Does anyone else hate the phrase “flu season”? It’s really misleading. God created four beautiful seasons, none of which has an attribute of illness.
I tried to figure out who coined the term but came up short. My first guess would be the CDC. Or a drug company.
While there isn’t actually a season of illness, it is common for sicknesses, such as influenza, to be more prevalent during certain months of the year. Here in the North, illness is more common from October through April. It’s more like half the year, not a season!
Natural Remedy for Cold and Flu
Thankfully God did create the real seasons so perfectly that natural cold and flu remedies are in season during late summer…before the illness begins!
We moved to our 10-acre hobby farm almost seven years ago. Our first summer here my oldest daughter (my natural remedy and herb expert) ran in and excitedly told me we had elderberry trees (technically called Sambucus trees)!
We watched them flower and start bursting with berries. Then we got right to work freezing elderberries and making syrup. We’ve been doing it every year since then. There are so many berries that we even give bags full to friends. No need to waste this natural remedy!
Benefits of Elderberry Syrup
Elderberries have been used medicinally for thousands of years. Hippocrates even described the plant as his “medicine chest.”
Initially, I just made elderberry syrup with our berries. It’s simple. It tastes great. It has numerous health benefits, largely due to its bioflavonoids and antioxidant properties. These include:
- Cold and flu symptom reduction and relief.
- Sinus infection reduction.
- Blood sugar reduction.
- May help relieve constipation.
- Skin health improvement.
Kid-Friendly Natural Remedy
There are a lot of natural remedies that are effective…yet taste disgusting. Elderberry syrup, on the other hand, tastes amazing! My kids are always sad when I say they can’t have more. Elderberries are medicinal, so too much is not a good idea.
Elderberry syrup is so easy to make. Simply cook the berries in water until the liquid reduces by half. Mash and strain the berries. Then allow the liquid to cool slightly before adding raw honey to taste. That’s it.
After you’ve strained the syrup you can also boil the mashed berries in a pot of water to make a delicious elderberry tea. Just boil, strain, and add honey. My kids always look forward to elderberry tea on the days I make syrup.
Wish You Knew All the Answers to Keep Your Family Healthy?
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Elderberry Gummies Made with Homemade Elderberry Syrup
While elderberry syrup tastes good and most kids don’t mind taking it…it can be a pain to serve. It stains, so giving a small cup of syrup to little ones can lead to a mess or ruined clothes. So I created an alternative.
The easiest way to give elderberry syrup to kids is by making gummies! Not only are your kids getting a good dose of elderberry syrup, but they are also getting high-quality protein through grass-fed gelatin (use the coupon KS10 for 10% off!).
You can make the gummies in any shape you like using different silicone molds. Gummy bear molds are always a hit, but any shape will do. Or you can simply make the gummies in a glass dish and cut them into squares.
Elderberry gummies can have an extra boost of nutrition by adding wholefood Vitamin C and bee pollen. Both add extra immune support.
Kid-Friendly Elderberry Gummies Recipe
While it is one more step, making homemade elderberry gummies is so simple! And it makes it so much easier to give to your kids in the long run.
To make elderberry gummies simply add gelatin to the syrup, heat it, pour the mixture into molds, and put them in the fridge. In a couple of hours, you have delicious gummies. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.
The elderberry syrup can be made with fresh or frozen elderberries. You can also use dried elderberries. You’ll just need a bit more water and time. The syrup should be made in advance and cooled completely.
Print
Elderberry Gummies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 3 mins
- Total Time: 13 minutes
- Yield: 50 gummies 1x
- Category: Remedy
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Make these elderberry gummies this year to give your kids an immune boost!
Ingredients
- 1 c. elderberry syrup
- 2 1/2 Tbs. grass-fed gelatin (use the coupon KS10 for 10% off!)
- 2 Tbs. honey (optional – depends on the sweetness of the syrup)
- 1/2 tsp. acerola or camu powder (optional)
- 1–2 tsp. bee pollen (optional)
- pinch Real Salt (optional)
Instructions
- Pour juice into a small saucpan.
- Gradually pour in gelatin while whisking.
- Add remaining ingredients and whisk well.
- Let sit 5 minutes.
- Heat over medium heat, whisking, until gelatin is dissolved. Do not let it get hot.
- Pour the mixture into silicone molds or a glass pan.
- Refrigerate until fully set, 2-4 hours.
- Remove from molds.
- Store in airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
To make elderberry syrup, combine 1 cup of fresh or frozen elderberries or 1/2 cup of dried elderberries with 2 cups of filtered water in a small saucepan. Simmer over low heat for 15-20 minutes, until reduced by half. Mash the berries and strain the liquid. Pour into a pint jar. Allow to cool slightly. Add raw honey to taste (1/4 – 1/2 cup). Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1-2 gummies
- Calories: 23
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 2mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0g
Why Make Elderberry Gummies?
You don’t have to make elderberry gummies. The syrup is great on its own. But gummies are super fun. What I really love is that kids can get their own! It’s a great way to empower them and give them ownership of their health. That is always my goal, not only for my own kids but also for my Nutritional Navigation members and my clients!
Give your kids one or two elderberry gummies daily for preventative care. If you notice cold or flu symptoms, increase the quantity to every few hours. If your kids are serving themselves, make sure they understand the dosing. Elderberry is medicinal, so these gummies should not be eaten like fruit snacks. If you want that option, check out these real-food fruit snacks!
Keeping your kids healthy all winter never tasted so good!
Do you use elderberry syrup in the winter? Have you ever turned it into gummies?
Is elderberry okay for those with autoimmune and/or thyroid problems?
I have never heard that it is contraindicated for those conditions. I mayself have hypthyroidism and have no issues with elderberry.
We’ve been making elderberry syrup for some years. Never any problem. Now I am having trouble with sediment forming after it is refrigerated. I keep it in a bottle in the fridge. Any ideas why this happens?
I would guess you are letting more through when you strain it. Mabye try something with finer mesh like cheesecloth? Either that or you could be cooking it too long. It has natural pectin and starts to gel after a while. I’ve done that before where it was more like jelly than syrup.
thank you. I’m glad to learn that the little globules
in it are only pectin. I’ll try again.
Does the bee pollen dissolve or is it granules in the gummy??
It mostly dissolves. If you want to be sure it dissolves you can let the bee pollen sit in the syrup for a while before making the gummies. I could see a few flecks, but my kids didn’t notice.