Making elderberry syrup at home doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you want to start completely from scratch or let us do the measuring and blending for you, there are a couple of easy ways to make your own syrup at home.
I've been making elderberry syrup since 2019, and one thing I've learned is that there isn't just one way to do it.
Some people love starting with their own elderberries and creating a recipe from scratch. Others want the experience of homemade elderberry syrup without buying and measuring a long list of individual ingredients.
That's exactly why we created The Syrup Shop Elderberry Syrup Make-at-Home Kits.
Let's talk about both.
Option 1: Make Elderberry Syrup From Scratch
If you already have elderberries or enjoy experimenting in the kitchen, making your own syrup from scratch can be a lot of fun.
Dried elderberries are a convenient option because they're easy to store and can be used whenever you're ready to make a batch.
The basic process starts by combining your elderberries with water and simmering them. You can also add culinary herbs and spices to develop the flavor.
Cinnamon, ginger and citrus are some of the ingredients people commonly enjoy experimenting with.
Once everything has simmered and the berries have softened, you'll strain the mixture, allow it to cool appropriately and then add your preferred sweetener.
Honey is a popular choice and the one we use in our classic Elderberry Syrup.
An Important Note About Elderberries
Elderberries aren't something you want to simply toss into a recipe raw.
Elderberry preparation matters. Research and food-safety guidance recognize that elderberry plants can contain naturally occurring cyanogenic glycosides. Proper heating is an important part of preparing elderberries for consumption.
If you're working with your own berries, make sure you've correctly identified the elderberry species, remove stems and leaves, and follow reliable preparation and cooking instructions.
Don't Be Afraid to Make It Your Own
One of the fun parts about making elderberry syrup at home is deciding what you like.
Want more citrus flavor? Try fresh orange or lemon.
Prefer it sweeter? Adjust your sweetener.
Love warming spices? Experiment with culinary spices that complement elderberry.
That's part of the beauty of homemade syrup. Once you understand the basic preparation, you can find the flavor your family enjoys.
Option 2: Skip the Measuring With Our Make-at-Home Kit
Maybe you'd love to make elderberry syrup but don't necessarily want to source bags of elderberries and individual herbs.
We've got you.
Our Elderberry Syrup Make-at-Home Kit was created to take the guesswork out of the process.
We've already sourced, measured and blended the dry ingredients for you.
And we've recently made the kits even easier to use.
One Kit. Three Individual Bags. Three Pints.
Each Elderberry Syrup Make-at-Home Kit now contains three individually portioned bags.
That means you have options.
Make all three pints at once when you want a larger batch, or make one pint at a time and save the other two bags for later.
There's no measuring out a third of the mixture or trying to divide the ingredients evenly. We've already done that part for you.
What Do You Need at Home?
Not much.
For our Elderberry Syrup Make-at-Home Kit, you'll need:
- Water
- Honey
That's really the beauty of it.
If you'd like to personalize your batch, you can also add fresh ingredients such as lemon or orange for a little additional flavor.
Every kit comes with easy-to-follow preparation directions, so you don't have to figure out quantities or cooking times on your own.
We source, measure and blend. You add water and honey, cook and enjoy.
Stovetop or Instant Pot? You Choose.
You don't need special equipment to use our kits.
Each kit includes directions for preparing your elderberry syrup on the stovetop or in an Instant Pot.
Choose whichever method works best for your kitchen.
From start to finish, making your own elderberry syrup takes approximately an hour, with much of that time simply allowing the ingredients to simmer and steep.
Why Make Elderberry Syrup at Home?
Sometimes it's simply satisfying to make something yourself.
You know what you're adding. You control the sweetness. You can customize the flavor. And there's something pretty wonderful about having a pot of elderberries and herbs simmering in your kitchen.
Our kits give you that homemade experience without requiring you to purchase every ingredient separately.
They're also a great option for people who don't live close enough to purchase our finished syrup locally or who simply enjoy making things themselves.
Homemade From Scratch, Made Easy, or Ready to Pour
Ultimately, you get to choose what works for you.
If you love starting from scratch, grab your elderberries and experiment.
If you want homemade without all the sourcing and measuring, grab one of our Elderberry Syrup Make-at-Home Kits.
And if you would rather open the refrigerator and pour, that's why we make our finished Elderberry Syrup, too.
Whichever route you choose, there's room to make the experience your own.
And once your batch is ready, don't stop at taking it by the spoonful. Check out our 7 Easy Ways to Use Elderberry Syrup Every Day for ideas for yogurt bowls, oatmeal, smoothies, tea, sparkling water and more.