‘Tis the season for sickness! Yuck! If you are looking for a simple and effective way to boost your child’s immune system, try making these homemade elderberry gummies!
Elderberries have been found to be very helpful in shortening the length of colds and the flu and can even prevent the influenza virus from latching onto cells. These homemade elderberry gummies are certainly a preventative measure worth exploring. And since they are in fun shapes and taste good, you won’t have to force your child to take them! You could even involve him/her in helping to make them!
Disclaimer: I am not a health-care professional. This post is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have.
Ingredients (includes affiliate links)
1 cup elderberry syrup, cold (homemade or store bought)
¼ cup pure tart cherry concentrate (not juice). (This is optional, if not using, use an additional ¼ cup of elderberry syrup in its place.)
½ cup really hot but not boiling water
1/3 cup gelatin-be sure to use a healthy soured natural gelatin that comes from free range or grass fed animals. I like both of these brands, Great Lakes and Vital Proteins.
Have your silicone molds clean, dry and ready to go or grease a glass dish with a thin layer of coconut oil. When using molds, I like to place the silicone molds on a solid tray or cutting board before filling so that they easily transfer into the refrigerator without spills.
Start with a large liquid measuring cup, I like to use a one that holds about four cups. You want to move quickly once you start to mix everything so I recommend having your supplies ready (whisk, molds or greased dish…) along with your ingredients premeasured.
Pour the ¼ cup of tart cherry (or elderberry syrup) into the large measuring cup, add the 1/3 cup gelatin and very quickly whisk to dissolve all of the powder.
Then add in the hot water and whisk.
Finish by pouring in the cold elderberry syrup and giving one last good whisk.
Carefully but quickly pour the liquid into the molds or glass dish. The molds fill quickly so it might take a few to get used to the molds if they are new to you.
Chill about 20 minutes for the molds or until solid. They’ll keep well in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks or they freeze pretty well.
Tips:
There have been a few times when I have not been able to pour all of the liquid before it has started to harden. If this happens, not to worry, I have just placed the measuring cup in the microwave for a few seconds until liquid again and then pour.
If you family/children are new to gelatin, take it slow at first and only offer 1 or 2 gummies a day as their systems become used to it. This type of gelatin is fantastic for you, but can need a tiny bit of adjustment time for some. Our three year old would eat them all day long if we let him. He typically has about 3-8 a day without any issues.
- 1 cup elderberry syrup, cold
- ¼ cup pure tart cherry concentrate (not juice)
- ½ cup really hot but not boiling water
- ⅓ cup gelatin
- Silicone Molds
- Have your silicone molds clean, dry and ready to go or grease a glass dish with a thin layer of coconut oil.
- You want to move quickly once you start to mix everything so I recommend having your supplies ready (whisk, molds or greased dish…) along with your ingredients premeasured.
- Pour the ¼ cup of tart cherry (or elderberry syrup) into the large measuring cup, add the ⅓ cup gelatin and very quickly whisk to dissolve all of the powder.
- Add in the hot water and whisk.
- Finish by pouring in the cold elderberry syrup and giving one last good whisk.
- Carefully but quickly pour the liquid into the molds or glass dish.
- Chill about 20 minutes for the molds or until solid. They’ll keep well in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks.
Jenae is on a mission to cultivate a joy-filled home for her husband and three children. 
I was SO excited to make these that I ordered all of the ingredients and they came in today and I set right to work. My mom brain ordered collagen instead of gelatin and I didn’t realize until I had already made the mixture and couldn’t figure out why it didn’t congeal (que dramatic sobs!) Is there any way to save the mixture if I get gelatin and try to add it?? I cannot waste all that elderberry syrup!!
Oh no!!!! I am so sorry! You could just try adding the gelatin to it. I don’t think there would be any harm in having extra collagen as well!
I did the collagen accident first and added gelatin trying to correct the error… they set up but were awful… like eating the consistency of ricotta cheese. Tossed the batch.
I can’t find the cherry concentrate in my supermarket. Will using cherry juice instead be okay? Obviously less health benefits but will it still work?
Another question! If I don’t have enough molds for the whole batch, can I hold onto the rest and re-liquefy it to make more once the others harden?
How many gummies should a toddler take per day? How about a teenager? LOL! I have both and don’t want to make a full batch if we won’t use them all in the 2 week window! Thank you!
Way to much gelatin and don’t whisk.
Thank you for the recipe, is there any way to preserve these gummies? Maybe citric Acid?
I follwed the directions and it did not thicken at all and never hardened. Did I miss something?