Soothe scratchy throats and support your immune system with this Elderberry Syrup Recipe With Honey. A naturally sweet, antioxidant-rich remedy that’s mom-approved and simple to make with just six ingredients. Whether you’re tackling a lingering cough or getting ahead of cold season, this homemade cough syrup is your go-to kitchen defense that actually tastes good.
Making my second batch today - loved it the first time I made it and decided I can't live without! Thank you!
- Sam
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 45 Minutes
- 👪Serves: 16
- 🍽 Calories and Protein: 45 kcals and 1 gram of protein
- 📋 Main Ingredients: Elderberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, raw honey, lemon juice, cloves, ginger, water
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Dairy-free and gluten-free
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: A great way to ease a cough or sore throat and boost the immune system!
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When scratchy throats and sneezes start circling the house, this stovetop elderberry syrup is the first thing I reach for. It's fast to prep, easy to customize, and gives your immune system a serious head start. It’s part of the trio I always keep stocked during cold season, right alongside my homemade fire cider recipe and homemade honey lemon cough drops.
This naturally sweetened syrup isn’t just for emergencies either, it’s become a staple in our home for daily immune support. You even learn how to make elderberry gummies for a kid-friendly version. The best part? There’s no refined sugar, artificial dyes, or fillers, just simple ingredients that actually help you feel better.
Sources used in writing this blog post: health benefits of elderberry syrup, benefits of honey.
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INGREDIENTS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Freeze-dried elderberries: Though fresh elderberries will work as well, I have never used them as they're hard to come by.
Raw honey: Of course, elderberry syrup for a sore throat is going to contain honey! Raw honey is a staple for sore throats because it’s soothing, coats the throat, and is anti-bacterial.
The best thing to do is use local 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. If you can get ahold of buckwheat honey, even better. The darker to honey, the better it is for sore throats.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Flavor Variations
At its very core, you can make a 3-ingredient elderberry syrup recipe with just elderberries, honey, and cinnamon. However, below are a few add-ins I've tried and enjoyed.
Ginger: This is something I add often to my elderberry cough drops recipe because it's wonderful for boosting the immune system.
Cloves: Another great one for cough and colds, I've added it to this elderberry syrup recipe for sore throats, as well as my fermented honey garlic elixir.
How To Make Elderberry Syrup With Honey
Step 1: In a large pot, combine everything except the lemon juice and raw honey.
Step 2: Bring the mixture just to a boil and then reduce the heat and keep it at a rolling boil for 30 minutes, stirring often.
Step 3: Once boiling is done, pick out the cinnamon sticks and strain out the elderberries from the liquid. Pour in the honey and lemon juice.
Step 4: Pour it into a jar and let it cool. Keep it in the fridge until needed.
Expert Tips
Make sure to really boil down the elderberry syrup mixture and cook the elderberries. Fresh elderberries are not to be consumed raw. Use the leftover berries to make elderberry tea.
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 for sore throat once cooled in the fridge in an airtight jar. It should last for 8-10 weeks.
How to use it: Use the homemade cough syrup when you feel a cough or cold coming on to give yourself an immune system boost. I personally try to take 1-3 tablespoons a day when I'm feeling sick. Just like cough syrup, Sage tea is another great way to ease a sore throat if you find yours "tickling".
Homemade Cough Syrup and Kids
Now, I’m not a doctor, herbalist, or anything of the sort. I personally use this elderberry cough syrup recipe with my kids, but keep in mind that really young kids shouldn't have honey.
However, this was a very personal decision, and I urge you to research. If you're not comfortable whipping up a batch for your kids, you can purchase elderberry syrup instead.
If you don't want to make your own this is the best cough syrup for kiddos to give their immune system a boost!
Elderberry Syrup With Honey FAQs
Elderberries have been a staple for cold and flu season for years. They’re used most in homemade elderberry syrup for coughs, but they 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.
Homemade elderberry cough syrup is best stored in the fridge and should last roughly 6-8 weeks, so long as it was cooked (boiled down) properly.
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 whereas this cough syrup recipe helps to soothe cold and flu symptoms.
Making your own elderberry syrup is safe and can be a great way to alleviate a scratchy throat or cough. Just make sure to fully boil down the elderberries and store the homemade syrup in a clean glass jar.
More Natural Remedy Recipes You'll Love
Below are a few more ways I keep our immune systems strong and fight off colds during the cooler seasons.
If you tried this Homemade Elderberry Syrup For Sore Throats or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Homemade Elderberry Syrup With Honey
Video
Equipment
- Small pot
- Mesh sieve
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups elderberries freeze-dried
- 3 cups filtered water
- 3 cinnamon sticks or 6 if they're short
- 1 teaspoons nutmeg
- ½ cup raw honey
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ½ tablespoons cloves optional
- 1 tablespoons 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 until the honey is dissolved.
- Let it cool and then pour into a jar and keep in the fridge until needed.
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 for 6-8 weeks
- Use the cough syrup when you feel a scratchy throat coming on. I personally take 1-3 tbs/day if I'm feeling sick
- The recipe makes 1 cup which is about 16 servings
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Nutrition
Quinn says
This is the first homemade one that actually tastes good. Great flavor combo!
fitasamamabear says
This is awesome to hear, glad you enjoy it!
Jan says
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!
fitasamamabear says
It's SO expensive to buy!
Chad says
This is WAY better than store bought. Thanks for the great recipe!
fitasamamabear says
Thank you!
Ali says
Ha! Who knew we could make cough syrup at home and that it would taste so great!! Loved it!! Thank you
fitasamamabear says
Right?! My kids ask for it all season lol
Lea says
The ginger and lemon gave it a delightful zing! Helped with a terrible cough. Appreciate this recipe.
fitasamamabear says
Wahoo!
GRETA says
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.
fitasamamabear says
It's definitely a great help!
Tallery says
How long does this last?
fitasamamabear says
If stored in the fridge mine has lasted a solid 4-6 weeks.
Lisa says
My family likes this homemade syrup much better than the premade. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe. It's delicious and works great.
fitasamamabear says
Happy to hear it! My kiddos love it too.
Clare says
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 🙂
fitasamamabear says
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!
Sharina says
Finally! I got to have a restful sleep after drinking this elderberry cough syrup. Such a keeper!
fitasamamabear says
Amazing to hear!
Amanda Dixon says
This worked beautifully. The spring allergies has had my throat all itchy, and this perfectly soothed it. Feels so much better!
fitasamamabear says
Oh I hadn't even thought of that issue, glad it helped!
Claire says
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 🙂
fitasamamabear says
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
Donna says
This worked out a little too perfectly - my youngest is hooked and keeps asking for more! Love it
Sherrie says
I've been looking for an elderberry cough syrup recipe for some time and yours is perfect! Thank you!
Rose says
I tried this cough syrup recipe and by far it's the perfect I've made. It even tasted good!
fitasamamabear says
Haha it's SO yummy eh?
Jennifer says
Cough syrup shouldn't taste so good! This really worked and it was a treat to have it go down nicely!
fitasamamabear says
Hehe it's definitely delicious! My kiddos love it.
Sky says
Do you have to use freeze dried elderberries??
fitasamamabear says
It's personally all I've ever used. I think fresh would be fine if you're able to pick them and make sure they haven't been sprayed.