So, you decided to make the legendary elixir of immune immune support – homemade elderberry syrup – for cold and flu season, and now you’re playing tetris in your pantry with a bag of leftover dried elderberries. I get it. Really I do. And I have a solution . . . or a few, actually.
This recipe is exactly the same as my elderberry syrup recipe with a just a few quick additional steps. If you make a double batch of elderberry syrup, you’ll end up with one jar of syrup PLUS homemade jam for just .000001% more effort.
This might be more exciting to me than the actual jam, because as you probably noticed in this cauliflower pizza crust recipe and this healthy chicken nugget recipe, I LOVE saving time in the kitchen.
Benefits of Elderberries
Elderberries are rich in several constituents such as flavonoids and anthocyanins, which are highly bioactive antioxidants that:
- Help the body absorb vitamin C – This is important because vitamin C is essential for immune function and other processes like collagen synthesis (1)
- Have a positive impact on oxidative stress – It’s rich in compounds such as phenols and anthocyanidins, which are thought to work synergistically to counteract free radicals. (2)
- Support the immune system
More Elderberry Recipes To Try
Elderberry And Strawberry Jam Recipe
This elderberry jam recipe is as easy as pie – actually, much easier than that! If you want to make a batch of elderberry syrup at the same time you make jam, you’ll need to increase the amount of water, elderberries and honey. I’ve included instructions for both below.
Elderberry Jam Recipe With Fresh Strawberries
Ingredients
- ½ cup dried elderberries (add additional 1/2 cup if you're also making elderberry syrup)
- 2 cups water (add 2 cups if making elderberry syrup)
- ⅔ cup raw honey (add 1 cup if making elderberry syrup)
- 2 cups fresh strawberries (cut in half – previously frozen strawberries will work, just thaw them first)
- 12 tbsp chia seeds
Instructions
- 1. Add the water and elderberries to a medium pot and bring to a boil.
- 2. Reduce heat and simmer until liquid is reduced by half – this should take around 45 minutes.
- 3. Strain out the elderberries. If you doubled your ingredients to make both elderberry syrup and jam, divide your liquid in half by pouring 1 cup into a jar and one cup back into the pot. If you’re just making jam, strain out the elderberries and pour the liquid back into the pot. Below are separate instructions for making just jam, or making jam and elderberry syrup.
If you’re only making the elderberry jam:
- Using a potato masher, mash the strawberries until they are in small chunks. After you strain out the elderberries, pour the liquid back into the pot, place the pot back on the burner, and add the chia seeds. Stir for about 20-30 seconds and then add in the strawberries and 2/3 cup honey. Allow the mixture to sit for 1-2 minutes, then remove from heat. Allow mixture to cool for about 15 minutes before transferring to two pint jar. Cover with a lid and place in the fridge to thicken overnight.
If you’re making elderberry jam and syrup:
- To make the syrup – Allow the liquid you’ve poured in a jar to cool until it has reached room temperature, then stir in one cup of honey. Place a lid on the jar and store in the fridge for later use.
- Using a potato masher, mash the strawberries until they are in small chunks. After you strain out the elderberries, pour the liquid back into the pot, place the pot back on the burner, and add the chia seeds. Stir for about 20-30 seconds and then add in the strawberries and 2/3 cup honey. Allow the mixture to sit for 1-2 minutes, then remove from heat. Allow mixture to cool for about 15 minutes before transferring to two pint jar. Cover with a lid and place in the fridge to thicken overnight.
Nutrition
Also, if you’re growing elderberry at home, you can make this recipe with fresh elderberries. Just use one cup fresh instead of 1/2 cup dried.
Sources:
1. Jones, E and Hughes, R.E. (1984) The influence of bioflavonoids on the absorption of vitamin C
2. Netzel, M et. al. (2005) The excretion and biological antioxidant activity of elderberry antioxidants in healthy humans
