How to make Homemade Elderberry Syrup from Dried Elderberries

If you dabble in the Natural or holistic side of life chances are you’ve heard of Elderberries.  The tart berries that many trust to keep their immune system supported especially during those sickly times of the year. Enjoy my easy recipe for making Homemade Elderberry Syrup from Dried Elderberries along with a few tips to trick your little one into eating it.

5 facts about Elderberries

1. The “Father of Medicine”, Hippocrates referred to the elder tree as his “medicine chest.”
2. Elderberries per serving contain more Vitamin C than oranges, making them amazing for boosting your immune system.
3. It is a diuretic, you will pee more.  
4. Aside from the ripe, cooked berries (uncooked and dried elderberries or flowers cancause upset stomach symptoms) all other parts of the elder tree have cyanogenic glycosides , a cyanide-producing substance that is poisonous when ingested.
5. Elderberries are an immune stimulant- those who are pregnant, breast feeding or with immune disorders should avoid them.

 I must not tell lies,  I hate the taste of almost all Homemade Elderberry Syrups and I don’t care what form it comes in, the tart and astringent taste will never be for me. However, I am also well aware of the benefits and it will continue to be a staple for my family when were under the weather.

 Now you know as well as I do most kids aren’t a fan of strange or complex tastes no matter how many benefits there are for them.  Flash to my toddlers personally curated / tolerated menu of goldfish, cherry tomatoes and popguzzies (my sons term for Popsicle). 

Toddler moms, I see you, I feel you. May the odds be ever in your favor.

We mommas know all to well that telling any toddler “but its good for you” as a reason for them to eat something is simply asking for a handful of that goodness being tossed on the floor or worse launched in your direction.

So when the house is falling ill, or we are dragging through the dark months of less sunlight and cold temperatures, we know we must be creative to boost our little ones immune system. 

  5 Tricks to getting your kids to eat Homemade Elderberry Syrup

1. Mix it into juice or a smoothie with some strong flavored fruit.
2. Turn your homemade elderberry syrup into gummies because anything in gummy form is awesome, bonus points for cute molds.
3. Mixed in an applesauce pouch (my little’s personal choice) We love these reusable pouches! Check them out here!
4. Popsicle’s- every mommas best friend when we’ve got sick kids as dehydration usually goes hand in hand.  Hydrate and boost their immune system all at once by adding some syrup to a homemade Popsicle recipe. Check out the handy Popsicle holders we love here.
5. Make it fun,  MOST of the time (cause you know kids) if you make it a game, make it a special “treat”or heck, just act like its your food, it’ll be gone in seconds.

Ingredients List

• Dried Elderberries- This is the brand I enjoy!
• Oranges, sliced
• Cinnamon sticks
• Ginger root, Peeled and diced
• Vanilla extract
• Honey 
• Maple Syrup

Other items you can add

• Lemon 
• Cloves
• Pineapple
• Blueberries
• Blackberries

• -1 cup of Dried Elderberries (ensure all stems are removed)
• -3 ¾ cup of water
• -Oranges- as many as you like
• -Cinnamon Sticks-  to your taste (mine is 3-5)
• -Ginger a good size chunk
• 2 tbs of Vanilla Extra
• -2 cups Honey 
• -½ cup Maple Syrup

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Toss everything in a pot except the honey and maple syrup.  
2. Bring to a boil, stir and reduce heat to simmer, cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
3. Next, strain your ingredients – be sure to press extra juices out of your elderberries before discarding.  
4. Now leave the elderberry syrup at room temperature until cooled then add in honey and maple syrup to taste. We like it sweet and have no shame.
5. Store in the refrigerator in an air tight glass jar.