Elderberry syrup has been used in herbal remedies for centuries. It is still to this day an amazing natural defense against coughs and colds. This recipe for instant pot elderberry syrup is a quick and easy way to make elderberry syrup at home.
I’m just gonna say it. Sickness has been the pits this year for my family. We usually do well and skip the seasonal junk but it’s been terrible this year for everyone.
I keep a good supply of essential oils and herbs on hand for cold prevention, sickness, and recovery. Sadly, a few weeks ago I ran out of one of my favorite remedies, elderberry syrup. I was somewhat distraught since elderberries aren’t in season anymore and there wasn’t a way to make a batch from scratch.
Thankfully, I can across a recipe in my favorite herbal recipe book, Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health by Rosemary Gladstar that called for dried elderberries! I decided to give her recipe a try and used an instant pot to make it.
How To Make Elderberry Syrup In An Instant Pot
This instant pot elderberry syrup is easy to make and only requires two ingredients: elderberries and raw honey!
Step 1: Pour the dried elderberries into the instant pot and cover with three cups of filtered water. If you’de like to add additional ingredients to “boost” your syrup you may add them in at this time. I like to add cinnamon sticks and ginger root.
Step 2: Use the manual setting on the instant pot and cook the elderberry syrup on high for 6 minutes.
Lastly: Allow the syrup to cool slightly. Strain the elderberries and add raw honey to the liquid. Stir vigorously until the honey has dissolved into the syrup.
Bottle and store the elderberry syrup in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. This syrup will keep for 2-3 months.
Caution: Elderberries must be cooked before consuming them. Never eat them raw.
How To Use: This elderberry “syrup” is more of a juice than a thick syrup. You can drink it directly or use it to make elderberry gummies, add to smoothies or to homemade coconut popsicles.
Rosemary Gladsar’s recommendation: Rosemary suggests taking 1 to 2 tablespoons several times throughout the day to treat or fight off a cold or flu.
Print
Instant Pot Elderberry Syrup (Easy 30-Minute Recipe)
This recipe for instant pot elderberry syrup is a quick and easy way to make elderberry syrup at home to support you and your family’s wellness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 Cups 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dried elderberries or 1 cup fresh buy dried elderberries here (affiliate link)
- 3 cups filtered water
- 1 cup local raw honey
Instructions
- Place the berries in the instant pot pan with water.
- Seal the lid and use the manual setting to cook on high for 6 minutes.
- Set the valve to “vent”.
- Once the pressure is released remove the lid and strain the syrup over a fine mesh strainer.
- Let the syrup cool slightly before adding in the raw honey (you don’t want to cook the honey!)
- Store the elderberry syrup in an airtight container in the refridgerator.
- This syrup will keep for 2-3 months.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 1 Tablespoon
- Calories: 25 calories
- Sugar: 5g
How about with fresh elderberries? Can I use the same cooking instruction with fresh elderberries? Same amount of water? Same amount of cooking time?
Hi Tiffany, I doubled the recipe exactly and it yielded only 16 oz after following the instructions to the letter leaving the vent open. It really lost a lot of steam to reduce that much. (48 oz to 16 oz) Am I missing something? The recipe says it yields 4 cups, does this include the 2 cups of honey? Also, I’m curious, can the elderberries be used after straining or should they be thrown away?
How many cinnamon sticks do you add and ginger?
Can you make this without an instant pot by just boiling the elderberries and water?
Could this be made on a stove? Do not have an instant pot and not planning on buying one.
Yes I use to make it on the stove before I started making in IP. The stove has the same consistency as syrup which is really good. I’m just lazy so I make it in the IP. In the IP you can simmer it and let it reduce if you want it to be thick like syrup though.
can you prepare in a crockpot or a regular pressure cooker bc I dont own a hot pot? Thx for sharing this!
Doesn’t the mixture have to cool more than slightly before adding the honey so the nutritional value of the honey is not lost? I have heard cool to 100 degrees but I have also read no warmer than 95.
Wouldn’t the high heat of the instant pot kill the nutrients in the elderberries & the honey?
Oops – I missed that the honey is added after cooking – sorry. ?
It appears in some of the pics that there are some small stems in with your elderberries. I just got mine from Amazon and am not sure if I need to pick out all the tiny stems before cooking? I know you have to pick them off thoroughly when fresh because the stems are toxic, but was not sure if this is still required when they are dried? Thoughts??
When I make mine, I pick every tiny bit of stem or leaf, whether fresh or dried. You are correct – they contain unnecessary toxins. It’s a slight pain – not that bad, and worth the trouble.
It’s best to remove the stems as much as you can. Elderberry bark, leaves, and stems do contain a small amount of cyanide producing glycosides, which are released upon digestion if eaten raw. It is inactivated by cooking.
I am assuming it is 1/2 “cup” dried elderberries. Is that correct? Do you double or triple your recipe?
Thank-you. It looks so easy.
Chris
Yes! Thank you, I fixed that in the recipe card. 🙂