Homemade Elderberry Syrup
Updated: Jan 14, 2020
You don't have to buy expensive Elderberry Syrup anymore! I make my own Elderberry Syrup using this fast and simple method to keep my family well.
If you're buying Elderberry Syrup at the health food store, you can pay up to $20 per bottle! No more.
It takes three ingredients and 20 minutes to make at home!
Benefits of Elderberry Syrup
Elderberries are loaded with antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin C and folate that can help reduce the symptoms and the duration of colds, the flu, and boost the immune system. There’s been a number of studies on the effectiveness of elderberry syrup. In one study, people with flu-like symptoms and took about 1 T of Elderberry Syrup 4 times a day had improved symptoms four days before the placebo group. There are numerous studies that show similar results.
Tips for Making Elderberry Syrup
I have two little kids and, while I love cooking, I don't have a ton of time to spend in the kitchen. That's why I love my InstaPot and it's the perfect kitchen appliance to use to make Elderberry Syrup!
If you don't have an InstaPot, it's basically a pressurized, fast version of a crock pot! I actually got rid of my crock pot because the InstaPot can make SO many things! Chicken, yogurt, soups, even cheesecake (I kid you not!) If you need an InstaPot, grab yours here.
When making Elderberry Syrup at home, you also must have whole dried elderberries. I've found the best deal for elderberries here, but keep in mind that prices per pound can change depending on the time of year.
You also need raw honey to make Elderberry Syrup. Raw honey is packed with antioxidants, is believed to help with sore throats and even has anitbacterial properties. (I could/should do a whole blog post on the benefits of raw honey!) Raw honey is also less sweet than processed honey. If you use processed honey, such as from a honey bear, your Elderberry Syrup will be too sweet! Getting locally sourced raw honey is the best, but you can find a great value on raw honey Aldi!
Add Essential Oils for a Boost
I love essential oils and, likewise, love to add essential oils to my Elderberry Syrup to boost the wellness factor. Note - not all essential oils can be ingested. Be sure to read the label on your essential oils. If you want to save money on pure, organic essential oils that are safe to add to foods, click here.
▪️Thieves Vitality – This is a seriously amazing blend of clove, lemon, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus radiata and rosemary. My hands-down favorite essential oils for wellness.
▪️Nutmeg Vitality – Besides tasting and smelling awesome, this oil encourages optimal digestive function, supports joints and promotes cardiovascular health.
▪️Clove Vitality – This is super crazy high in antioxidants!
▪️Ginger Vitality – Part of keeping the immune system in tip-top shape is keeping digestion optimal. Over 90% of the immune system resides in the gut, so using ginger, with it’s ability to keep digestion happy, only seems natural, right!?
▪️Cinnamon Bark Vitality – Another oil already found in the Thieves blend, cinnamon bark is a powerful for the immune system…Antioxidants off the charts!
▪️ Orange Vitality – another good one to google for its many benefits. A clean, refreshing scent and flavor and contains the naturally occurring constituent limonene! More antioxidants!
Recipe for Elderberry Syrup
1 C of Dried Black Organic Elderberries
4 Cups of Water
1 Cup Raw Honey
Young Living Vitality Essential oils (optional)
1. Add water and Elderberries to InstaPot (Do NOT add oils or raw honey yet!)
2. Set InstaPot to Pressure Cook for 10 minutes
3. When finished, vent the InstaPot and let syrup cool for a few minutes
4. Using a mesh strainer, strain the Elderberries out of the juice
5. Add raw honey and up to FIVE drops of essential oils. Note - Young Living essential oils are strong, so go easy on them!
6. Store in mason jars up to two weeks in the fridge!
Tip - you can freeze extra Elderberry Syrup in ice cube trays in the freezer! Just pop one out, thaw and take!
What to do with your leftover Elderberry mash that you strained out?! I run it again and then make Elderberry Gummies and add the 2nd Run Elderberry Juice to tea or Kombucha. Yummy and reduces waste.