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    Home » Simple Vegan Recipes

    Instant Pot Elderberry Shrub Syrup

    Published: Dec 18, 2017 · Modified: Jun 4, 2023 by Becky Striepe · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Recipe Video Print

    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.

    jar of elderberry syrup next to a tablespoon
    Jump to:
    • How to make elderberry syrup in the Instant Pot
    • Does it work?
    • More soothing drinks
    • 📖 Recipe

    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.

    glass of elderberry syrup mixed with seltzer water

    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:

    • elderberries
    • apple cider vinegar
    • oregano

    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

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      Ginger chocolate maca latte (maca hot chocolate!)
    • mug of tomato tea on a wooden countertop with ginger, garlic, lemon, and hot sauce around it
      Soothing Tomato Tea for Cold and Flu

    📖 Recipe

    jar of elderberry syrup next to a tablespoon

    Instant Pot Elderberry Shrub

    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.
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Keyword: instant pot elderberry, instant pot elderberry syrup
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
    Servings: 80
    Calories: 24kcal
    Author: Becky Striepe

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup dried elderberries
    • 2 cups apple cider vinegar
    • 2 cups water
    • 2 cups organic sugar
    • ½ cup fresh oregano - optional
    US Customary - Metric

    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

    Video

    Notes

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

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Instant Pot Elderberry Shrub
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    24
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    0.05
    g
    0
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    0.01
    g
    0
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    0.01
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    0.01
    g
    Sodium
     
    1
    mg
    0
    %
    Potassium
     
    18
    mg
    1
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    6
    g
    2
    %
    Fiber
     
    0.4
    g
    2
    %
    Sugar
     
    5
    g
    6
    %
    Protein
     
    0.1
    g
    0
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    27
    IU
    1
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    1
    mg
    1
    %
    Calcium
     
    7
    mg
    1
    %
    Iron
     
    0.2
    mg
    1
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe? Share your photo!Mention @GlueAndGlitter on Instagram or Twitter!

    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

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      Recipe Rating




    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

    photo of Becky Striepe
    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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