Homemade Elderberry Syrup: Easy Immune-Boosting Recipe
This homemade elderberry syrup with honey and cinnamon is a delicious immune-boosting remedy that started as a happy accident. It’s quick, easy, and made with simple ingredients for a comforting winter staple.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings 1x
- Category: Condiment
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup dried elderberries
- ½ cup raw honey
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 cups filtered water
- Optional: fresh ginger slices, star anise, cloves, dried rose hips
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine ½ cup dried elderberries and 4 cups filtered water. Stir.
- Add 2 cinnamon sticks and any optional add-ins (ginger, star anise, cloves).
- Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat (about 5-7 minutes).
- Reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 30-40 minutes, until liquid reduces by half and berries are plump.
- Test for doneness: syrup should coat the back of a spoon.
- Strain the hot liquid through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl or measuring cup. Press berries gently to extract liquid.
- Let the strained liquid cool completely to room temperature (about 30-45 minutes).
- Stir in ½ cup raw honey until fully dissolved.
- Pour into a clean glass jar, seal tightly, and refrigerate.
Notes
Do not add honey to hot liquid; let syrup cool completely first to preserve raw honey’s enzymes. For a vegan version, substitute maple syrup for honey. Syrup can be frozen in ice cube trays for up to 6 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
- Calories: 35
- Sugar: 9
- Carbohydrates: 10
Keywords: elderberry syrup, immune-boosting, homemade, honey, cinnamon, cold remedy, winter recipe