Elderberry Syrup is one of our family’s go to during the sick season. Not only can a Homemade Elderberry Syrup Recipe help your body fight off potential colds and flu, it can help jump start your immune system even after you are sick. And it’s so quick and easy to make in the Instant Pot!
Elderberries are naturally high in immune-boosting compounds that are shown to help stimulate the immune system and help you kick the cold and flu more quickly.
We are in the midst of flu season where I live, with the worst months being March and April. It’s time to make sure we are well stocked up on Elderberry Syrup. Since I needed to make a batch anyway, I thought I’d share my Elderberry Syrup recipe with you to show just how easy it is to make.
An Elderberry Syrup Recipe That Is Cost Effective.
For the same price as a bottle of Elderberry tincture, I can use my homemade elderberry syrup recipe to make several cups of elderberry syrup, that tastes great! I’ve purchased Elderberry tinctures that nobody in my house would touch with a ten foot pole they tasted so bad. This recipe not only tastes fantastic, it will make your house smell heavenly. Score!
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Pro Tip: No time to make your own elderberry syrup? Need an immune system jump start? I suggest trying the Black Elderberry Syrup by Nature’s Way.
Elderberry Syrup Ingredients
Let’s get to it, shall we?
1 Cup Organic dried black elderberries. I like both Frontier Herbs and the Organic Bio Herbs Organic Brand.
3 1/2 Cups Filtered water
Juice From 1/2 of an Organic Lemon
2T Freshly Grated Organic Ginger
1 Organic Cinnamon Stick
1T Organic Ground Cloves
1/2 Cup raw honey My parents rent out some of their land to a bee keeper in return for fresh honey. It’s what I used. No access to your own bee hives? No worries, these guys will do you proud!
PRO Tip: You could switch out the lemon juice for dehydrated lemon peel OR orange peel to switch things up! Add the dehydrated lemon or orange peel to the Instant Pot with the rest of the ingredients.
Instant Pot Elderberry Syrup Directions
1. Add all of the ingredients EXCEPT the honey and lemon juice to your Instant Pot pressure cooker. Secure and lock the IP lid in place.
2. Close the pressure release valve.
3. Set to Manual for 20 minutes
4. When done, allow to naturally depressurize.
5. Strain off and discard the elderberries, ginger and spices. Then toss them in the compost pile!
6. Allow to cool before blending in honey and lemon juice. Remember, adding the honey and lemon juice to the hot syrup will kill off all of the honey’s beneficial enzymes.
7. Add honey and lemon juice and stir until blended.
8. Store in a glass jar in the fridge.
Tip: The recipe above uses DRIED berries. If using fresh, I would decrease the IP time to around half.
Elderberry Syrup Dosage
Our family takes the standard daily dose which is 1/2-1 teaspoon for kids and 1/2-1 Tablespoon for adults. If we do get sick then we up our dose to every 2-3 hours instead of just once a day until we are better.
Elderberry syrup is a pretty gentle remedy. I’ll always advise to check with a doctor when giving it children.
What natural home remedies do you make for your family?