I don’t recall who first suggested I take elderberry syrup to help boost my immune system, but man am I glad they did! For years, it has been my go-to staple to help keep me and my family healthy despite the plethora of germs we encounter. As a preschool teacher and mom to a kindergartener, germs are just going to be part of life. Truly, there is no escaping them. So I’ve made peace with that fact and give myself and my family our best fighting chance at staying healthy by keeping our immune systems on point. And I can truly say that I feel elderberry syrup has been a major player in that.

Black elderberries (also known as sambucus nigra) are magical little wonders of immune boosting power. They have been found not only to give your body the tools it needs to fight germs, but to also help your immune system to bounce back faster once illness strikes. Naturally containing vitamins A, B and C, the syrup made from elderberries has been a well-loved natural remedy for generations and elderberries’ natural healing properties have been well researched. In fact,

"in one study conducted by Israeli virologist Dr. Madeleine Mumcuoglu, 93.3% of the people taking an elderberry preparation reported significant improvement in influenza symptoms within 2 days of starting it, compared with the 6 days it took for the placebo group to see improvement." (source)

For the longest time, I bought elderberry syrup. First from the health food store (where it cost mega bucks and came loaded with cane sugar) and then I bought it homemade from a friend who created hers with a blend of other naturally immune-boosting foods (honey and cinnamon are two of the most typical ingredients found in elderberry syrup).

However, when my elderberry-cooking friend moved out of the country, I decided I wanted to try my hand at making my own elderberry syrup in hopes of saving a few bucks and being a bit more in control of the ingredients.

As I researched different recipes for elderberry syrup and started to create my own, I noticed that cooking time for stove-top elderberry syrup took roughly about an hour. That was all well and good to make as part of my weekly meal prep on a sleepy Sunday afternoon. However, I one week I got off my game and found my family without our immune boosting elderberry syrup at the end of a busy Monday.

As I poured the very last drop of elderberry syrup into a measuring spoon to give my daughter, I grumbled a bit about how bummed I was that I didn’t have time to make more. Until I noticed my Instant Pot hanging out in my closet.

It’s no secret that I’m having a love affair with my Instant Pot. Just when I thought I had found all the tricks and healthy living hacks a busy mama could mentally collect, I got myself an Instant Pot and life got even easier.

So when I was desperate to restock my elderberry stash, but seriously low on time to cook it…I turned to my beloved Instant Pot.

And it worked beautifully! Within 30 minutes, my elderberry jars were again full and hanging out in my fridge…waiting to help my family keep fighting the good fight in staying healthy this cold and flu season.

While this elderberry syrup is amazing for naturally boosting your immune system, it (like anything else) is not a miracle worker 100% of the time. I find it best to take elderberry syrup daily to help prevent illness, double the dose if one of us does become sick and (of course) seek out a medical professional when an illness is being extra stubborn. While some people love and adore the taste of elderberry syrup (my friend’s daughter begs for more) others do not care for its intense taste. I recommended drinking it as a shot or adding it to smoothies to help mask the taste.

The recommended dosages for elderberry syrup can vary, but the dosage that I personally follow:

1/2-1 tablespoon a day for a healthy adult

1/4-½ tablespoons for healthy children age 2 and over

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Instant Pot Elderberry Syrup

by Taesha Butler (The Natural Nurturer) February-27-2018

Elderberry syrup is one of my most tried-and-true tricks for naturally boosting the immune system! And I don't just use it during the cold and flu season, but year round! Elderberries are naturally high in immune-boosting compounds and studies have shown that they can actually help you bounce back quicker from an illness. While elderberries can be used in a variety of ways, my personal favorite is this simple elderberry syrup.

Ingredients

1 cup dried elderberries
4 cups water
1 cinnamon stick
4 whole star anise
1/2 inch piece ginger root
3/4 cup honey (or to taste) ( I suggest using local raw honey if possible)

Instructions

Combine water, dry elderberries, cinnamon stick, star of anise, and fresh ginger in your Instant Pot. Cover and lock the lid into place on your Instant Pot. Make sure the vent is on sealing. Set your Instant Pot to "MANUAL" and cook the syrup on "HIGH PRESSURE" for 7 minutesOnce cooking time is complete, naturally release the pressure and remove the lid. Switch settings to "SAUTE" and allow the syrup to cook uncovered for about 10 minutes or until liquid has reduced by about half.Once the syrup is done cooking, pour it through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl. Using a spoon, press all the remaining liquid out of the berries by pressing them against the mesh strainer. Once all liquid has been drainer, discard cooked berries, cinnamon stick, ginger and star of anise. Once the syrup is cool, add the honey to the elderberry syrup. Mix to help it combine into the syrup. If you desire a sweeter syrup, you can add more honey.Portion out syrup into air-tight glass containers (I use mason or jelly jars). Store in fridge for up to a month.

Details

Prep time: 2 mins Cook time: 22 mins Total time: 24 mins Yield: 2 cups

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Stove Top Elderberry Syrup

by Taesha Butler (The Natural Nurturer) February-27-2018

Elderberry syrup is one of my most tried-and-true tricks for naturally boosting the immune system! And I don't just use it during the cold and flu season, but year round! Elderberries are naturally high in immune-boosting compounds and studies have shown that they can actually help you bounce back quicker from an illness. While elderberries can be used in a variety of ways, my personal favorite is this simple elderberry syrup.

Ingredients

1 cup dried elderberries
4 cups water
1 cinnamon stick
4 whole star anise
1/2 inch piece ginger root
3/4 cup honey (or to taste) (I suggest using local raw honey if possible)

Instructions

Combine water, dry elderberries, cinnamon stick, star of anise, and fresh ginger in in a large pot. Bring mixture to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Let simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour or until the liquid has reduced by almost half.Once the syrup is done cooking, pour it through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl. Using a spoon, press all the remaining liquid out of the berries by pressing them against the mesh strainer.Once all liquid has been drainer, discard cooked berries, cinnamon stick, ginger and star of anise. Once cool, add the honey to the elderberry syrup. Mix to help it combine into the syrup. If you desire a sweeter syrup, you can add more honey.Portion out into air-tight glass containers (I use mason or jelly jars). Store in fridge for up to a month

Details

Prep time: 2 mins Cook time: 1 hour Total time: 1 hour 2 mins Yield: 2 cups

Instant Pot Elderberry Syrup (+ stove top directions)