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These Elderberry Popsicles for sore throats are naturally sweetened, bright purple and fun for kids and grown-ups alike. They’re made with elderberry syrup, echinacea tea, orange juice, lemon and raw honey, and they’re a cold, fruity treat to keep in the freezer.
This recipe stands apart from the rest of my healthy popsicles as the tangy, elderberry-forward pick — for another nutrient-packed option, try my Green Smoothie Popsicle, or keep a batch of my Creamy Lime Popsicles on hand for when you just want a treat.
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Elderberry Popsicles Ingredients
This Elderberry popsicle recipe has a varsity list of ingredients, each one chosen for flavor and color. Drum roll, please.
- Echinacea + ionic zinc: Echinacea tea brings a mild, floral flavor. Ionic zinc is optional.
- Raw honey: Raw, local honey adds natural sweetness and a load of antioxidants.
- Fresh orange juice: High in vitamin C and adds bright, sweet flavor.
- Fresh lemon juice: Also high in vitamin C, plus a tangy zip.
- Homemade elderberry syrup: Adds deep berry flavor and gorgeous purple color, and it’s rich in antioxidants.
I wanted these to taste lovely, and they do!
November 9-13, 2026
Jen’s Free Soup Challenge
I’d love for you to soup it up with me! For 5 days, I’ll send you a daily veggie-packed soup that’s easy enough for a busy weeknight and makes enough to freeze and pull out all winter.
How to Make Popsicles for Sore Throats
These purple beauties take a bit of prep work yet you can make them whenever you have time, then store them in the freezer so a popsicle is always ready to grab. Here’s how I make mine:
- Steep tea bags in boiling water for 3-5 minutes (the longer the steep, the stronger the tea flavor). When removing the tea bags from the water, I like to gently squeeze the bags to release any extra liquid. Allow the tea to cool to lukewarm before moving forward.
- Stir in raw honey until it’s completely dissolved. Add the remaining ingredients and stir well to incorporate.
- Refrigerate this mixture for 1 hour or until completely cold. Stir again to reincorporate the ingredients then split the mixture evenly between the popsicle molds. Freeze 3-4 hours or overnight, until firm.
- Enjoy one popsicle whenever you want a cold, fruity treat.
Elderberry Popsicles Tips
- I like using my homemade elderberry recipe since I know exactly what’s in it. Yet if store-bought is your avenue, then look for one without additives or non-natural sweeteners.
- I love using popsicle sleeves to freeze smoothies, popsicles and more! They are easy to carry with me or satisfy a crowd. Use plastic popsicle sleeves or silicone reusable popsicle holders, depending on your preference. I like using these for my sore throat pops as they are less messy and lay flat in the freezer for easy storage.
- Ionic zinc is optional in this recipe. Leave it out if you don’t have it on hand.
Common Questions
A cold popsicle feels great when your throat is scratchy, and it’s an easy way to sneak in fluids. These are sweetened with honey and fruit juice, so they feel like a treat. If a sore throat sticks around, check in with your doctor.
I use juice from oranges and lemons as well as honey, echinacea tea and elderberry syrup for a bright, tangy berry flavor.
Yes! Any herbal tea you like works here. I use echinacea for its mild floral flavor, but chamomile or hibiscus are both tasty.
Recipe Card
Elderberry Popsicles for Sore Throats
Ingredients
- 4 bag echinacea tea
- 3 ½ cup water boiled
- 4 tbsp raw honey
- ½ cup elderberry syrup
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp ionic zinc
Instructions
- Place the tea bags in a large glass measuring cup or bowl and pour the boiling water over them. Steep for 3 to 5 minutes, then remove the tea bags, pressing out any liquid. Let cool until warm but not too hot.
- Stir in the honey until dissolved. Add the elderberry syrup, orange juice, lemon juice and zinc and stir well.
- Refrigerate until very cold. Stir again, then divide among popsicle molds. Freeze until firm, 3 to 4 hours or overnight.
Recipe Notes
- No Molds: Use small paper cups and wooden sticks. Add the sticks after about 1 hour, once the pops are partly frozen.
- Tea Swaps: Another herbal tea, such as chamomile or hibiscus, can replace the echinacea tea.
- Honey Note: Because these contain raw honey, don’t serve them to babies under 1 year old.
- Freezing: Once frozen, unmold the pops and store them in an airtight freezer bag or container for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 popsicle | Saturated Fat: 0.1 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1 g | Sodium: 6 mg | Potassium: 50 mg | Sugar: 12 g | Vitamin A: 52 IU | Vitamin C: 13 mg | Calcium: 14 mg | Iron: 0.2 mg
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More Natural Remedy Recipes
Because I love cooking with plants, I’ve built a collection of natural remedies, and my family uses them all the time.
- Ginger Lemon Honey Tea: A concentrate you make once and keep in the fridge, then scoop into hot water for a warm, zesty mug.
- Frozen immunity cubes: These cubes can be turned into a smoothie on their own or added to any smoothie you make.
- Apple Cider Vinegar Drink: A tangy, refreshing sip made with apple cider vinegar.
I live in the south. It is rare for us to have the availability of elderberries. I would appreciate recipes for the more common berries as: blueberries, strawberries, maybe pineapple, etc.
Hi Patti. This recipe expressly calls for elderberry syrup because black elderberry (sambucus nigra) is known for its immune-boosting properties. It can be cooked and turned into a syrup that is used to treat cold and flu symptoms through its many nutrients: antioxidants, vitamin A, potassium, and vitamin C. Elderberry syrup also has antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties, so it really packs a punch when you or a family member is feeling under the weather.
As we point out above, you can buy elderberry syrup at most drug stores nowadays. Just make sure to read the labels to see what they put into the syrup and how much elderberry is actually in it. You can also make your own elderberry syrup for a fraction of the price. We have the recipe for that here: https://simplegreensmoothies.com/elderberry-syrup. If you plan to make the syrup yourself, we recommend buying elderberries from Mountain Rose Herbs ) and if you are having trouble finding elderberry syrup at your local drug store or specialty grocery store, Mountain Rose Herbs also sells syrup ).
As far as recipes that contain other types of berries (or other fruits, such as pineapple 😉 ), we have TONS of awesome recipes. If you’re looking for popsicle recipes specifically, you can copy + paste this into your browser: https://simplegreensmoothies.com/?s=popsicles. But also know that if there is any smoothie recipe you love, you can definitely pour it into popsicle sleeves or molds and simply turn it from a smoothie into a popsicle. If it’s berry recipes you’re looking for, you can find those here (https://simplegreensmoothies.com/?s=berry) or just click on the recipe tab at the top of the page and type whatever fruit you have on hand into the Search bar. Happy blending! 🙂
Yum! Great idea! Can’t wait to try these!
Hope you love them!
Is it 4 ounces or 1/4 cup of the elderberry syrup?
Hi Amber! The recipe calls for 4 fluid ounces of elderberry syrup, which equals 1/2 cup. We apologize for the confusion, the recipe has been updated. Thank you for bringing this to our attention! 🙂
I am new to Simple Green Smoothies! It is about time that I start to take better care of myself. And, what a fantastic way to start taking care of myself with Simple Green Smoothies! I’m super excited to make the elderberry popsicles. Some of the ingredients, I’ve never heard of. I’m sure the taste is delicious!
Way to take charge of your own health, Jamie! Check out the recipe for links to most of the ingredients (the ones you haven’t heard of, you can purchase online). You’re going to love the pops. You got this!!
Looking forward to making this recipe with my new blender!
Kale yeah!