Instant Pot elderberry syrup is super easy to make and perfect for cold and flu season. Mix with regular or sparkling water for a soothing drink.
One of my good friends started making elderberry syrup for cold and flu season, and she recently shared a jar with me. The kid 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.
A shrub is a vinegar syrup that has sort of a sweet-and-sour flavor. And spoiler: this elderberry shrub syrup is freaking delicious!
How to make elderberry syrup in the Instant Pot
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 syrup. 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 this one, 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!
This Instant Pot Elderberry Shrub combines three things that help support your immune system:
Even if this elderberry syrup 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 drink it mixed with flat water or use sparkling water for a sweet-and-sour elderberry soda.
More soothing drinks
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Elderberry Shrub
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried elderberries
- 2 cups apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups organic sugar
- ½ cup fresh oregano - optional
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.
Senia
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?
Becky Striepe
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.
Robyn Power
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).
Becky Striepe
Oh, that sounds delicious!
Cadry
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!
Becky Striepe
I hope it helps! Lingering colds are the pits.
Sarah De la Cruz
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!!!
Becky Striepe
I’m so intrigued by this shrub you made! I need to get those deets and try it out.
Leeanne
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
Becky Striepe
My 4yo drinks it! I do not use honey, so I’m not sure about the sub.
Dianne
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.
Becky Striepe
Sine D started preschool, it’s been the same for me!
Nikki
This recipe sounds delicious! Question though, do I have to use sugar?
Becky Striepe
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.
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day
I definitely need to make this. Cold season is kicking my butt this year! It looks really delicious, too, and I love the photos.
Becky Striepe
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!