The Elderberry Syrup I Make All Winter Long.
Every fall, there are a few things I know I'll make again and again—and this elderberry syrup is one of them.
It honestly saves our family every fall and winter, mostly because it gives us one simple ritual we can keep up with when life gets busy.
We each drink about 2 tablespoons every morning. Sometimes we pour it into little glasses, cheers each other, and make a whole thing of it. It's a tiny habit, but those are often the ones that stick.
And because real food + real skills doesn't have to mean complicated, this recipe is incredibly simple.
The Ingredient I Always Add: Mullein Leaf
Our family is very familiar with upper respiratory bugs, so I've gotten into the habit of adding dried mullein leaf to our elderberry syrup.
Mullein has a long history of traditional herbal use, particularly in preparations associated with coughs and respiratory comfort. Research on its effectiveness in people is still limited, though, so I think of it as one of the traditional herbs we enjoy incorporating—not a treatment or replacement for medical care.
What You'll Need
8 cups filtered water
4 cups dried elderberries
½ cup dried + crushed mullein leaves
½ tbsp whole cloves
2 tbsp fresh ginger (about a 1-inch piece)
Peel from 1 lemon
3 cinnamon sticks (or ½ tbsp ground cinnamon)
1–1½ cups raw honey
Ginger tip: Grate it for more ginger tang; dice it for a mellower flavor.
Honey tip: If you're hoping your kids will happily join the morning ritual, I tend to over-index on the honey. :)
How to Make It
Combine everything except the honey in a large pot and stir. Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 40–45 minutes.
Turn off the heat and let it cool for about 10–15 minutes, then strain through cheesecloth into a large bowl or measuring pitcher.
Allow it to cool further before stirring in the raw honey. I avoid adding the honey to piping-hot liquid because heating can reduce some of honey's enzyme activity.
Pour into clean, sterilized mason jars and refrigerate. I make several batches throughout the season so there's almost always a jar in our fridge.
Everything I use to make this recipe is listed here:
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My Favorite Make-it-Last Trick
Pour some into an ice cube tray and freeze it. It keeps longer, and dropping one or two elderberry cubes into a mug of hot water makes the easiest cozy tea. It's especially good on a cold morning when you're headed out the door.
Simple ingredients. One pot. A ritual the whole family can be part of.
Note: This is a personal family recipe and isn't medical advice. Herbal products aren't appropriate for everyone and may interact with medications; check with your healthcare professional when appropriate. Honey should not be given to children under 12 months.