Homemade Elderberry Syrup Recipe for Colds {Great for Babies & Kids} (2024)

Learn how to make a homemade elderberry syrup recipe for kids! This natural remedy can help to boost the immune system during cold and flu season. The easy recipe is made with dried elderberries, honey and spices. The step-by-step tutorial includes sweetener substitutions for a baby-safe version, tips for dosing, uses, storage, shelf life, and free printable labels for packaging and gifting.

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Immunity boosting homemade elderberry syrup recipe for babies and kids

It’s thetime of year when cold and flu season hits. And it’s the perfect time for a homemadeelderberry syrup recipe for babies and kids. Healthy nutrition is critical forthe immune system, and this easy homemade syrup recipe is perfect to supportyour family’s immunity.

I’m sureyou’ve heard about the benefits of elderberries. The berries have naturalantibacterial and antiviral properties that can boost the immune system andalleviate the symptoms of colds and the flu. Pretty great, huh?

Thishealthy elderberry syrup recipe is a tasty way to enjoy those benefits. It’s sosimple to whip up too. You literally just toss the ingredients into a saucepan andlet it simmer for a good 30 minutes, strain out the solids, and store in a glasscontainer.

Read on for useful tips and answers to common questions about this homemade elderberry syrup recipe! And don’t forget to check out my elderberry gummies, immunity booster shots and homemade cough drops too!

Elderberry syrup benefits – Elderberry syrup for colds

What arethe benefits of elderberry syrup? Does elderberry syrup really work?Elderberries have long been cultivated to make natural remedies. And for goodreason! Research suggests that elderberries can be effective in fighting thecold, flu, sinus infections, and constipation.

Thefruit is a rich source of vitamins and antioxidants known as anthocyanins. Anthocyaninshave anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, which are attributed to improvingthe body’s immune response.

Whiletaking homemade elderberry syrup doesn’t prevent getting the cold or flu, itcan help to shorten the duration, relief the symptoms and reduce the severityof infections. (sources 1, 2)

Homemade elderberry syrup recipe ingredients

What is elderberrysyrup made of? You need 3 ingredients to make elderberry syrup at home. Let’slearn more about these ingredients:

• elderberries – Should I use fresh or dried elderberries? My recipe for elderberry tincture can be prepared with both fresh or dried berries. Dried elderberries are available year-round and easier to find. If using fresh fruits, double the amount.
• water – Use distilled, purified or filtered water. 2 1/2 cups / 600 ml water will give you a thick elderberry syrup, 4 cups / 1 l creates a lighter version.
• honey – Natural honey boasts a host of health benefits. Honey has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects and can help to suppress coughs in children – perfect for elderberry syrup for toddler cough. The ingredient also acts as a natural preservative and prolongs the shelf life of our DIY elderberry tincture.

Vegan and low carb sweetener alternatives – Baby-safe elderberry syrup

I usedhoney as the sweetener. But if you make the recipe for babies or need it to bevegan, try one of the following options:

• vegan sweeteners – If you prefer vegan elderberry syrup or make the syrup for childrenunder 1, sweeten the syrup with coconut sugar,maple syrup, agave syrup, or date syrup.
• low carb sweeteners – For a low carb keto elderberry syrup, prepare the recipe with powdered erythritol.

Customise your homemade elderberry syrup recipe

What canI add to my elderberry syrup? One thing I love about making homemade remediesis that you can customise and tweak the recipe. I love spiced elderberry syrupand seasoned my batch with cinnamon, cloves and ginger.

Becreative and add some of the following ingredients to your elderberry tincturerecipe:

• vanilla extract
• cinnamon sticks or 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• fresh ginger or 1 tsp ground ginger
• whole cloves or 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• fresh turmeric root or 1 tbsp ground turmeric
• aronia berries
• echinacea extract (should be added after cooking and cooling the syrup)
• dried hibiscus
• rose hips

How to make homemade elderberry syrup from scratch

Let me showyou the steps for how to properly make elderberry syrup, step-by-step:

1. Combine the dried elderberries and water in a heavy saucepan. Tip: If using coconut sugar or additional ingredients (spices, dried herbs, lemon) add them now.
2. Bring to a boil. Then the reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring regularly.
3. Remove from the heat and let steep for 1 hour.
4. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh-sieve into a large measuring cup or mixing bowl, reserving the liquid and discarding the berries.
5. Allow the syrup to cool to room temperature. Then stir in the honey. Tip: The syrup should feel cool before you add the honey. If the liquid is too hot, some of the honey’s healing qualities will be lost.
6. Fill the syrup into a clean, sterilised container. I like these clip-top bottles, mason jars are also good storage container for elderberry syrup.

Homemade elderberry syrup for babies

Is elderberrysyrup safe for babies? Yes, elderberry syrup is safe for babies ifconsumed in moderation. The recipe helps with immune support for babies andmakes a good addition to baby food during a cold.

As I mentioned,you should make the homemade elderberry syrup recipe without honey ifyou want to share syrup with kids who are less than 1 year old. Instead,sweeten the elderberry syrup for babies under 1 with maple syrup or coconut sugar.

Elderberry syrup for kids & toddlers

Is elderberrysafe for kids? Yes, this natural elderberry syrup recipe is safe for kids.Elderberry tincture is an excellent supplement to give your kids around thecold and flu season and can provide immune support in children.

When should I take elderberry syrup? Can you take elderberry daily?

Yes! Whileyou can only give the syrup when your child is sick, it’s even better to strengthenyour kid’s immune system before they come down with something. My familyusually takes homemade elderberry syrup from October through March.

Dosing – How much elderberry syrup should a child take?

What agecan you take elderberry syrup? Elderberry syrup can be taken at any age. Youcan start giving your baby homemade elderberry syrup when you begin introducingfruits to their diet (stage 2, 6 to 8 months.)

Here isthe daily elderberry syrup dosage when everyone is healthy:

• babies (6months – 2 years): 1 teaspoon per day
• toddlers and children (2 years +): 1 tablespoon per day
• teens and adults: 1-2 tablespoons per day

The maximaldose when someone is sick:

• babies (6months – 2 years): 1 teaspoon twice day
• toddlers and children (2 years +): 1 tablespoon 3 times a day
• teens and adults: 2 tablespoons 3 times aday

Pleasenote that the syrup is an elderberry supplement but should never be used as a substitutefor other prescription medications.

Elderberry side effects?

Can youtake too much elderberry syrup? What are the side effects of elderberry? Whilewe never experienced any issues in my family, consuming too much elderberrysyrup can have a laxative effect or lead to digestive upset in some people.

Elderberryproducts may potentially interact with medications designed to suppress theimmune system. Consult a doctor or medical caregiver if you have an auto-immunedisorder, take diabetes medications, or are undergoing chemotherapy.

How long is homemade elderberry syrup good for?

Doeshomemade elderberry syrup need to be refrigerated? Yes, it’s best to store the elderberrytincture in the fridge.

How longdoes homemade elderberry syrup last? Elderberry syrup with honey can be storedfor 3 months. Without honey, the shelf life is 1 month.

If you preparea large batch elderberry syrup recipe, portion and freeze the syrup. The syrupcan be frozen for up to 6 months.

Canning elderberry syrup

Can youcan elderberry syrup? Yes, canning elderberry syrup is possible. Fill thehomemade syrup into sterilised canning jars and process in a boiling water bathfor 20 minutes.

What to make with elderberries? If you want more elderberry recipe ideas, check out my elderberry gummies for kids recipe, this elderflower cordial and my lemon elderflower cake.

Homemade Elderberry Syrup Recipe for Colds {Great for Babies & Kids}

Yield: 2 cups

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Steeping Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes

Learn how to make a homemade elderberry syrup recipe for kids! This natural remedy can help to boost the immune system during cold and flu season. The easy recipe is made with dried elderberries, honey and spices. The step-by-step tutorial includes sweetener substitutions for a baby-safe version, tips for dosing, uses, storage, shelf life, and free printable labels for packaging and gifting.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups / 115 g / 4 oz dried elderberries (or 3 cups fresh elderberries)
• 2 1/2 cups / 600 ml / 20 fl oz water
• 1 cup / 350 g / 12 oz natural honey

Instructions

1. Combine the elderberries and water in a heavy saucepan.
   Tip: If using coconut sugar or additional ingredients (spices, dried herbs, lemon) add them now.
2. Bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring regularly.
3. Remove from the heat and let steep for 1 hour.
4. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a large measuring cup or mixing bowl, reserving the liquid and discarding the berries.
5. Allow the syrup to cool to room temperature. Then stir in the honey.
   Tip: The syrup should feel cool before you add the honey. If the liquid is too hot, some of the honey’s healing qualities will be lost.
6. Fill the syrup into a clean, sterilised container.

Notes

Optional ingredients

You can add some of the following ingredients to customise the syrup recipe:

• 1 – 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 – 2 cinnamon sticks or 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 in / 2.5 cm fresh ginger or 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp whole cloves or 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1 in / 2.5 cm fresh turmeric root or 1 tbsp ground turmeric
• 1/3 cup / 30 g dried aronia berries
• echinacea extract (should be added after cooking and
  cooling the syrup)
• 1/4 cup / 1 g dried hibiscus
• 1/4 cup / 3 g rose hips

Shelf life and storage

Does homemade elderberry syrup need to be refrigerated? Yes, it’s best to store the elderberry tincture in the fridge.

How long does homemade elderberry syrup last? Elderberry syrup with honey can be stored for 3 months. Without honey, the shelf life is 1 month.

If you prepare a large batch elderberry syrup recipe, portion and freeze the syrup. The syrup can be frozen for up to 6 months.

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