So you have your elderberry syrup, now what?
Elderyberry syrup is very versatile on it’s own. It can be used like a traditional syrup on pancakes and oatmeal or frozen into ice cubes to flavor drinks. But if you want to make it a little more exciting, especially for children, gummies are an easy and fun option.
To make the gummies you can use a cookie sheet and cut out squares or buy gummy molds like I did. This 4 pack is non-stick and comes with two syringes. You can find it here.
Ingredients
- Unflavored Gelatin- Great Value is my go-to, however you can find grass-fed, beef gelatin at health food stores or amazon.
- Elderberry Syrup
- Water
This recipe is very simple and takes very little time but you can always have fun with it and add different types of juices for flavoring. A lot of recipes I’ve seen add apple juice, you’ll just want to remember to add enough gelatin for the amount of liquid you’re using.
How To
- Pour two cups of elderberry syrup and 2 cups water into saucepan and combine over medium high heat.
- Sprinkle 6 packets of gelatin, (this equates to 4 tablespoons), on top. Allow the gelatin to bloom before stirring in.
- Mix gelatin into mixture, stirring consistently to avoid burning.
- If syrup is not already sweetened to your liking, now is the time to add sweetener of choice. I recommend organic raw honey. *If giving to child under 1 year of age, DO NOT use honey, but rather an agave nectar.*
5. Once combined, remove from heat and begin adding the mixture to gummy molds.
6. Place in fridge until set. Then pop them out of the molds and store them in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
If you don’t have gummy molds, you can line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and pour the mixture on top. Once the gummies are set, cut out 0.5-1 inch squares.
Dosing Guidelines
I use Young’s rule for calculating a child’s dosage. To figure dosage, add 12 to the child’s age and divide the child’s age by this total.
For example, 4+12=16, 4/16=0.25, which means a 4 year old’s dose would be one-quarter of an adults.
I use Rosemary Gladstar’s dosing guidelines and she states that an adult dose of elderberry syrup is 1 teaspoon, so a 4 year old’s dose would be a quarter teaspoon.
For these gummies specifically, one gummy made from the molds is equivalent to a quarter teaspoon.
Once you become comfortable with using and administering an herbal supplement, and you have observed how it interacts with certain people, you can adjust the dosing as needed.
DISCLAIMER
Please note that if you suffer from any autoimmune diseases such as hashimotos, lyme disease, arthritis, etc., you SHOULD NOT use elderberry. The immune boosting properties that benefit most individuals can actually amplify the autoimmune response in those with these health conditions.
I am not a medical professional. Everything I have shared here is my opinion that I have concluded from my own personal usage and research. You are responsible for your own health and should consult a medical professional before using herbal medicine, especially if you have any known health conditions or if you are pregnant or nursing.
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