Elderberry Shrub Recipe

4.75 from 4 votes

A delicious, thirst-quenching elderberry shrub that can be mixed with water, club soda, or cocktails.

Prep Time30

Resting Time7

Total Time7 30

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 81kcal

Rinse elderberries then pluck them from the stems. Add elderberries to a ½ pint jar and cover with honey. Shake to incorporate. Label and date the jar. Allow the fruit to macerate for a week.
After a week has passed, add apple cider vinegar to the jar and shake to combine. Pour the jar's contents into a small saucepan and gently simmer for 15 minutes.
Strain the shrub through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean jar. Store in a cool, dark location or refrigerate for up to 6 months.

Add a few tablespoons of elderberry shrub to sparkling water or club soda and drink up to enjoy its health benefits!

When picking elderberries, make sure to only use ripe elderberries. Green, unripe elderberries and their stems are toxic and should be avoided.
Elderberries can be slightly toxic when eaten raw. For this reason, I like to simmer the mixture for 15 minutes over low heat before drinking any of it.
Shake the jar daily, or when you remember, during the week.
To can elderberry shrub, pour the hot shrub into sterilized jars, leaving a ½" headspace. Next, wipe the rims with a damp paper towel, screw on the lids, and process in a water bath or canner for 15 minutes.
Experiment with other fruit, sugar, vinegar, spices, and herb combinations to create different flavored shrubs.
Fruit shrubs can also be mixed into salad dressings, think spinach salad or any salad recipe calls for a sweet dressing!