Homemade Elderberry Syrup (Dried or Fresh Berries)
Support you immune system, fight colds and viruses, and stay healthy with this easy homemade elderberry syrup recipe - using dried, frozen or fresh elderberries.
Ingredients
- 4 cups dried organic elderberries OR 8 cups of fresh elderberries or frozen
- 2 tbsp freshly grated raw ginger OR 1 tsp powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon OR 2 whole cinnamon sticks
- 1/2 tsp cloves ground or whole
- 8 cups water OR only 1 cup, if you're using fresh elderberries
- 16-24 ounces honey
Instructions
- Add 8 cups of water and 4 cups of dried elderberries (or 8 cups fresh berries and 1 cup water) to a saucepan and simmer over medium-low heat.
- Once simmering, add cinnamon, clove, and grated ginger and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally until the liquid is reduced by half.
- Once reduced by half the original volume, allow the elderberry mixture to cool slightly.
- Using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth perched over a bowl, strain the mixture, using a spoon (and hands) to press the berries to extract as much juice as possible.
- Add the extracted elderberry juice back into the saucepan with the called-for honey, using a whisk to thoroughly combine. If needed, created a warm water bath to lightly heat and soften honey, but avoid microwaving or boiling honey!
- Optional: Add a splash (up to half a cup) of your liquor of choice, as an extra natural preservative.
- Pour the elderberry syrup into jars or bottles, and refrigerate. Without liquor, it should stay fresh for about 3 months. It is safe to use until mold develops!
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!