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Home » Cold And Cough Remedies » Elderberry Cough Syrup Recipe With Cinnamon And Honey

Elderberry Cough Syrup Recipe With Cinnamon And Honey

02/01/2020 by fitasamamabear

Jump to Recipe

Use this easy elderberry cough syrup recipe to help ease a scratchy throat. With only six ingredients, this homemade cough syrup with honey is easy to whip up but packs a big punch to your immune system.

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Elderberries can help ease a cough and reduce the duration of cold systems. A natural cold remedy perfect for moms.

Pinterest image with text: homemade elderberry syrup recipe in a mason jar with cinnamon sticks, honey and elderberries around it this …

This elderberry syrup recipe whips up quickly and is a great way to soothe a sore throat. Likewise, as a Certified Nutrition Coach, it's always a great way to boost the immune system.

Not only will this cough syrup help with a sore throat but it can also prevent symptoms from getting worse!

Anti-Bacterial & Immune-Boosting Ingredients

Dried elderberries: though fresh elderberries will work as well, I have never used them. It's much easier to get ahold of dried elderberries.

Cinnamon: Cinnamon not only helps flavor this elderberry cough syrup recipe but can also help reduce inflammation which means it’s a great way to ease a sore throat.

Cloves: Though the cloves are optional they've been said to be anti-bacterial. Full cloves are best (you strain them out afterward) but fresh, dried and ground cloves will work too. Likewise, powdered ginger is a great add in too!

Fresh lemon juice: Lemon is one of the ingredients in my easy homemade cough drops recipe because lemon can help break down mucus in the throat. It’s anti-bacterial and especially soothing when combined with honey.

Local, raw honey: Of course, the homemade elderberry syrup recipe is going to contain honey! Raw honey is a staple for sore throats because it’s soothing, it coats the throat, and is anti-bacterial.

The best thing to do is use local, raw honey to get the biggest bang for your buck. This way, all the good stuff hasn’t been boiled out. Using local can also help you adjust to local pollen levels and reduce allergies.

How To Make Elderberry Cough Syrup At Home

  • In a large pot, combine everything except the lemon juice and raw honey.
  • Heat until boiling and then reduce heat and keep it at a rolling boil for 30 minutes, stirring often.
  • Once boiling is done, pick out the cinnamon sticks and strain out the elderberries from the liquid.
  • Whisk in the honey and lemon juice.
  • Pour into a jar and keep in the fridge until needed.

When To Use The Elderberry Syrup Recipe

  • Immediately when you feel a cough or cold coming on
  • As an immune system boost in the winter months 
  • In the form of homemade gummy bears.

Important Teaching Tips

  • make sure you really boil down the elderberry syrup and cook the elderberries. Fresh elderberries are not to be consumed and can have toxic effects. 
  • you want to whisk the honey in while the mixture is warm but not hot! This prevents the good stuff in the honey from being broken down
  • store the elderberry syrup recipe in the fridge in an airtight jar
  • use the cough syrup when you feel a scratchy throat coming on. I personally take 1-5 tbs/day if I'm feeling sick
  • use the leftover berries to make elderberry tea
  • Know that elderberry extract has never been used in this cough syrup recipe so I don't know how it would alter it
  • Maple syrup cannot be used for honey.

Homemade Cough Syrup Recipe For Kids

Now, I’m not a doctor, herbalist, or anything of the sort. I personally use this elderberry cough syrup recipe with my kids.

However, this was a very personal decision and I urge you to research. Learn, read and make your own informed decisions based on tested health benefits and what you’re comfortable with.

For me, I feel far more comfortable giving them this homemade cough syrup for cold and flu symptoms than I do medical varieties. If it is something more serious, obviously consult and doc and do what you need to mama.

We love elderberry cough syrup recipe as a preventative measure (like in homemade gummies) to keep our immune systems up in the winter.

However, if you're not comfortable whipping up a batch for your kids, you can purchase elderberry syrup instead.

homemade elderberry syrup in a mason jar with cinnamon sticks, honey and elderberries around it

Frequently Asked Questions About Elderberry Syrup

What are the benefits of elderberries?

Elderberries have been a staple for cold and flu season for years. They’re used most in homemade elderberry syrup for coughs but are a general immune system boost. This means that they have health benefits that have been said to reduce inflammation and cough and cold symptoms.

How do you store elderberry syrup?

Homemade cough syrup is best stored in the fridge and should last roughly 6-8 weeks so long as it was cooked (boiled down) properly.

Should I use elderberry extract?

Elderberry extract is a potent variation of elderberry juice and is much different than homemade cough syrup. The extract is more geared towards boosting the immune system where as this cough syrup recipe helps to soothe cold and flu smptoms.

Other Natural Cough & Cold Remedies

To naturally prevent coughs and colds during the season we:

  • Make homemade fire cider,
  • Snack on gut-boosting gummies 
  • Implement proper nutrition and protein intake
  • Elderberry thoat lozenges
  • Use bone broth powder and whip up gut-healing chocolate smoothies
  • Dose up on fermented foods

If you do end up with a bit of a cough or cold, make use of easy homemade cough drops, DIY shower melts to reduce congestion and electrolyte popsicles etc.

I also use a lot of bone broth to both fight colds and prevent them! It's actually one of my most recommended foods for toddlers because it's so healing. However, making homemade broth takes TIME (a lot of it!) which I'm slightly limited on.

So while I do strive to make my own I also make use of two-time savers: I use bone broth powder from perfect supplements (use code mamabear10) normally whisked into something (or even snuck into a gut healing chocolate smoothie!).

Learn more about powdered bone broth.

It’s never fun getting sick as a mom. But what I’ve experienced is that while taking precautions to stay healthy doesn’t mean you NEVER Get sick; it tends to mean you don’t get as sick.

homemade elderberry syrup in a mason jar with cinnamon sticks, honey and elderberries around it

Homemade Elderberry Cough Syrup

fitasamamabear
A homemade cough syrup recipe made from elderberries honey and spices to ease a sore throat.
5 from 112 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
10 minutes mins
Total Time 45 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16
Calories 45 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 cups elderberries freeze-dried
  • 3 cups filtered water
  • 3 cinnamon sticks or 6 if they're short
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • ½ cup raw honey
  • 2 tbs fresh lemon juice
  • ½ tablespoon cloves optional
  • 1 tbs fresh ginger optional

Instructions
 

  • In a large piece of cookware, combine everything except the lemon juice and honey.
  • Heat until boiling and then reduce heat and keep it at a rolling boil for 30 minutes, stirring often.
  • Once boiling is done, pick out the cinnamon sticks and strain out the elderberries from the liquid. Make sure to press into the mesh sieve to get all the good juice!
  • Whisk in the honey and lemon juice.
  • Pour into a jar and keep in the fridge until needed.

Video

Notes

  • make sure you really boil down the syrup and cook the elderberries. Raw elderberries are not to be consumed
  • you want to whisk the honey in while the mixture is warm but not hot! This prevents the good stuff in the honey from being broken down
  • store the elderberry syrup in the fridge in an airtight jar
  • use the cough syrup when you feel a scratchy throat coming on. I personally take 1-5 tbs/day if I'm feeling sick
  • the recipe makes 1 cup which is about 16 sevrings
Disclaimer:

Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"

Nutrition

Calories: 45kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 4mgPotassium: 52mgFiber: 1gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 84IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mg
Keyword cough syrup,, elderberries, elderberry cough syrup, homemade cough syrup, honey, natural cough syrup
Have You Tried This Recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment below. Mention @fitasamamabear or tag #fitasamamabear!

This elderberry syrup recipe is a great way to help relieve a sore throat naturally! As well as give the immune system a helping hand. It’s simple to make so keep some on hand for when your system needs a boost!

Shelby aka Mama Bear

fitasamamabear

Meet Shelby – a Certified Strength Coach who has spent the last 10 years teaching women how to show up for their goals.

Her website, Fitasamamabear.com is a crucial resource for busy moms who need help making fitness and healthy living practical.

Learn how an everyday smoker and fast food junkie turned into a super fit mom of 3. If you want to send Shelby a message, visit her contact page.

See author's posts

More Cold And Cough Remedies

  • Elderberry Cough Drops For Sore Throat Relief
  • Honey And Garlic Elixir For Cough And Cold
  • Homemade Fire Cider Recipe For Cough & Cold
  • Honey Lemon Homemade Cough Drops - DIY Throat Lozenges

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jennifer

    July 16, 2022 at 10:09 am

    5 stars
    Cough syrup shouldn't taste so good! This really worked and it was a treat to have it go down nicely!

    Reply
    • fitasamamabear

      July 16, 2022 at 12:42 pm

      Hehe it's definitely delicious! My kiddos love it.

      Reply
  2. Sherrie

    July 17, 2022 at 4:49 pm

    5 stars
    I've been looking for an elderberry cough syrup recipe for some time and yours is perfect! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Rose

      April 17, 2023 at 9:01 am

      5 stars
      I tried this cough syrup recipe and by far it's the perfect I've made. It even tasted good!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear

        April 18, 2023 at 7:38 am

        Haha it's SO yummy eh?

        Reply
  3. Donna

    July 18, 2022 at 12:28 am

    5 stars
    This worked out a little too perfectly - my youngest is hooked and keeps asking for more! Love it

    Reply
  4. Claire

    July 18, 2022 at 1:31 am

    5 stars
    My partner won't touch store-bought cough syrup. He has bad memories of his mum pouring it down his throat as a kids. So every cold season he suffers with a the irritation of his cough.
    When I saw this I thought it was worth a go. He loved it. He likes to warm a little up before he takes it as he find the heat helps his throat as well. Such a great recipe 🙂

    Reply
    • fitasamamabear

      July 18, 2022 at 11:36 am

      Omg huge win! Happy I could help, it IS delicious warmed up, I hadn't even thought of that but I always lick the spoon when making it hehe

      Reply
  5. Amanda Dixon

    April 17, 2023 at 8:18 am

    5 stars
    This worked beautifully. The spring allergies has had my throat all itchy, and this perfectly soothed it. Feels so much better!

    Reply
    • fitasamamabear

      April 18, 2023 at 7:38 am

      Oh I hadn't even thought of that issue, glad it helped!

      Reply
  6. Sharina

    April 17, 2023 at 9:16 am

    5 stars
    Finally! I got to have a restful sleep after drinking this elderberry cough syrup. Such a keeper!

    Reply
    • fitasamamabear

      April 18, 2023 at 7:38 am

      Amazing to hear!

      Reply
  7. Clare

    April 17, 2023 at 9:29 am

    5 stars
    This was a hit! If cough syrup can be a hit. But my kids hate cough syrup, they say it tastes like petrol (how they think they know that is beyond me!!!)
    But when they have coughs and sore throats, I really don't like them always sucking on those chemically cough sweets that really are nothing but sugar.
    So I gave this a go and it was delicious and good for them, and no of them minded taking it.
    I am so happy I found this recipe 🙂

    Reply
    • fitasamamabear

      April 18, 2023 at 7:38 am

      Ahh best thing ever. My kids love it too and actually ask for it lol SO much better than all the random ingredients they put into lozenges sometimes!

      Reply
  8. Lisa

    April 17, 2023 at 10:12 am

    5 stars
    My family likes this homemade syrup much better than the premade. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe. It's delicious and works great.

    Reply
    • fitasamamabear

      April 18, 2023 at 7:39 am

      Happy to hear it! My kiddos love it too.

      Reply
  9. Tallery

    September 12, 2023 at 12:35 am

    How long does this last?

    Reply
    • fitasamamabear

      September 15, 2023 at 7:44 am

      If stored in the fridge mine has lasted a solid 4-6 weeks.

      Reply
  10. GRETA

    September 12, 2023 at 10:17 am

    5 stars
    Yay, I found this recipe just in time. The cold season is here and so good to have a cough syrup recipe saved. Love it and will using this. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
    • fitasamamabear

      September 15, 2023 at 7:45 am

      It's definitely a great help!

      Reply
  11. Lea

    September 12, 2023 at 1:16 pm

    5 stars
    The ginger and lemon gave it a delightful zing! Helped with a terrible cough. Appreciate this recipe.

    Reply
    • fitasamamabear

      September 15, 2023 at 7:45 am

      Wahoo!

      Reply
  12. Ali

    September 12, 2023 at 1:19 pm

    5 stars
    Ha! Who knew we could make cough syrup at home and that it would taste so great!! Loved it!! Thank you

    Reply
    • fitasamamabear

      September 15, 2023 at 7:45 am

      Right?! My kids ask for it all season lol

      Reply
  13. Chad

    September 12, 2023 at 2:42 pm

    5 stars
    This is WAY better than store bought. Thanks for the great recipe!

    Reply
    • fitasamamabear

      September 15, 2023 at 7:46 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  14. Jan

    September 12, 2023 at 3:07 pm

    5 stars
    Just made a batch for the upcoming colder weather. All this time I've been buying this stuff and spending a ton of money monthly on it. Love that I can do it myself now!

    Reply
    • fitasamamabear

      September 15, 2023 at 7:46 am

      It's SO expensive to buy!

      Reply
  15. Quinn

    September 14, 2023 at 10:22 am

    5 stars
    This is the first homemade one that actually tastes good. Great flavor combo!

    Reply
    • fitasamamabear

      September 15, 2023 at 7:50 am

      This is awesome to hear, glad you enjoy it!

      Reply
  16. Sam

    September 14, 2023 at 11:39 am

    5 stars
    Making my second batch today - loved it the first time I made it and decided I cant live without! Thank you!!

    Reply
    • fitasamamabear

      September 15, 2023 at 7:50 am

      Ahh yay! My kids actually ask for it lol

      Reply
  17. Betsy

    September 14, 2023 at 1:06 pm

    5 stars
    With the seasons changing again, my allergies are so agitated. I cannot believe how great this homemade cough syrup (one) tastes and (two) how easy to make and (three) how much it helped my sore throat. I won't be purchasing store bought anymore. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • fitasamamabear

      September 15, 2023 at 7:50 am

      Allergy season is a rough one, really happy this helps!

      Reply
  18. Kayla

    September 14, 2023 at 3:36 pm

    5 stars
    Will try to make this and see if it alleviates my asthma attacks which I frequently get. I hope this works! thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • fitasamamabear

      September 15, 2023 at 7:51 am

      Fingers crossed for you!

      Reply
  19. Maggie

    September 14, 2023 at 4:34 pm

    5 stars
    I never thought of making cough syrup, but looking at the ingredients in my store-bought bottle of syrup made me not want to take it. The elderberries were at the local health food store, so I tried your recipe, which is super easy and works for sore throats.

    Reply
    • fitasamamabear

      September 15, 2023 at 7:51 am

      It's so easy to make your own.. and such a mnoney saver!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Honey Lemon Homemade Cough Drops - Fit as a Mama Bear says:
    02/02/2020 at 7:20 pm

    […] us survive (read about how I help my girls sleep through winter nights!). And these tricks (like homemade cough syrup) definitely include a lot of homemade options- like these homemade honey lemon cough […]

    Reply
  2. Honey And Garlic Elixir For Coughs & Colds - Fit as a Mama Bear says:
    02/21/2020 at 5:49 pm

    […] And while I love the DIY cough drops, that honey has been heated. So while they’re great for soothing you won’t get all the bacterial benefits of leaving it raw (like in this homemade elderberry cough syrup). […]

    Reply
  3. Amazing Turmeric Benefits & How To Increase It In Your Diet says:
    05/26/2020 at 12:09 am

    […] Elderberry cough syrup […]

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Pinterest image with text: two images with homemade elderberry syrup in mason jars. Elderberries on the side. One image with a spoon of syrup above the jar
Pinterest image with text: homemade elderberry syrup in a mason jar with cinnamon sticks, honey and elderberries around it
Pinterest image with text: homemade elderberry syrup in a mason jar with cinnamon sticks, honey and elderberries around it
Pin image with text: homemade purple cough syrup in a mason jar with honey and elderberries behind it
Pin image with text: two images of elderberry cough syrup in a mason jar with honey and elderberries behind it