Elderberry Syrup Recipe (Cold, Flu & Virus Remedy) (2024)

Elderberry Syrup Recipe (Cold, Flu & Virus Remedy) (1)

Black Elderberries (Sambucus Nigra) have been used for centuries as immune-enhancing remedies for colds and flu and as a powerful antiviral for treating viral infections. This elderberry syrup recipe is my favorite go-to-remedy and costs 98% less than buying it at the store.

Does Elderberry help fight the Flu or Viruses?

The truth is there are some studies that have shown the benefits of Elderberry. More research is being done but the studies to date have been positive. This is not news to some people as Elderberry has been used in folk medicine for centuries to fight influenza and colds. In one study:

“Patients received 15 ml of elderberry or placebo syrup four times a day for 5 days, and recorded their symptoms using a visual analogue scale. Symptoms were relieved on average 4 days earlier and use of rescue medicine was significantly less in those receiving elderberry compared with placebo. Elderberry extract seems to offer an efficient, safe and cost effective treatment for influenza.” (Journal of International Medical Research, Mar-April 2004).

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Another study found that elderberry supplements can reduce upper respiratory symptoms such as congestion and cough (Complementary Therapies in Medicine, Feb. 2019).

Elderberry is stuffed with antioxidants and high in vitamin C, high in dietary fiber, and high in anthocyanins, an anti-inflammatory. They have also been used to treat sciatica, head-aches, teeth pain, heart pain, and as a laxative, although I have only used to fight off colds.

I’m not a doctor so please remember I’m only talking from personal experience using Elderberry syrup. Consult your family doctor if you need to know more. Be sure that this will not interact with any other drugs you might be taking.

My Personal Experience with Using Elderberry Syrup for Colds & Flu

When one child would come down with a cold or flu, I used to run to the store and shell out money for precious elderberry syrup. I would give it to everyone (myself included), and the vast majority of the time no one else would get sick. Plus they seemed to get over it quicker too.

Seriously. I initially thought it was a fluke. Can it really work this well? But it’s proven itself over and over and over in my home.

As such, I wanted to be able to give it to my children as a daily supplement during the winter, but because of the cost it wasn’t possible. So when I discovered how easy and cheap it was to make my own, I haven’t gone back. It’s my homemade elderberry syrup recipe for the win!

The best part? My kids love it. LOVE it. When they see me pulling the jar out of the fridge in the mornings they all come running. PS – it also serves as a pretty tasty pancake syrup, just sayin’!

Elderberry Syrup Recipe (Cold, Flu & Virus Remedy) (3)

How Often Do I Give it To My Children?

In our family we follow the dose recommendations below:

Adults: 1/2 tbsp to 1 tbsp once a day

Kids over 1 years old: 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp once a day

If you feel a flu, virus or cold coming on simply take that same dose amount every 2-3 hours during the day until symptoms subside.

Safety & Precautions

According to WebMD elderberry is possibly unsafe when the leaves, stem, unripe fruit, or uncooked fruit is eaten. So you need to always cook your elderberries first. Unripe fruit might cause nausea, vomiting, or severe diarrhea. Save yourself some toilet paper and don’t eat raw elderberries.

Also, there is not enough is known about pregnancy and breast-feeding so they recommend to avoid during these periods. And not enough is known about safety in using it with children under 1 years old so it’s best to avoid that as well.

How to Make Elderberry Syrup

Watch this video to see how to make Elderberry Syrup at home.

It really is so simple. And hard to mess up.

First thing you’ll do is add your water and spices to a large pot.

Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, cover and let simmer for about 45 minutes, until liquid is reduced by around half. Remove from heat and let cool.

Strain out the berries and cinnamon sticks, and press down on the berries so you get all that good juice out. After it cools for an hour or so add in your sweetener and you’re done.

Then pour into a mason jar and refrigerate! It will keep for several months in the fridge.

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Elderberry syrup instant pot directions: Addwater, dried elderberries, cinnamon sticks, ground ginger and ground cloves to the pressure cooker. Seal, and cook manually on high pressure for 9 minutes. Quick release and strain, mashing berries as directed above. Let cool for 1 hour, then add in honey.

Elderberry Syrup Slow Cooker Directions: Addwater, dried elderberries, cinnamon sticks, ground ginger and ground cloves to the slow cooker. Cook on low heat 8 hours. Strain, cool and add honey.

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How Much Does it Cost to Make?

At my local grocery store, a 4 fl oz bottle costs $16.99 or $4.25 per ounce. Pricey stuff, but I’m a sucker. This stuff is worth its weight in gold. And diamonds. And whatever is selling for the highest price on the black market.

This simple homemade version costs the following:

  • 4 oz. (1 cup) Elderberries: $5.50 (not including shipping costs which can vary from free-$5)
  • Honey: $3.40
  • Spices: less than $1.00
    TOTAL = $8.90, or about $0.278per ounce for 32 oz. of homemade elderberry syrup

That means our homemade version, without shipping is 98% CHEAPER! Seriously!!!!! This is one of my most cost efficient recipes ever. Even with paying for full priced shipping it’s still a heckuva save.

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Elderberry Syrup Recipe

Published By Karrie

Course Breakfast, Remedy

Cuisine Wellness

Keyword elderberry syrup

Servings 96

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Cool time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 55 minutes mins

An easy to make elderberry syrup recipe made with dried elderberries, cinnamon, honey and spices to boost your immune system.Can be used as a natural remedy and for homemade pancakes too.

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add 5 cups of water to a medium saucepan or dutch oven. Add in 1 cup dried elderberries, 4 cinnamon sticks, 2 tsp ground ginger and 1 tsp ground cloves. Stir to combine.

  • Bring this all to a boil, cover and reduce to a simmer. Let simmer for 45 minutes until mixture is thickened and reduced by nearly half.

  • Remove from heat and let cool for 1 hour to steep.

  • Pour juice through a fine mesh strainer in to a large bowl. Remove cinnamon sticks. Then using the back of a spoon press and mash the berries that are in the strainer over the bowl to get any extra juices out of them. Stir in honey and mix until well combined.

  • Pour carefully into a mason jar, cover and refrigerate. It should keep for several months in the fridge. Use daily as directed in notes below.

Notes

Dose recommendations: 1/2 tsp – 1 tsp once a day for kids over 1 years old. 1/2 tbsp to 1 tbsp once a day for adults. If you feel a flu, virus or cold coming on, take the regular dose every 2-3 hours until symptoms subside.

1 cup = 4 oz. dried elderberries

Make in Slow Cooker: Add water, dried elderberries, cinnamon sticks, ground ginger and ground cloves to the slow cooker. Cook on low heat 8 hours. Strain, cool and add honey.

Make in Instant Pot: Add water, dried elderberries, cinnamon sticks, ground ginger and ground cloves to the pressure cooker. Seal, and cook manually on high pressure for 9 minutes. Quick release and strain, mashing berries as directed above. Let cool for 1 hour, then add in honey.

Options & Substitutions:
Note: Cinnamon sticks, ginger, cloves and honey are all optional – they simply make it taste better.

If you don’t have cinnamon sticks you can substitute 2 tsp. cinnamon for the 4 sticks.

You can substitute sugar or glycerin for the honey (1-1/2 cups sugar or gylcerin), but if using sugar it’s best to add it after straining and mashing are done, while syrup is still warm so it will dissolve easier. Also feel free to add more or less sweetener to this recipe as it’s for taste only.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tsp | Calories: 7kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 6mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg

Loved this recipe?

Make sure to follow on Instagram @happymoneysaver and on Pinterest @happymoneysaver for more money savin’ recipes!

I hope you love this recipe! My kids love the taste, and the Elderberry Syrup recipe can drastically boost the immune system. Waaaay cheaper than the store bought version!

Elderberry Syrup Recipe (Cold, Flu & Virus Remedy) (8)

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About Karrie

Food is my love language. But so is saving money. So I like to combine the two a lot and make thrifty make ahead and freeze meals to save time. Because life is busy, and freezer meals can come to the rescue for all of us. And yes, they actually CAN taste good. Read more...

Elderberry Syrup Recipe (Cold, Flu & Virus Remedy) (2024)

FAQs

What not to mix with elderberry? ›

Possible Interactions
  • Diuretics (water pills). Diuretics help the body get rid of excess fluid and increase the amount of urine your body makes. ...
  • Diabetes medications. Elderberry may lower blood sugar levels. ...
  • Chemotherapy. ...
  • Laxatives. ...
  • Theophylline (TheoDur). ...
  • Drugs that suppress the immune system.

How much elderberry syrup should I take for a cold? ›

For example, a recommended serving size of elderberry syrup is 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) per day containing 3.8 grams of elderberry. For lozenges, one manufacturer recommends taking 1 lozenge (4 grams) containing 12 milligrams as needed up to four times per day.

Is elderberry good for colds and flu? ›

Elderberry extract has antiviral activity as well as anti-inflammatory activity, which lends it to potentially shortening the duration of cold and flu symptoms. Most cold and flu symptoms are not due to the virus itself but to the body's inflammatory response to the virus.

How long does homemade elderberry syrup last? ›

Elderberry syrup, when stored in a glass jar in the fridge, will stay good for 3 months. You can also freeze it in ice cube trays to defrost as needed. Always be sure to shake the bottle well before giving a dose as the honey will gather at the bottom on the bottle.

Are there negative side effects of elderberry? ›

The common side effects of taking raw elderberry plant products, such as fruit, flower, leaves, bark, or root include: Stomach problems. Nausea and vomiting. Diarrhea and constipation.

Which autoimmune diseases should avoid elderberry? ›

Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts. "Autoimmune diseases" such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Elderberry might cause the immune system to become more active. This could increase the symptoms of autoimmune diseases.

Should elderberry syrup be refrigerated? ›

We get asked all the time, “Do I need to refrigerate my syrup?” And the answer is YES! Most of the store-bought elderberry syrups out there are packed with preservatives, which is why they can last in the medicine cabinet for so long. Most preservatives are sugar laden and unhealthy for our bodies.

Can you take too much homemade elderberry syrup? ›

Are There Elderberry Side Effects? There is a downside to consuming too much elderberry, and that is an upset stomach. Just like with any high fiber fruit, eating too much can cause stomach pain, upset stomach, and diarrhea.

Is elderberry safe for your liver? ›

Exposure to elderberry could be responsible for either the initiation or progression of autoimmune liver disease in the setting of genetic predisposition and molecular mimicry. Therefore, obtaining a meticulous history pertaining to medications is warranted, with an emphasis on over-the-counter supplements.

Does elderberry work better than Tamiflu? ›

Some studies show Tamiflu only reduces symptoms by one day! Elderberry has evidence to suggest it may help resolve symptoms 4 days earlier!

When not to use elderberry? ›

Because of serious potential risks, elderberry is not recommended for children or for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

What form of elderberry is most effective? ›

When it comes to maintaining a strong immune system, black elderberries (Sambucus nigra) are the preferred choice.

Is homemade elderberry syrup better than store bought? ›

Homemade Elderberry Syrup vs Store Bought

By comparison, my homemade syrup is about a quarter of the price of over-the-counter options. The other draw back of over-the-counter versions is the sweetener, usually it's glucose. My recipe uses raw honey as a sweetener, which has so many healing properties.

Is it safe to make your own elderberry syrup? ›

Elderberries can be toxic when eaten raw but are safe to eat when cooked. The standard preparation method of boiling them down to make a “syrup” or “gummy” makes them safe to eat (figure 1). Elderberries have a “high” pH, around pH 4.9, and are classified as a low acid food3 because the pH is not less than 4.6.

How to tell if elderberry syrup is bad? ›

Our shelf life study deemed our syrup safe out of the fridge for up to 5 days. As always, we recommend you keep an eye on the consistency, taste and smell of the syrup. Do not consume if it starts growing white mold, smells bad, tastes bad or fizzes upon opening.

Does elderberry interact with anything? ›

Elderberry has no known severe, serious, or moderate interactions with other drugs. Elderberry has mild interactions with at least 28 different drugs.

What not to plant with elderberry? ›

Plants Not To Grow With Elderberry

Elderberry bushes can live in damp conditions but expect better growth in well-drained soil, so avoid growing elderberry in wet soil with swamp milkweed, river birch, and hibiscus.

Is it OK to take elderberry and Vitamin C together? ›

Vitamin C is one of the most well-known immune boosters. But taking it in combination with elderberry can give you the upper hand in tackling any infections and viruses that come your way.

Can you mix elderberry with other herbs? ›

You can always add other herbs to the syrup when you are dosing. I sometimes mix my elderberry syrup with echinacea tincture or olive leaf extract when I am taking a dose.

References

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