- ½ cup honey (preferably manuka or raw)
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This worked exactly as written, thanks!