Homemade Elderberry Syrup
A measured elderberry syrup made with dried elderberries, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, honey, and lemon.
Jump to Recipe ↓Full Traditional Batch
Based on 10 cups of water — ideal when making a larger family batch.
Ingredients
- Dried elderberries1½ cups
- Water10 cups
- Fresh ginger1 generous piece, sliced
- Whole cloves4–6
- Cinnamon1 stick
- Honey2 cups
- Lemon juice2 Tbsp
Equipment
- Large saucepan or stockpot
- Fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth
- Large measuring cup or bowl
- Clean glass jars or bottles
- Labels and date marker
Step-by-Step Directions
Combine the herbs and water
Add the dried elderberries, water, sliced ginger, cloves, and cinnamon stick to a saucepan.
Bring to a gentle boil
Bring the mixture just to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat.
Simmer uncovered
Allow the mixture to simmer gently until the liquid has reduced and the berries are soft. A larger batch commonly takes around 35–45 minutes.
Mash and strain
Lightly mash the softened berries, then strain the liquid through a fine strainer or cheesecloth. Press gently to recover the liquid.
Cool before adding honey
Let the strained elderberry liquid cool until warm rather than hot.
Stir in honey and lemon
Add the honey and lemon juice and stir until completely blended.
Bottle and refrigerate
Transfer to clean jars or bottles, label with the date, and refrigerate promptly.
Scaled Recipe Amounts
These amounts preserve the proportions of the full recipe while making a smaller batch.
| Ingredient | 2-Cup Water Batch | 5-Cup Water Batch | 10-Cup Water Batch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dried elderberries | about ⅓ cup | ¾ cup | 1½ cups |
| Water | 2 cups | 5 cups | 10 cups |
| Fresh ginger | 2–3 thin slices | ½ generous piece, sliced | 1 generous piece, sliced |
| Whole cloves | 1 | 2–3 | 4–6 |
| Cinnamon stick | small piece | ½ stick | 1 stick |
| Honey | about ⅖ cup | 1 cup | 2 cups |
| Lemon juice | about 1¼ tsp | 1 Tbsp | 2 Tbsp |
Making the Elderberry Base in the Infuzium
Use the Infuzium for the Herbal Base
Add the elderberries, water, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon to the Infuzium. The Infuzium 420 manual lists a maximum liquid capacity of 5 cups, or to the MAX fill line. Do not exceed the MAX line. After the cycle, strain the liquid and let it cool before adding honey and lemon.
Important
This setting is the Gathered Remedies gentle-heat starting guideline for dried berries, not a factory Infuzium preset. For this recipe, keep the total liquid at 5 cups or below and never above the MAX fill line. Always follow the manufacturer's operating and safety instructions for your machine.
Do not add honey before heating. Add it after the herbal liquid has cooled to warm.
Storage
Keep homemade elderberry syrup refrigerated in a clean, tightly closed container. Because this is a homemade water-based preparation without commercial preservatives, make smaller batches and discard it if you notice fermentation, mold, gas buildup, off odors, or other signs of spoilage.
Honey Note
Honey should not be given to children under 12 months of age. For families with an infant, keep that portion separate and discuss an appropriate alternative with the child’s clinician.
Continue With Elderberry
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