If you've ever wanted to make your own syrup, this is the best elderberry syrup recipe! It comes together in under an hour, with just elderberries, water and honey.
Pour the dried elderberries and cold water to a medium saucepan.
Bring it to a boil and then reduce to a simmer for about 45 minutes or even up to an hour until the liquid has reduced by almost half.
Once it is reduced, remove it from the heat and let it cool enough to be handled. Strain the liquid using a sieve and mash the berries carefully to remove any extra juices.
Instead of discarding the elderberries, repeat the process once more to get every last drop of juice! You won't need it for this recipe, but it's nice to have on hand!
Once the liquid is room temperature, add 1 cup of honey and stir well. If you are wanting an extra thick syrup, you can double the amount of honey. See the hint below!
Pour the syrup into a mason jar or 16 ounce flip-top glass bottle. Keep it in the refrigerator and serve 1 tablespoon as needed.
Notes
Hint: If you want an ultra thick syrup, use 2 cups of honey. It won't change the properties of the elderberry syrup, but it will dilute it. Instead of the serving size being one tablespoon, I'd double it (use your discretion).
HOW TO STORE ELDERBERRY SYRUP
Elderberry syrup contains a large amount of honey, which gives it an extra long shelf life when stored in the refrigerator! I've actually drank refrigerated elderberry syrup that was more than a year old (and it tasted great!), although most people recommend consuming it within 2-3 months.
How to thicken elderberry syrup with arrowroot powder
Prepare the recipe as written above for steps 1 and 2, but we are going to do a little change with step 3. So to recap, the elderberries have simmered, cooled slightly and been strained.Return the elderberry juice to the saucepan. Heat on medium heat until it begins to simmer. In a separate jar, add the additional one cup of water and ¼ cup arrowroot powder. Make a slurry by whisking the mixture until no lumps are visible. Add the arrowroot slurry to the simmering elderberry juice. Heat for several minutes while whisking continuously. Within a few minutes, the mixture will begin to thicken. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let it cool to room temperature. Add the honey and mix well.
how to store elderberry syrup
Elderberry syrup contains a large amount of honey, which gives it an extra long shelf life when stored in the refrigerator! I've actually drank refrigerated elderberry syrup that was more than a year old (and it tasted great!), although most people recommend consuming it within 2-3 months.