Making this homemade organic elderberry syrup throughout the year is a great way to keep my family healthy. Elderberries, also known as Sambucus, have been around since Ancient times and are widely known for their health benefits.
Health Benefits of Elderberries
- Colds and the Flu
- Sinus Infections
- Boost your Immune System
- Helps with Constipation
- Loaded with Antioxidants
We love using homemade organic elderberry syrup throughout the year in addition to our regular daily vitamin supplements.
Are Elderberries Safe?
With all of the health benefits of elderberries, there are some known risks to pay attention to. You definitely want to cook the elderberries. Eating the elderberries raw is dangerous and can cause nausea and vomiting. Please contact your doctor before consuming to make sure elderberry syrup will not interact with any prescriptions you are currently taking. If you have an allergic reaction, discontinue use.
WATCH THE VIDEO
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.
How to Make Elderberry Syrup
First, you want to start with cooking the elderberries. You’ll bring them to a boil and then simmer for almost an hour.
- Add elderberries to the water. Combine the ginger, cloves and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil.
- Simmer for at least 45 minutes.
- Let the mixture cool and then add the honey.
- Stir together. Grab a piece of cheesecloth and drape over a glass bowl.
- Pour the syrup into the cheesecloth, make a tie and hang over the bowl so it will allow to release any of the juice.
- After 15-20 minutes, squeeze the cheesecloth and make sure all of the syrup is in the bowl.
- Discard the cheesecloth.
- Fill your jars and enjoy the health benefits.
How to Use Medicinal Herbs for Health
Using medicinal herbs and plants for healing is a natural way to support health and treat ailments.
Storage of Elderberry Syrup
Short-Term
- Store the syrup in clean, airtight glass jars or bottles (glass is preferred to avoid any leaching).
- Keep it in the refrigerator immediately after cooling. Will last for 2-3 months.
- If you want to add more honey, the high sugar content acts as a natural preservative, but refrigeration is essential to slow fermentation or mold growth.
Long-Term
- For the best long-term preservation, freeze the syrup—recommended by food safety experts like University of Maine Cooperative Extension, as elderberries lack sufficient acidity for safe water-bath canning without tested recipes.
- Pour into ice cube trays, freezer-safe jars, or small containers (leave headspace for expansion).
- Frozen syrup can last 6–8 months or longer while maintaining quality.
- Thaw portions in the fridge as needed; avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Homemade Organic Elderberry Syrup
Ingredients
Method
- Add elderberries and water to a saucepan. Combine the ginger, cloves and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil.
- Simmer on low for at least 45 minutes.
- Let the mixture cool and then add the honey.
- Stir together. Drape a piece of cheesecloth over a glass bowl.
- Pour the elderberry syrup mixture into the cheesecloth and twist the ends. Find a place to hang it over the bowl and allow the syrup to drip out, for aprroximately 15-20 minutes.
- Next, take the cheesecloth gathering and squeeze out any excess syrup into the bowl.
- Discard the cheesecloth and then start filling your jars.
Notes
Tools You May Need
Pin For Later
Resources
Barak V, Halperin T, Kalickman I. The effect of Sambucol, a black elderberry-based, natural product, on the production of human cytokines: I. Inflammatory cytokines. Eur Cytokine Netw. 2001 Apr-Jun;12(2):290-6. PMID: 11399518.
Zakay-Rones Z, Thom E, Wollan T, Wadstein J. Randomized study of the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry extract in the treatment of influenza A and B virus infections. J Int Med Res. 2004 Mar-Apr;32(2):132-40. doi: 10.1177/147323000403200205. PMID: 15080016.
Pascariu OE, Estevinho LM, Seixas NL, Dopcea I, Boiu-Sicuia OA, Geicu-Cristea M, Israel-Roming F. Antioxidant Properties and Microbiological Stability of Yogurt Enriched with Elderberry Extract. Foods. 2025 Apr 3;14(7):1251. doi: 10.3390/foods14071251. PMID: 40238559; PMCID: PMC11988485.
https://extension.umaine.edu/food-health/2025/02/20/how-to-make-and-preserve-elderberry-syrup-safely/
I hope you enjoy making this recipe and that it will benefit you and your family all year long. Please share this post over on Pinterest and tag me over on Instagram. I’d love to see how you make yours.
Wendy Lea Walker, NTP
Nutritional Therapy Practitioner
I’m Wendy. A wife, empty-nester mama, homemaker, homebaker, gardener and small-time farmer. I love sharing wisdom and mistakes I’ve learned along the way. Anyone can garden or homestead, no matter where you live. It’s a mindset. You just have to start somewhere. I believe food is medicine. Feed the body real whole foods and healing will begin. I’ve learned to slow down over the years from all the noise that came with life and enjoy creating a simple home.
Leave a Reply