Instant Pot Elderberry Syrup Recipe

Cold and Flu season is coming. Be ready for it in about 10 minutes with this simple Instant Pot Elderberry Syrup Recipe!

Instant Pot Elderberry Syrup

The first sniffle is when I start to panic. As a mom of 3, I know the look; the tired eyes, the slow movements, the snorting. They are all warning signs that a cold is coming. It is this time of year when Elderberry Syrup is my friend. This immune-boosting fruit-based syrup is a great way to fight colds naturally and get back to normal fast.

What is Elderberry Syrup

Elderberry Syrup is made from Elderberries (Sambucus nigra). Elderberry has shown to reduce the length and severity of colds and flu. It is also a great immunity booster to prevent colds and flu altogether.

Elderberries are

High in vitamin C: There are 6–35 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams of fruit, which accounts for up to 60% of the recommended daily intake.
High in dietary fiber: Elderberries contain 7 grams of fiber per 100 grams of fresh berries, which is over one-quarter of the recommended daily intake.
A good source of phenolic acids: These compounds are powerful antioxidants that can help reduce damage from oxidative stress in the body.
A good source of flavonols: Elderberry contains the antioxidant flavonols quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin. The flowers contain up to 10 times more flavonols than the berries.
Rich in anthocyanins: These compounds give the fruit its characteristic dark black-purple color and are a strong antioxidant with anti-inflammatory effects.

All of these wonderful benefits are the exact reason why you should try making this Elderberry Syrup.

Are Elderberries Safe?

There have been whispers that elderberries aren’t safe to eat. That couldn’t be further from the truth. There are some fruits out there that have toxic elements (ah-hem; peaches and apples)

With Elderberries the leaves, stems, and roots of the plants, as well as the seeds in the berries, have chemicals which metabolize into cyanide. Eating the raw seeds can cause a build-up of cyanide in the body and make you ill.

The fun fact about elderberries is this toxicity goes away when the berries are cooked. So since they are boiled and strained out in this Instant Pot Elderberry Syrup Recipe you are good to go! They are also safe to eat in pies, baked goods, jams; anything where they are cooked.

Where to Buy Elderberries?

Some people like to grow their own elderberries, but Amazon is an excellent source of dried Elderberries. You can actually purchase them cheaper over the summer than you can during the winter and fall. This is due to the increase in need due to colds. Elderberries are also pretty easy to find at a natural food store.

Growing and storing your own elderberries is an excellent option if you live in gardening zones 3-8. When you have fresh elderberries you can bake them in pies, muffins and more for an extra immunity boost.

How to Take Elderberry Syrup

During cold and flu season or any time, your immune system could use a boost, take…

Adults – 1 tbsp once a day
Children- 1 tsp once a day

You can take more frequent or bigger doses if you feel a cold coming on. This syrup is safe.

Elderberry Syrup in jar

How to Store Elderberry Syrup?

This Instant Pot Elderberry Syrup should be kept in a closed jar in the fridge until ready to use. You can also can your elderberry syrup if you are proficient in canning. I typically just make one batch at a time and we can go through it in about a month during cold and flu season.

As always contact your physician before taking any natural supplements to make sure they are safe and suitable for your family.

Elderberry Syrup Tips

Other ingredients

This recipe calls for things like ginger, clove, and cinnamon which not only add to the flavor of the syrup but have their own immune-boosting properties. You can leave the extras out or add your own extra flavorings. Things like citrus zest and vanilla are great additions.

Local Honey

Using local raw honey is a great way to add to the power of this syrup. Local honey contains local pollen to your area which will help you with seasonal allergies and just be more healthful in general.

Juice or Syrup

My kids prefer the Elderberry Syrup more like a juice consistency, but if you are looking to make it more syrupy you can. When your Instant pot is finished, remove the lid. Then press the Sauté button and allow the syrup to simmer for about 10 minutes. Then strain and continue with the recipe as directed.

Instant Pot Elderberry Syrup

Cold and Flu season is coming. Be ready for it in about 10 minutes with this simple Instant Pot Elderberry Syrup Recipe!

2/3 cup dried elderberries (or fresh)
3 1/2 cups water
2 tbsp ginger (fresh/grated)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 cup honey (local/raw)

Place you elderberries, water, ginger, cinnamon, and clove in your instant pot. Close the lid securely and manually set your instant pot to 8 minutes.
Once the Instant pot has finished release the pressure and slowly remove the lid.
Strain the liquid into a bowl or jar and mix in 1 cup of local raw honey.
Store your syrup in a jar in the fridge until ready to use.
1 tsp per day for a child or 1 tbsp per day for an adult. It is safe to take more when you feel a cold coming on.

This syrup can be thickened by turning the instant pot on saute for about 10 minutes after it has beeped following the pressure cooking. Then stir in the honey and continue as listed.

No Instant Pot?

Place berries, water, and spices in pot on the stove, bring to a boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer for about 45 minutes to 1 hour until the liquid has reduced by almost half. Continue with the recipe as written.