DIY Elderberry Syrup

There’s something about a pot of elderberries simmering on the stove that just feels right. The deep purple color, the warmth of ginger, the quiet rhythm of stirring… it’s simple, but it feels intentional.

If you saw our Instagram reel, here’s the full recipe written out so you can save it for later.

What You’ll Need

• 1 cup dried elderberries
• ¼ inch fresh ginger, sliced
• 4 cups filtered water
• ½ cup raw honey or Grade B maple syrup
• Juice of 1 lemon

How to Make It

1. Add the elderberries, sliced ginger, and filtered water to a medium pot. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer. Let simmer uncovered for 20–30 minutes, allowing the liquid to reduce slightly.
2. Remove from heat and let cool just enough to handle safely.
3. Strain through cheesecloth into a bowl or large measuring cup, pressing gently to extract all the liquid. Discard the solids…or they make a great treat for your chickens if you have them!
4. Once the liquid is warm - not hot, stir in the raw honey (or maple syrup) and fresh lemon juice. Mixing honey into very hot liquid can damage its raw properties, so let it cool first.
5. Pour into a glass jar and store in the refrigerator.

Making elderberry syrup yourself means you control every ingredient. No fillers. No unnecessary extras. Just herbs, water, and simple sweeteners.

If you’d rather skip gathering supplies, our DIY Elderberry Syrup Kit has everything measured and ready to go:

https://earthley.com/products/elderberry-syrup-diy-kits

And if this season of life doesn’t allow for simmering pots, our ready-made Elderberry Elixir Herbal Extract is a convenient option:

https://earthley.com/products/elderberry-elixir-herbal-extract

Whether you make it yourself or keep it simple, having elderberry on your shelf is a beautiful way to stay prepared.