How to Make Homemade Elderberry Syrup

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Making elderberry syrup is a simple thing to do and it is packed full of vitamins and antioxidants.

How to make Elderberry Syrup

To Make Elderberry Syrup, You Will Need:

  • dried elderberries
  • dried rose hips
  • fresh ginger
  • cinnamon sticks
  • dried cloves
  • an orange
  • water
  • raw honey or organic maple syrup
  • sauce pan
  • sieve or colander with cheese cloth

Since reading about the benefits of Astragalus, I have begun adding a couple tablespoons of dried astragalus to this when it cooks as well.

Note: The cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange peel are purely for flavor and can be omitted if you wish.

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Elderberry Health Benefits

Elderberries have a long history of being used for health that dates all the way back to ancient Greece and Egypt.

Elderberries are of the genus, Sambucus. It is a flowering plant or shrub that is native to Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia, but can also be found in the United States. We have it growing wild here on our farm. Th plant has white flowers (elderflowers) and berries that turn from green to red to black when they are ripe. 

Some of the health benefits attributed to elderberries include naturally helping sinus issues, inflammation, allergies, and is one of the top natural antiviral herbs. It is frequently used as a preventative during cold and flu season, but if it is taken right away when symptoms start, it is said to drastically shorten the recovery time of a virus.

Elderberries are high in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, iron, and potassium, as well as others.

Dried Rose Hips in a dish

About Rose Hips

Rose hips are the edible false fruit of a rose bush. They are extremely rich in Vitamin C, beta carotene, manganese, Vitamin K, and Vitamin E. They also contain beneficial phytochemicals like flavonoids and phenols.

With the benefits that exist in elderberries and rose hips, it is no wonder that they have recently become so popular in the natural health circles. I have even seen prepared elderberry gummies for the first time in the supplement section of the grocery store this year.

The ingredients simply cook together and create a rich, concentrated tea of all the good things in there.

The ingredients simply cook together and create a rich concentrated tea of all the good things in there.

elderberry syrup in the making

Once you have cooked the liquid until it reduces by half, you will strain everything out. I give the leftover solids to my chickens. They love this treat!

ingredients solids in a sieve

The syrup is then cooled slightly and sweetened with honey – local and raw is preferred if you have access to it.

Elderberry Surup

To watch the episode where I am talking about Elderberry Syrup on YouTube, click here.

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How to Make Homemade Elderberry Syrup using dried elderberries and rose hips.

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How to Make Homemade Elderberry Syrup

Constance Smith – Cosmopolitan Cornbread
Making elderberry syrup is a simple thing to do and it is packed full of vitamins and antioxidants. This recipe makes about 2 1/2 cups of syrup.
4.82 from 11 votes
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Additional Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 2 minutes
Course Natural Living
Cuisine American
Servings 40
Calories 31 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2/3 c dried elderberries
  • 1/4 c dried rose hips
  • 1 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
  • 1 teaspoon whole cloves
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 orange, you will use the peel
  • 3 1/2 c water
  • 1 c raw honey, or organic maple syrup

Instructions
 

  • Combine the elderberries, rose hips, ginger, cloves, cinnamon sticks, peel of the orange, and the water in a saucepan.
  • Bring it to a boil, reduce the heat a little, and cook over medium heat until the liquid is reduced by half. This will take about 30 minutes.
  • Remove it from the heat and cool to room temperature.
  • Strain the syrup through a sieve or a colander lined with cheese cloth.
  • Add in the honey or maple syrup, then stir to combine. (I recommend adding only half of the honey or syrup to begin with. Give it a taste and see if you need to add the rest.)
  • Store the syrup in an air tight container, refrigerated for up to 2 months. (I have read that it can store much longer in the fridge, but we never keep it around that long as we use it often.)

Video

Notes

    • Children under the age of 2 should not have honey. If you are giving this to children, you may wish to use the maple syrup option.
    • This recipe is provided for informational purposes only and does not come from a doctor or medical professional. Please do your own homework to determine if elderberry syrup is the right choice for you.
    • The cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange peel are purely for flavor and can be omitted if you wish.
    • Since reading about Astragalus, I have started adding a couple tablespoons of dried astragalus to this when I combine the ingredients to simmer.
To Use for Immune System Support: Ages 12 and up, take 1 or 2 tablespoons, once or twice a day.
Children ages 11 and under, take 1-2 teaspoons, once or twice daily.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cCalories: 31kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 22mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 57IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 7mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional information is auto-generated and the accuracy is not guaranteed.

Did You Try This?I’d Love For You to Share it on Instagram and tag me! @CosmopolitanCornbread

3 thoughts on “How to Make Homemade Elderberry Syrup”

  1. I’m excited to try out this recipe! We’ve purchased elderberry immune syrup before and it can be pretty pricey. After your syrup is drained and the honey is added how do you store it? Is it shelf stable and for how long? I’m making my first fire cider currently as well im hoping they’ll both be able to stay on the shelf to get us through this winter

    Reply
  2. Hi Constance!

    I follow your YouTube channel as well and have loved checking out your blog! Yes, I am a blogger, but would love to someday, get into Vlogging.

    I love Elderberry syrup and make it all the time for the health benefits of it. I normally use dried Elderberries but was gifted a big gallon size bag of fresh frozen berries a few months ago. I absolutely love them! I can’t wait to try your recipe, it looks delicious. We usually put ours in our kefir milk in the evening, it’s so good.

    You are such an inspiration to me…thank you for sharing your knowledge!!

    Blessings,
    Barb

    Reply

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