If you’re looking to boost your family’s immune system with a delicious and healthful remedy, elderberry syrup is a fantastic option! Packed with antioxidants and vitamins, elderberry syrup is often used to combat colds and flu, making it a staple in many homes, especially during the chilly months. Today, I’ll guide you through making your own elderberry syrup using the DIY Elderberry Syrup Kit, which contains everything you need for approximately 28 ounces of syrup.
What You’ll Need
Dried Elderberries(100 grams)
Dried Ginger
Dried Cloves
Ceylon Cinnamon
2 cups water
2–4 tablespoons lemon juice
1.5 cups honey (or another sweetener of your choice)
Accurate thermometer (optional, but very helpful)
Fine strainer, colander, tea towel or jelly bag to strain juice.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Soak the Elderberries
Start by placing the dried elderberries in a pot with a little more than 2 cups of water approximately 110-120 degrees. Let them soak for about 30 minutes. This step helps rehydrate the berries, making it easier to extract their goodness.
2. Heat the Mixture
After soaking, gently heat the mixture. Stir often to avoid scorching the berries on the bottom of the pot. You want to raise the temperature to 135°F and hold it there for 10 minutes. This crucial step releases antioxidants and deactivates any potentially harmful compounds in the berries.
3. Strain the Juice
Once the mixture has cooled enough to handle, it’s time to strain out the berries. You can use a fine strainer and press the berries with a spoon, or you can opt for a tea towel or jelly bag to ring out every last drop. You should aim for about 2 cups of pressed juice. If you’re slightly short, feel free to add water to reach that amount.
4. Add Lemon Juice
Elderberries are low acid foods that need to be acidified for storage. Add 2–4 tablespoons of lemon juice to your strained juice. This not only enhances the flavor but also extends the syrup's shelf life.
5. Sweeten the Syrup
Stir in 1.5 cups of honey (or your chosen sweetener). Keep stirring until it fully dissolves to avoid scorching the bottom of the pot.
6. Add Spices
If you’d like to incorporate the organic dried ginger, cloves, and Ceylon cinnamon included in your kit, place them in a spice bag and add them during the heating process. This will infuse your syrup with delightful flavors. Feel free to add additional spices if you'd like.
7. Heat Again
Raise the temperature of the juice to 180°F and hold it there for another 10 minutes. This step is essential for ensuring that your syrup is safe and shelf-stable.
8. Store Your Syrup
After heating for 10 minutes, transfer your elderberry syrup into containers of your choice. Option 1. If using canning jars fill containers leaving aprropriate headspace for jar size that you are using. Put on lid and seal and tighten lid. Invert jar and let to cool upside down.
Option 2. Water bath can for 10 minutes (pint) or 20-25 minutes (quart). Let it cool, then store it in the refrigerator.
Option 3. Let cool on counter and then place in refrigerator. If freezing keep in mind liquid expansion can crack jars if enough room is not left.
Option 4. Buy Popple Tree Creek Farms elderberry syrup and have it delivered right to your door!
Tips and Tricks
Adjust Ingredients: Feel free to play around with the recipe. You can modify the amount of spices, sweeteners, or lemon juice to suit your taste.
Shelf Stability: While elderberry syrup can be made shelf-stable, it's crucial to understand safe canning practices. If you’re new to this, it’s best to keep your syrup refrigerated, as it tends to be consumed quickly in our household!
Use the Leftovers: Don’t forget to share the leftover berries with your pets! They can enjoy the nutritious benefits too.
Conclusion
Making elderberry syrup at home is a rewarding and straightforward process. With just a few simple steps, you can create a delicious syrup that not only tastes great but also packs a healthful punch. Enjoy your homemade elderberry syrup straight from the fridge, or use it in teas, smoothies, or even as a topping for pancakes!
Happy syrup-making!
Legal Disclaimer
Important Notice:
This blog post provides a general recipe and method for making elderberry syrup at home. It is important to note that there is currently no FDA-approved process for home preparation of elderberry syrup. The information provided here is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease .Before consuming homemade elderberry syrup, please consult with a healthcare professional, especially if you have underlying health conditions or are pregnant or nursing. Proper food safety practices should always be followed, and if you are unfamiliar with canning or food preservation, we recommend seeking guidance from reliable sources. By following this recipe, you acknowledge that you do so at your own risk and that the author assumes no liability for any adverse effects or consequences that may result from your use of this information.
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