When I was a kid, I would spend my summers roaming many acres of land. We had dozens of fruit trees, nut trees, and berry bushes. I loved to spend the day snacking. When I would venture into the woods, sometimes I would run into an elderberry bush. I would eat handfuls of them! These cold and flu-busting elderberry gummies are easy to make and a healthy treat for the family!
A few years ago I ran into an article about the health benefits of elderberry and I was amazed! In my research I found that elderberry syrup could:
Benefits of Elderberry
- Reduce mucus from respiratory infections.
- Boost your immune system.
- Research shows people who were suffering from the flu recovered 4 days sooner when taking elderberry extract.
- Rich in vitamin A, and has more vitamin C than oranges.
- It can prevent some flu strains.
- Promotes good circulation.
- Help prevent bacterial and viral infections.
So, as you can see the health benefits are amazing! When we are in these winter cold and flu months, I like to boost our immune systems the best that I can!
Making gummies is easy!
I was excited when I came across the idea of making my own healthy gummies. These not only have the benefits of elderberry but cherry juice, which is anti-inflammatory and also helps promote a good night’s sleep. Local honey, which is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal.
You can buy elderberry syruphere
Check out this label from a popular kids vitamin. These vitamins don’t have anything “real” in them and lower our immune systems causing us to be more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections.
You can make your own healthy gummies in just minutes! Enjoy!
For vegan gummies try Agar powder!
Flu and Cold Busting Gummies
Materials
- 1/4 cup bottled organic elderberry syrup or I make homemade (check recipe notes for link)
- 3/4 cup Black Cherry juice (no sugar added) or other fruit juice
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp local honey
- 3 packs plain gelatin or agar-agar flakes for vegan
- 2 tbsp homemade vitamin C powder optional (link to homemade vitamin C in recipe notes)
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix together elderberry syrup, cherry juice, lemon juice, and vitamin C powder.
- Pour into a small pan ( I used a small skillet).
- Sprinkle gelatin packs over liquid mix and stir with a spoon.
- Turn heat on to very low and stir just until warm and gelatin are dissolved.
- Turn heat off.
- Add local honey. Make sure the liquid is just warm to the touch to avoid killing the good properties of the honey.
- Spoon or use the dropper to fill gummy bear molds.
- If you don't have enough gummy bear molds, pour extra liquid in a cooking dish or other small dish and refrigerate and cut into squares.
- Refrigerate for an hour.
- Pop gummies out of the mold, and store them in the refrigerator.
- You will have an extra mix. Add extra to a glass pan, and cut into squares, and store in a ziplock bag. ( I use these for the adults!)
Notes
Homemade vitamin C powder
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Super interesting! The thought of making gummy bears myself has crossed my mind several times, and according to your recipe it sounds really easy – maybe I should give it a try myself, thanks for sharing 🙂
You totally should!! They take just a few minutes to mix up and prepare, my kids a love them!!?
These made SO much juice and we just have two bear molds! Do you just leave the liquid out and reuse it in the molds several hours later?
I put the extra liquid in a glass baking pan and cut them into small squares. The kids ate the bears, we ate the squares. If it stayed warm, it may stay liquified.