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This homemade elderberry syrup recipe is an easy addition to my morning routine during the school year. It’s sweet, a little spicy, and simple to make on the stove. I’m going to teach you how to make elderberry syrup, along with a few delicious ways to use it.
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Homemade elderberry syrup recipe
Making this elderberry syrup recipe isn’t super difficult, and can be adjusted based on your preferences. Here are some tips on what to buy where, and how best to prepare this delicious syrup.
I buy elderberries from Mountain Rose Herbs because they are certified organic and I trust where they source their ingredients. I buy local, raw honey. It’s nice to buy it in season from a local farm, yet it’s not necessary.
While ground ginger works great, fresh ginger root is even better + more nutritious. Grate your ginger and cook with the elderberries, then strain it during step 2. Ginger is anti-inflammatory, and fresh ginger adds a bolder, spicier flavor to your elderberry syrup recipe.
If you’ve got any other fresh ingredients (cinnamon, cloves, etc), then use them for extra flavor!
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About elderberry
Elderberry is a berry that comes from a Sambucus tree. Used for centuries by people throughout North America, Europe, northern Africa, and parts of Asia, this isn’t a new ingredient. Raw elderberries are poisonous, so make sure they’re properly cooked before consuming.
Cooked elderberries make delicious jams, pies, syrups, juice, and wine, just like other berries. While you might not find them in the produce section of your local grocery store, they can often be found in their dried form in health food stores, or at local markets. I order mine through Mountain Rose Herbs.
Elderberry has a long history as a pantry staple across multiple continents, and it makes a deep purple syrup with a rich berry flavor. So keep this elderberry syrup recipe on hand!
The many uses for the elderberry plant
While the berries are most often sought after, other parts of the Sambucus tree can also be useful (and edible!):
- Both the berries and flowers are edible when cooked/prepared properly.
- Cook down the berries to make syrups (keep reading on how to make my elderberry syrup recipe below!), juices, or jams. These are both delicious and healthy.
- Boil the flowers into a soothing tea, or use raw on top of a salad.
6 Recipes using elderberry
I love using this homemade elderberry syrup in recipes; it’s super simple to add. Here are a few of my fav ways to use it:
- Elderberry Popsicles: Make a batch and keep them in the freezer.
- Blackberry Elderberry Smoothie: A berry-packed smoothie to sip any time.
- Smoothie Cubes: Freeze a batch, then drop a few cubes into any smoothie.
- Fruit Leather: A 4-ingredient snack your kids will love, made with elderberry syrup.
- Berry Sangria: Uses elderberry syrup to brighten and sweeten this non-alcoholic mocktail.
- Stir 1 tablespoon into warm water or tea (I usually do this in the morning).
How do you like to use elderberry syrup? Leave a comment below and let me know any new recipes I need to check out!
FAQs
This is a sweet, deep purple syrup made by simmering dried elderberries with warm spices, then stirring in raw honey. It has been made at home for centuries.
Yes! As long as the elderberries are properly cooked, you can stir a tablespoon into warm water each day, or add it to your fav smoothie recipe.
It tastes like a rich, slightly tart berry syrup with warm spice from the cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Black elderberries are high in antioxidants, and the raw honey adds natural sweetness.
More natural recipes
I care about 1 thing when it comes to natural recipes: they have to be simple and taste good. Over the years I’ve built up quite the recipe base, so check out a few of my favorites alongside this elderberry syrup recipe:
- Ginger Switchel: A tangy, refreshing ginger drink.
- Spinach Papaya Smoothie: A fresh, tropical green smoothie.
- Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie: A smoothie made with anti-inflammatory ingredients.
- Ginger Lemon Honey Tea: A sweet, spicy concentrate you scoop into hot water.
- Homemade Deodorant: A truly natural option that works like a charm.
- Lavender Sleep Tea: A warm lavender tea for winding down in the evening.
These are the natural recipes I keep coming back to, and I hope you love them too!
Homemade Elderberry Syrup
Jen HansardIngredients
- ½ cup dried elderberries
- 2 cup water
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp dried thyme
- 1 tbsp ginger root ground
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- 1 ½ cup raw honey
- 2-3 tbsp raw apple cider vinegar optional
Instructions
- Place the elderberries, water, cinnamon, thyme, ginger and cloves in a nonreactive saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes, smashing the elderberries with the back of a wooden spoon as they soften.
- Remove from the heat and let cool for a few minutes. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing to extract as much liquid as possible.
- Stir in the honey and the apple cider vinegar, if using. Transfer to a quart jar with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate for up to several months.
Recipe Notes
- Honey Swap: Raw honey isn’t safe for babies under 1 year old, so don’t give this syrup to them. For a vegan syrup, use pure maple syrup in place of the honey.
- Elderberry Tip: Always cook dried elderberries fully, as in this recipe; raw elderberries shouldn’t be eaten.
- Instant Pot Method: Combine the elderberries, water and spices in the pot. Pressure cook on high for 9 minutes, then natural release for 10 minutes before mashing, straining and stirring in the honey.
- Storing: Keep the syrup in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 3 months, or freeze it in ice cube trays for up to 6 months. Shake before using.
Nutrition
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I saw they have elderberry powder on MRH too. Do you reccomend whole dried berries over powder?
Whole fresh anything is usually better than a processed version. However, if the powder is of good quality and it’s a best fit for you, then we say go for it!
Thank you for this wonderful recipe. You suggest we use fresh ingredients when possible. I have fresh cinnamon, cloves and ginger, but I don’t know in which qty to use them. I don’t want any of those ingredients to over power the syrup. Any suggestions?
Great question Letty! Usually a good rule of thumb is using 3x as much of the fresh when a recipe calls for the dried or ground version. So for instance, if 1 tsp ginger is called for, use 1 Tbsp of fresh grated ginger.
This looks awesome! Can I put this on my waffles?
Kale yeah you can Kelly! Sounds like breakfast yum with a side of immune boosting!
Just pulled up this recipe to make a new batch! Thank you again for the great recipe 🙂
My granddaughter is 2 1/2 years old and has had a cold for over a week. Can she take this, is it safe @ this age?
Hi Miriam! Poor little one! I’ve used elderberry with my daughters when they were that small. However, we def recommend checking with your pediatrician first because each body is different and we want the best for your granddaughter. Hope she feels better!