Elderberry Recipes
For Elderberry tincture:
Fill a jar with fresh or dried berries. Cover with vodka, brandy or whiskey depending on your preference (whiskey or brandy works well to make hot toddies just add some honey and hot water maybe a twist of lemon). Let sit for about 4 weeks then strain out. If you don't want to have the alcohol in this you can heat it over a low heat and the alcohol will burn off. Or you can put your dose in hot water and let it sit for a few minutes to make a nice tea. The alcohol volatilizes rapidly. You could also add honey to this tincture to make a syrup if you like. You would add 1/2 the volume of honey (if you make 2 cups of tincture add 1 cup of honey). Between the alcohol and the honey this should keep well for many months. For prevention of flu take 1-2 tsp 3 times per day.
Elderberry Syrup
1. Add 1 cup of water, 1 cup of fresh or 1/2 cup dried elderberries, and 1 cup of granulated sugar, to a medium-sized saucepan. Stir well to combine.
2.
Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to low. Simmer the ingredients for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3.
Add the juice from ½ a fresh lemon to the sugar and elderberry mixture. Stir well to combine. Strain the elderberry syrup through a fine sieve and pour into a glass bottle or jar.
4. Allow the syrup to cool to room temperature in the bottle. Secure the lid. Label the bottle with the contents and date. Store in the refrigerator. Elderberry syrup will keep up to 90 days in the refrigerator before any unused portion should be discarded.
Or if you prefer using honey:
Elderberry Honey Syrup
1 cup fresh or
1/2 cup dried elderberries
3 cups water
1 cup honey
Place berries in saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer over low heat for 30 to 45 minutes.
Smash the berries and stain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer or squeeze through a fine mesh cloth. Add 1 cup of honey and stir. Bottle the syrup and store in fridge for up to 3 months. You can add a 1/2 tsp of cinnamon and nutmeg if you like.
How To Use Elderberry Syrup
To prevent colds and the flu, take one teaspoonful of syrup both morning and evening. To treat a cold, take a teaspoonful of syrup every two or three hours. Children love this syrup, so it's easy to give it to them, as well. For babies under two, use syrup made with sugar, not honey.
Elderberry syrup is also delicious on pancakes, and drizzled over ice cream.
