Description
Make your own small batch elderberry syrup sweetened with honey. This recipe is perfect for water-bath canning or refrigeration for easy access when you need immune support.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup dried elderberries (or 1.5 cups fresh elderberries)
- 3 cups filtered water
- 1 cup raw honey
- 1 tablespoon dried ginger root
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Combine the elderberries, water, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves in a saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the liquid has reduced by about half.
- Remove the pan from the heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly, about 15 minutes.
- Strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean bowl, pressing gently on the solids to extract all the liquid. Discard the solids.
- Once the elderberry liquid is lukewarm (below 110°F/43°C to preserve honey benefits), stir in the raw honey until fully dissolved. Do not boil the honey.
- Pour the finished honey elderberry tonic into sterilized jars.
- For refrigeration: Seal jars and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
- For canning elderberry syrup: Process the sealed jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes (adjust time for altitude) to ensure a shelf-stable product. Let jars cool completely and check seals.
Notes
- Dosage guidance: Adults take 1 tablespoon daily for maintenance, or up to 4 times daily when feeling unwell. For children over one year old, give 1 teaspoon daily for maintenance, or up to 4 times daily when needed. Do not give honey to infants under one year old.
- Flavor tweak for kids: Add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract after straining for a milder taste.
- If using fresh berries, increase the amount slightly as dried berries are more concentrated.
- This recipe makes a wonderful cold-and-flu remedy.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 60 min
- Category: Health Tonic
- Method: Stovetop Simmering and Canning
- Cuisine: General
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Tbsp
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 1
- Fat: 0
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 0
- Cholesterol: 0