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    Home » Vegan recipes

    Instant Pot Elderberry Shrub

    Last Modified: Sep 21, 2019 by Becky Striepe

    Disclosure: This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Privacy Policy for more details.

    Recipe Print

    Instant Pot Elderberry Shrub is super easy to make and perfect for cold and flu season. It has elderberries, apple cider vinegar, and oregano to help boost the old immune system.

    jar of elderberry syrup next to a tablespoon

    One of my good friends started making elderberry syrup for cold and flu season, and she recently shared a jar with me. Darrol and I love it! We were doing a shot of her syrup the other day, and that great berry flavor got me wondering about how an elderberry shrub would taste.

    Related: Tomato Tea for Cold & Flu Relief

    How to Make & Drink Your Instant Pot Elderberry Shrub

    If you're new to shrubs, don't panic. They're really not that fancy. A shrub is a vinegar syrup, and making it is similar to making simple syrup.

    To make this elderberry shrub, you combine dried elderberries with water, vinegar, sugar, and herbs right in the Instant Pot. Cook, strain, and you're all set!

    Unlike regular elderberry syrup, I don't recommend taking shots of this Elderberry Shrub. It's very vinegary - a bit much, even for vinegar-lovers like me and my son. Instead, mix your syrup with water or seltzer to taste.

    I like to add an ounce of Elderberry Shrub to a glass of water and sip on it all day during cold and flu season.

    Does it work?

    I know there's a lot of skepticism around home remedies like elderberry syrup, but y'all. I believe. Elderberry is my go-to during cold and flu season, and I don't care if it's legit or the placebo effect. It helps!

    glass of elderberry syrup mixed with seltzer water

    This Instant Pot Elderberry Shrub combines three things that help support your immune system:

    • elderberries
    • apple cider vinegar
    • oregano

    Even if this Elderberry Shrub is just a placebo, it's a freaking delicious placebo (and it could still help you feel better)! It's sweet, tart, and fruity.

    You can shoot it straight up or mix it with sparkling water for a sweet-and-sour elderberry soda. You can also use it to make cocktails, just like my Sage-Blueberry Shrub.

    jar of elderberry syrup next to a tablespoon with text overlay

    jar of elderberry syrup next to a tablespoon

    Instant Pot Elderberry Shrub

    Instant Pot Elderberry Shrub is super easy to make and perfect for cold and flu season. It has elderberries, apple cider vinegar, and oregano to help boost the old immune system.
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    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Keyword: instant pot elderberry, instant pot elderberry syrup
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 80
    Calories: 30kcal
    Author: Becky Striepe

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup dried elderberries
    • 2 cups apple cider vinegar
    • 2 cups water
    • 2 cups organic sugar
    • ½ cup fresh oregano - chopped

    Instructions

    • Combine all of your ingredients in your Instant Pot (or pressure cooker). Bring to high pressure for 20 minutes, then do a natural release.
    • Use a fine mesh strainer to strain the Elderberry Shrub into clean glass canning jars. It's important to use canning jars, because they are heat-safe, and this syrup is still going to be pretty hot as you strain it. No shattered jars, please!
    • Let the jars of shrub sit, loosely covered, on the counter until they are cool enough to handle, then screw on the lids, and refrigerate. 
    • To serve: mix 1-2 tablespoons of Elderberry Shrub with water or seltzer, to taste, and sip. When I feel run down, I add 2 tablespoons to my 20 ounce water bottle and fill it up a couple of times per day.

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot

    Notes

    • This recipe makes about 2 ½ pints of Elderberry Shrub.
    • Your Elderberry Shrub will keep for a few months in the refrigerator.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 30kcal
    Tried this recipe? Share your photo!Mention @GlueAndGlitter on Instagram or Twitter!
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    About Becky Striepe

    Headshot of Becky Striepe in front of a teal wall

    Hi there! I'm Becky Striepe (rhymes with sleepy), and I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here.

    Learn more about me >>>

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Senia

      January 31, 2022 at 9:48 pm

      I love all the benefits of using raw ACV with the mother, but doesn’t putting it through the pressure cooker negate these? Could you just wait to incorporate the ACV until the end after the berries/sugar/water have been pressure cooked?

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        February 01, 2022 at 8:25 am

        That's a great idea! Let me know how it works, if you try it. My only worry is that you might not have enough liquid that way, so you may need to play with the water to vinegar ratio.

        Reply
    2. Robyn Power

      September 18, 2018 at 11:59 am

      5 stars
      Making my first batch to get ready for the season!! I added cinnamon sticks, orange peel and subbed the sugar for coconut sugar/brown sugar (that was all I had).

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        September 19, 2018 at 8:21 pm

        Oh, that sounds delicious!

        Reply
    3. Cadry

      December 22, 2017 at 10:05 pm

      This recipe came at just the right time! I'm in the middle of a cold, and I'd love this right now. I've never had a shrub, but I'm all about vinegar. So I'm sure I'd be all over it. I wonder if they have dried elderberries at my local co-op. I'll have to look for them!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        December 22, 2017 at 10:11 pm

        I hope it helps! Lingering colds are the pits.

        Reply
    4. Sarah De la Cruz

      December 22, 2017 at 8:46 pm

      Oh yum! I love elderberry flavor—the cough drops I get are elderberry! I made a shrub once and it was much more complicated. I like your version so much more!!!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        December 22, 2017 at 9:00 pm

        I’m so intrigued by this shrub you made! I need to get those deets and try it out.

        Reply
    5. Leeanne

      December 21, 2017 at 11:57 am

      My Little’s Have been so sick this year hoping this may help , safe for kids right ?
      Also We don’t do sugar ,Can honey be used instead of sugar if so how much ?
      Thank you

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        December 21, 2017 at 12:16 pm

        My 4yo drinks it! I do not use honey, so I’m not sure about the sub.

        Reply
    6. Dianne

      December 18, 2017 at 7:30 pm

      I've never used elderberries for colds before, but I'm definitely up for trying it. I tend to get really nasty colds, and they linger forever.

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        December 20, 2017 at 7:43 am

        Sine D started preschool, it’s been the same for me!

        Reply
      • Nikki

        April 14, 2019 at 3:49 pm

        This recipe sounds delicious! Question though, do I have to use sugar?

        Reply
        • Becky Striepe

          April 15, 2019 at 12:10 pm

          A shrub is a vinegar-based simple syrup, so you do need sugar. You can try reducing the amount of sugar, but I can't guarantee the results if you do that.

          Reply
    7. Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day

      December 18, 2017 at 7:17 pm

      5 stars
      I definitely need to make this. Cold season is kicking my butt this year! It looks really delicious, too, and I love the photos.

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        December 18, 2017 at 7:19 pm

        Oof, I'm sorry to hear that! I'm fighting something, too, and of course I'm out of town with no elderberry shrub on hand!

        Reply

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    About Me

    Glue and Glitter
    Hi! My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”). I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here. → READ MORE

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