Boost your immune system and stay healthy during flu season with instant pot elderberry syrup!
It started with a tickle in my throat. Just enough that I thought my tiny cough was actually reflux. Day 2 felt like stronger reflux and then day 3 I was hit hard, bam! This sickness was a total jerk. Cough, headache, body aches, head pain WHEN I coughed, chills, ugh!
Sickness doesn’t often come to our house – or at least doesn’t visit nearly as often as I’ve seen for other families. My heart goes out to those suffering the plague of the week when I see them share on social media. If I’m able to help in some way, I do because I hope others would do the same. We’ve also been blessed by many friends who have shown up and helped when we have struggled with illness.
There are times I’ve dealt with sickness and tried to do the mom thing while my husband has been away because of work. When people magically show up at my door to help, I can never express enough gratitude!
I recently saw a friend post about the elderberry syrup she had just made in her pressure cooker. She’s often working on some interesting project, so I asked her for the recipe and then did some research on what the big deal is with elderberries.
Elder berries enhance immune function by boosting the production of cytokines. A few studies have been done showing its effectiveness in cutting the duration of colds and the flu in HALF as well as relieve nasal congestion!
Elderberries are also anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer because of the high antioxidants, and anti-viral. They are also high in vitamins A, B,C, and potassium. They are also an excellent laxative.
There is so much packed into such tiny berries!
Just days before I fell ill, I decided to pick up some dried elderberries. When I became sick, I quickly messaged my friend for her recipe and got to work. This was very easy to throw together and by day 4 I was on the mend (although the cough still remains).
I found my elderberries at a local natural foods store. If you don’t have access to one, or your’s doesn’t carry dried elderberries, you can find the same brand I used on Amazon here. If you don’t have an Instant pot or pressure cooker, you can find one here.
Instant Pot Elderberry Syrup
Notes
Locate some dried elderberries or grow and save your own! You will quickly be on your way to strengthen your immunity with a daily shot of this syrup during the coldest months of the year.
You can use an instant pot or any pressure cooker for this recipe. You can also go without but will need to simply do a low simmer for a long time with the possibility of adding a bit more water.
Add your berries to the instant pot. Add you water and spices. Keep the honey out for later. Set your pressure cooker to about 30 minutes and let it do a slow release on its own.
Have some jars or bottles sanitized and waiting. You can pour in your desired amount of honey into the bottom of each jar.
Once done cooking, release the instant pot and strain the syrup. Pour the strained syrup into each jar and then store away in the fridge or pressure seal to store on a shelf.
Ingredients
- 2 cup organic dried elderberries
- 8 cups filtered water
- 2 inch knob of ginger
- 2 sticks of cinnamon
- 1/2 cup of honey
Instructions
- To the pressure cooker add the elderberries, water, cinnamon, and ginger.
- Place and close the lid fully.
- Set the timer to cook for 30 minutes on high. Allow it to slow release once finished.
- Add honey (to taste) to sanitized glass jars.
- Strain the syrup into another container. Then pour or scoop the strained syrup directly into the sanitized jars. Pressure cook the jars if desired to keep them in your food storage.
Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Elderberry Syrup
Serves: 32
|
Amount Per Serving: 1 oz
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 406.74 kcal | |
| % Daily Value* | ||
| Total Fat 41.41 g | 63.1% | |
| Saturated Fat 24.72 g | 120% | |
| Trans Fat | ||
| Cholesterol 315.29 mg | 105% | |
| Sodium 121.49 mg | 5% | |
| Total Carbohydrate 4.3 g | 1.3% | |
| Dietary Fiber 0 | 0 | |
| Sugars 3.79 g | ||
| Protein 5.26 g | ||
| Vitamin A 44.17 % | Vitamin C 0.8 % | |
| Calcium 10.44 % | Iron 2.76 % | |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Happy In The Hills Blog (Liz)
I love this recipe already! This time of year can get so bad with all the germs and I actually started drinking more elderberry tea. I’ll have to try this out! ?