Elderberry Syrup is loaded with vitamins and antioxidants. Similar to elderberry shrub, it is commonly used for boosting the immune system and fighting off colds, coughs, and the influenza virus.
Besides making elderberry syrup for colds, I'll also share how to make a simply two-ingredients elderberry tincture.
Make sure you have this Elderberry Syrup recipe on hand for when you or your family inevitably need it. For even more health benefits, I like to add it to elderberry tea!
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🧐Why This Recipe Works
Besides having a pleasant taste, Elderberry Syrup has a ton of health benefits. Elderberries are a natural remedy for cold and flu symptoms.
Besides the elderberry syrup, I will also show you how to make a simple, two-ingredient elderberry tincture. The elderberry tincture is more concentrated than the the syrup and contains either brandy or vodka. I like to make both so that I can have both available when flu season hits. I use the syrup as a preventative, and the tincture at the first sign of flu symptoms.
I have made elderberry syrup using various recipes. I've found that many of the recipes online use a ratio of 1 part elderberries to 2 parts water. I personally find this ratio makes the syrup too runny.
Although this elderberry syrup won't be as thick as store-bought syrups (or my chokecherry syrup, for example), it won't be runny either.
Instead of mixing in a simple sugar syrup, we will be adding raw honey to our homemade elderberry syrup. The honey contains anti-fungal properties, which makes it an excellent sweetener choice in this elderberry syrup recipe.
Even though I prefer to use fresh berries, you can substitute dried elderberries if you'd like. This syrup can also be used to back-sweeten elderberry wine!
🛒 What You Need For This Recipe
🔖 Recipe Ingredients and Substitutions
- Elderberries: I use fresh or frozen elderberries, however, you can use dried elderberries too!
- Spices: I like to flavor my elderberry syrup with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and cardamom. I also like to include either fresh or dehydrated orange slices.
- Sweetener: I prefer to sweeten my elderberry syrup with honey instead of sugar or another sweetener.
🍇 How to Make Elderberry Syrup
Step 1 | Add Ingredients to Pan
Add elderberries, water, fresh ginger, cinnamon stick, whole cloves, cardamom pods, and orange slices to a small saucepan.
Step 2 | Boil and Simmer Mixture
Bring the mixture to a boil, then simmer for 45 minutes. Use a potato masher to mash the berries to extract as much juice from the elderberries as possible.
Step 3 | Strain Juice
Remove the ginger, cinnamon stick, cloves, and cardamom pods. Strain through a fine mesh sieve, cheesecloth, or my personal favorite, reusable soup bags.
Step 4 | Add Honey
Clean the pot and pour the strained syrup back in. Once warm, add the honey and stir the elderberry syrup to combine.
Step 5 | Bottle Elderberry Syrup
Pour the elderberry syrup into a sterilized 8-ounce jar. Store in the refrigerator for up to a month.
How to Make Your Own Elderberry Tincture
Making elderberry tincture is even simpler than making elderberry syrup. It's also more concentrated, so you don't need to take as much.
One teaspoon 3 times a day is enough when suffering from a cold or influenza.
- Fill an 8 oz mason jar half full with fresh elderberries (or ¼ cup dried berries).
- Top with 80 proof vodka or brandy until the jar is full.
- Seal the jar and write the date on the jar lid.
- Store the jar in a dark cupboard for approximately one month.
- Shake the bottle every now and then.
- After a month, strain the liquid and store it in a dark tincture bottle.
- Use as needed. It can also be added to tea.
Elderberry Varieties
There are a variety of elder trees that grow in America and Europe. This includes European elderberry (Sambucus nigra) and American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis).
The fruit or berries come in various color including blue, black, and red. The elderberries I've come across in San Diego are the blue variety. Their light blue color, however, is actually due to the wild yeast that coats them. Once washed, they are actually a darker blue.
In Montana, I've foraged black elderberries, which grow wild in the mountains around our property.
There are also red elderberries, however, they are poisonous and should not be consumed.
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How to Dry Elderberries
- Wash elderberries in a large bowl full of cold water.
- Strain elderberries, making sure to discard any unripe berries, debris, stems, and leaves.
- Dry the elderberries on paper towels and add to a dehydrator, using the fruit leather trays.
- Dehydrate for approximately four hours on the 135-degree F setting. The elderberries should be dry enough to where they no longer hold any moisture.
- Store in a sealed jar or plastic bag until needed.
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
What are the benefits of elderberries?
In one study, 60 people with flu-like symptoms took 15 milliliters (ml) of elderberry syrup four times a day. Their symptoms improved 4 days before the people who took a placebo.
In another study, 32 people with flu-like symptoms took lozenges containing 175 milligrams (mg) of elderberry extract four times a day for 2 days. After 24 hours, they reported an improvement in symptoms, such as fever, headache, muscle aches, and nasal congestion.
(MedicalNewsToday)
According to RXlist.com, elderberry consumption (especially raw) can have the following side effects.
Nausea/vomiting (eating raw berries)
Weakness
Dizziness
Numbness
Stupor
However, it's important to point out that for every article that mentions you can't eat raw elderberries, there are ten comments from those claiming they ate them by the handfuls as children without ill effect. I'm no expert on the topic, but the research I did on the subject was very conflicting. For this reason, I prefer to err on the side of caution and not eat them.
I have seen dosages range from 1 teaspoon 3 times a day, to 1-½ tablespoons every 3 to 4 hours. I recommend starting on a lower dosage to see how your body tolerates it and increase the dosage from there.
• The adult dosage is 1 teaspoon daily to boost the immune system and prevent illness.
• If sick, take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day.
• Children can take 1 teaspoon daily to prevent illness or 1 teaspoon 3 times a day when suffering from a cold or flu.
• Do not give to infants under the age of 12 months, especially since the syrup contains honey.
If you will be using the elderberries right away, you can clean them first, then store them in the fridge for up to a day.
If you will use them at a later date, place the cleaned elderberries on a foil-lined tray and freeze them in a single layer. Once frozen, store the berries in ziplock bags.
If you dry the berries using a dehydrator, or the oven, you can store them in jars until you are ready to use them.
Pro Tips
- Unripe elderberries, as well as stems, leaves, and bark of the elder tree, are poisonous. They contain a cyanide-inducing glycoside, and should not be used in this recipe.
- This syrup is not intended for infants under the age of 12 months.
- You can substitute dried elderberries for fresh ones. You will need ½ the number of dried berries as fresh.
- Elderberry syrup may not be suitable for pregnant women. Please consult your doctor before using it.
- To extend the shelf life of Elderberry Syrup, add ¼ cup brandy, which will act as a preservative.
- Using raw honey has further health benefits since it contains anti-fungal properties, helps digestive issues and is soothing to sore throats.
- If you want to make more than one batch, you can easily double the recipe.
🍓 Related Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Elderberry Syrup for Colds
Ingredients
- 1 cup blue or black elderberries (fresh) (or ½ cup dried)
- 1 cups water
- 2 slices fresh ginger
- 1" cinnamon stick
- 4 whole cloves
- 4 cardamom pods
- 2 dehydrated orange slices (or 1 fresh orange slice)
- 1 cup raw honey
Instructions
- Add elderberries, water, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom pods, and orange slices to a small saucepan.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer for 45 minutes.
- Mash the elderberries to extract as much of the juice as possible.
- Remove the ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom pods. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or my personal favorite, reusable soup bags.
- Clean the pot and pour the strained syrup back in. Once warm, add the honey and whisk to combine.
- Pour into an 8 oz. sterilized jar. Store in the refrigerator for up to a month.
Notes
- Unripe elderberries, as well as stems, leaves, and bark of the elder tree, are poisonous. They contain a cyanide-inducing glycoside, and should not be used in this recipe.
- This syrup is not intended for infants under the age of 12 months.
- You can substitute dried elderberries for fresh ones. You will need ½ the number of dried berries as fresh.
- Elderberry syrup may not be suitable for pregnant women. Please consult your doctor before using it.
- To make this Elderberry Syrup for Colds last longer, add ¼ cup brandy, which will act as a preservative.
- Using raw honey has further health benefits since it contains anti-fungal properties, helps digestive issues and is soothing to sore throats.
Hilda Sterner says
To add alcohol to the tincture, you can find the steps in the post. However, if you do want to add the alcohol to the syrup, I would add it before bottling.
Shannon says
Wondering when you would add the brandy to the syrup for longer shelf life. Add to pot so it can cook down or add after with honey?
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Rachel,
If you want to extend the life of the elderberry syrup, freezing is a good option. Refrigerating the tincture also helps. The tincture does last longer because it contains alcohol. I have some tincture that I prepared a few years ago and it's still good. I hope that answers your question.
Rachel Cadman says
Hi, I was hoping to have this last for the rest of the year, is it possible to freeze some? How long will it last with the addition of Brandy? And should that still be kept in the fridge? Thanks very much, Rachel
Jamar says
You’re 100% on this one Hilda!! Elderberries have amazing nutritional properties and the recipe you’ve created with them is outstanding. My favorite is adding a teaspoon or two into my tea on those cold winter nights. You have the best recipes! Thank you!
HildaSterner says
Hi Lana,
Thanks for your question. To be honest, I don't know much about white elderberries. I did do a quick search and found this (https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/White_Elderberries_9432.php). It seems like you can make syrup with them but it wouldn't be as robust. I'm not sure if it would have all the benefits, but it's definitely worth a try if you have access to them. Thanks for stopping by!
Lana Russell says
Question, will white elderberries work?