Hot Elderberry Lemonade

Hot Elderberry Lemonade is great to make one cup at a time to soothe a sore throat, or relax with on a cold evening. And it can easily be doubled, tripled, quadrupled in a big pot to share with family and friends.

This recipe can be found on repeat in our house all winter long. It is delicious, easy to make and rich in antioxidants - there are so many reasons to love this simple elderberry syrup recipe!

3 reasons why you should try this elderberry syrup recipe:

1. Simple ingredients

   I love any recipe that can be made with ingredients I almost always have on hand in the kitchen! This recipe contains just four ingredients:

   • Elderberry Syrup
   • Lemon juice
   • Honey or sugar (or another favorite sweetener)
     
     

2. Immune support

   It is a cozy, delicious hot drink, packed with immune-boosting antioxidants.
   Elderberry syrup is a traditional remedy used to boost the immune system against cold and flu viruses. Elderberries are loaded with antioxidants, which have so many important health benefits. Elderberries contain antioxidants called Flavonoids that have been shown to have strong anti-inflammatory and immune system benefits
   
   

3. Antioxidants

   Lemon juice is a great source of vitamin C, another antioxidant that has a wealth of its own health benefits, so in addition to its great flavor benefits, it adds a little extra immune-boosting antioxidant to our Elderberry Syrup!
   
   

Hot Elderberry Lemonade Recipe: 

Ingredients:

Makes 4-5 drinks

• 3 cups water
• 3 tablespoons Commonhealth Elderberry Syrup
• 3 tablespoons honey or sugar
• Juice of 1 lemon
  
  

Directions:

Step1: Bring water to a simmer. 

Step 2: Add Elderberry Syrup, honey or sugar, and lemon juice. Stir until the sweetener is fully dissolved. Garnish with a lemon slice or a cinnamon stick in your favorite mug, and enjoy!

5 ways to tweak this elderberry syrup recipe: 

There are so many great ways to adjust this recipe for your taste and the occasion:

1. Sweetness– the thing I love about this is you can dial the sweetness up or down so easily. Our Elderberry Syrup is just lightly sweet, which is how I also like the lemonade. My son like his sweeter, so I add a little more honey or sugar when I’m making it for him.
2. Sweetener – You can use anything you want! I usually use raw sugar or honey. If I’m making this recipe for a sore throat, I use honey, to get more of that soothing, throat-coating action. But, you could also try it with agave, or monk fruit – whatever your favorite is!
3. Lemons – this recipe is great with juice from regular lemons, but I highly recommend trying it with Meyer lemon juice also. Meyer lemons are a cross between regular lemons and a mandarin oranges, so they are slightly sweeter and less tart than their counterparts, which makes for a smoother lemonade taste.
4. Make it for one, make it for many – this recipe can be scaled up or down for any group size, in the microwave or on the stove. 
5. Make it a cocktail – (Hint: add rum. We’ve also heard tequila is wonderful!) I came up with this recipe last winter when I was tasked with drinks for a friend’s holiday party. I wanted something fun and original, but I did not feel like tracking down lots of ingredients at the very crowded grocery store. A big pot of Elderberry Lemonade on the stove makes the room smell great, and each person can choose how much spirit to add to their drink, or none at all. 

This recipe is simple and versatile – relax with it, use it to soothe a sore throat, enjoy it at a party with all of your friends! We love it because it tastes so great. And then love it even more because it is a great source of antioxidants to help keep our family well through the winter months.