Elderberry syrup can bring berry flavor to food and drinks you already enjoy. Swirl it into yogurt, finish a bowl of oatmeal, blend a smoothie, stir a sparkling drink, sweeten tea, add it to lemonade, or enjoy it on its own. Pick one familiar starting point and make it yours.
Our Elderberry Syrup combines rich berry flavor with honey, warm spices and light citrus notes. Follow the product directions, start with a little for flavor and taste before adding more sweetness.
1. Make a yogurt swirl
Spoon plain yogurt into a bowl, then draw a ribbon of elderberry syrup through the top. Leave a little of the yogurt plain so you can taste the contrast. Add fruit or a crunchy topping you already enjoy.
Try this combination: plain Greek yogurt, strawberries, blueberries and granola, finished with a swirl of syrup. Plain yogurt gives the berry-and-spice flavor room to stand out.
2. Finish a bowl of oatmeal
Prepare your oatmeal as usual, then add the syrup to the finished bowl. Stir it through or leave it on top for a berry-flavored finish. Banana, berries or your usual nuts and seeds can round out the bowl.
A simple adjustment: add the syrup before your usual sweetener. If you normally add cinnamon, taste first; our syrup already brings warm-spice notes.
3. Blend a berry smoothie
Use your favorite smoothie base and add elderberry syrup as one flavor component. Frozen blueberries or mixed berries, plain yogurt and your preferred milk make an easy starting point. Blend, taste and adjust the liquid to the texture you like.
Keep the first blend simple: if your yogurt or fruit mixture is already sweetened, wait to add another sweetener until you have tasted the smoothie.
4. Stir a sparkling drink
Pour unsweetened sparkling water into a glass with room to stir. Add the syrup gently, then taste. A squeeze of lemon or lime, a few berries or a sprig of mint can dress it up, but none is required.
For a gathering: set out the syrup and garnishes separately so everyone can choose their own combination. This gives you a simple non-alcoholic drink without a separate recipe for every guest.
5. Add it to hot or iced tea
Yes, you can put elderberry syrup in tea. Brew a tea you already like using its own directions, then stir the syrup into the finished hot or iced tea in place of some or all of your usual sweetener.
Choose by flavor: a gently flavored tea lets the berry notes come forward; a strongly spiced tea makes a different combination. Try a squeeze of lemon if you enjoy a brighter finish. Follow the tea's own label for ingredients and caffeine information.
6. Give lemonade a berry note
Mix the syrup into one glass of lemonade before changing a whole pitcher. Taste the lemonade first: a less-sweet base gives you more room for the honey sweetness in the syrup. Stir, taste and add ice if you like.
Why start with one glass? You can find the balance of citrus and berry you enjoy, then use those proportions when you make more.
7. Enjoy it on its own
Sometimes a spoon is all you need. Follow the product directions and taste the syrup by itself. Notice the berry, honey, spice and citrus notes, then choose a pairing based on what you enjoyed most.
New to the flavor? This is a simple way to get to know it before adding it to a favorite breakfast or drink.
Your saveable pairing card
- A breakfast bowl: try a yogurt swirl or an oatmeal finish. Add syrup before another sweetener.
- Fruit and a blender: make a berry smoothie. Keep your familiar base and change one thing.
- A favorite drink: choose sparkling water, tea or lemonade. Test one glass before a pitcher.
- No preparation time: enjoy it on its own, following the product directions.
Keep three quick notes for your favorite combination: my base, what I added, and what I would change next time. Then you have a version you can make again or share with a friend.
Our Elderberry Syrup contains honey. Do not give honey to children younger than 12 months. Review the complete ingredient list and check any toppings or mix-ins for the people you are serving.
Shop the Elderberry Syrup used in these ideas. Choosing your first bottle? Our first-bottle guide helps you compare flavor, format and bottle size.