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How to Make Flu-Busting Elderberry Gummies

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Katie Wells

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Cold and flu busting gummy bears- simple homemade recipe that kids love
Wellness Mama » Blog » Natural Remedies » How to Make Flu-Busting Elderberry Gummies

I’ve shared my recipes for chewable gummy vitamins and healthy fruit snacks before, and today I’m sharing a flu-busting combination of the two.

It seems that this flu season is going to be a bad one, and elderberry syrup is one of my favorite natural remedies for avoiding or beating the flu. These flu busting gummy bears combine the immune boost from elderberry syrup with the gut benefits of gelatin for a healthy and delicious way to beat the flu.

Elderberry Gummy Bears Recipe

My kids love these! In fact, that is why the ones in the picture above look a little rough — little hands kept touching them while I was trying to take pictures!

To make this recipe, you’ll need to make homemade elderberry syrup first (don’t worry, it is easy!) and then make them into gummy bears.

Cold and flu busting gummy bears- simple homemade recipe that kids love

Elderberry Gummies Recipe

Homemade gummy bears with a base of elderberry syrup help boost the immune system and are fun for kids (or adults) to take!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Calories 17kcal
Author Katie Wells
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Servings

60 gummies

Equipment

  • Glass container or silicone molds

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Grease molds or glass pan with coconut oil to prevent sticking.
  • Place ¼ cup of cooled elderberry syrup in a 2 cup measuring cup and quickly whisk in the gelatin powder.
  • Add the ½ cup of hot (not boiling) water and stir quickly until smooth.
  • Add the rest of the elderberry syrup and stir or whisk until completely smooth.
  • Pour into molds and refrigerate for 2 hours or until completely firm.
  • Pop out of molds and store in airtight container with parchment paper between layers.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Elderberry Gummies Recipe
Amount Per Serving (2 gummies)
Calories 17 Calories from Fat 5
% Daily Value*
Fat 0.5g1%
Saturated Fat 0.5g3%
Sodium 2mg0%
Carbohydrates 2.7g1%
Fiber 0.1g0%
Sugar 2.3g3%
Protein 0.8g2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notes

Take daily as needed to avoid flu or take every few hours to help beat the flu faster.
Will last up to a week in the fridge in an airtight container (could last longer, but I haven’t tried it since they never last that long at my house!).

Like this recipe? Check out my new cookbook, or get all my recipes (over 500!) in a personalized weekly meal planner here!

Ever tried to make homemade healthy gummy bears? How did they turn out? Share below!

This Flu Busting gummy bears recipe is made with homemade elderberry syrup and gelatin for an immune boosting, gut healthy treat for kids of all ages!

Sources

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Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

246 responses to “How to Make Flu-Busting Elderberry Gummies”

  1. Galvaqui Avatar
    Galvaqui

    Super easy and fun- flavor is great! Consistency was an issue for my 3 year old- a bit rubbery and hard, how can I make them more “chewable”? My 45 year old loved them though!!

    Reply
  2. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    Can these be frozen? I want to make them but I’m not sure if we will go through them in a week…
    Thanks,
    Amy

    Reply
    2. earthmomma Avatar
      earthmomma

      5 stars
      I accidentally stuck these in the molds in the freezer and left overnight. It was a little bit easier to pop out the next day and I had no problem with putting the gummies into a container in the refrigerator for use. So no difference in texture. They did come out of the freezer initially with light frost but that went away at room temp. =) Recipe is AWESOME. Thank you.

      Reply
  3. Kelly Avatar
    Kelly

    Hi, I am trying to bring up the PDF of a few of your pages/recipes, but when they open, there are no ingredients! Ive tried for the gummies here and also the herbal cough syrup??

    Reply
  4. Lashonda Avatar
    Lashonda

    Hi,
    If I want more of a gummy bear consistency, how much more gelatin would I use? Can I use this sane recipe for fruit juice gummies or does it change because juice is thinner?
    Thank you

    Reply
  5. Nofret Santra Avatar
    Nofret Santra

    Hi, I absolutely love your website and very appreciative of the knowledge you are sharing. I have a a couple questions. Are these a snack or a once a day vitamin? Also, if, I use Elderberry for the base, do I have to purchase the children’s and adults separate? Thanks in advance. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Katie - Wellness Mama Avatar
      Katie – Wellness Mama

      If sick, they can be eaten as much as needed, but when not sick, a few a day works as a multivitamin. As long as you don’t have any babies under 1-2, this version is fine for adults and kids (don’t use honey with babies that age)

      Reply
  6. Tracy Avatar
    Tracy

    Hi, I love the website and I am making my home a natural home, little by little. I already see a difference in my skin and people at work are commenting on it as well.
    Questions: What to do with the leftover elderberries? Can we eat them? I thought of putting them in my nut-meal (oatmeal w/o the oats) and my smoothies..and what about coconut flour pancakes and waffles? Are they okay to eat after used for the elderberry syrup?
    Another question, have you tried to make pasta with the coconut flour? That is my next hurdle, along with dumplings to put in the great chicken stock I have made!
    Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Lori B. Avatar
      Lori B.

      Everyone feels bad about what to do with spent herbs. You will compost it. You have already removed all the healing properties from the herb when you boiled it.

      Reply
  8. Ginger Avatar
    Ginger

    I was wondering if you thought that this elderberry recipe could combine well with the Green Pasture FCLO/Butter oil gel to make it into gummies for the kids? I was reading up on the FCLO and was thinking that the elderberry would probably work well with the cinnamon flavor and would help hide any additional taste. The biggest trick would be measuring it all out correctly to ensure proper dosing. But since I haven’t used/worked with either product I thought I would pick your brain for thoughts/suggestions/tips. thanks

    Reply
  9. Linda Avatar
    Linda

    I am wondering the same question as Catherine. (Can I use store bought syrup for this) I have Nature’s Way Bio-Certified Elderberry and it has echinacea, Zinc, Propolis and Vitamin C. I live near chicago IL and could not find frozen or fresh elderberries anywhere.

    Reply
    1. Ginger Avatar
      Ginger

      You usually use dried Elder Berries which can be purchased online and probably at some local health stores. Especially if they have a bulk section.

      Reply
  11. Dee M. Lamphere Avatar
    Dee M. Lamphere

    You must not have oily skin or hair, water will not take oils off and I do not think baking soda will either. Have you ever heard of castile soap?

    Reply
    1. Michelle Avatar
      Michelle

      I’m allergic to coconut oil – do you know of a substitution for that in this recipe??

      Reply
    2. Jessica Avatar
      Jessica

      Oh boy, I don’t know what I did wrong! I followed the directions (or at least thought I did haha), but within a minute, it was already firm and I couldn’t even stir it anymore, let alone pour it into molds. And it was definitely not the right color. It was a gray color. The only thing I can think of is does the elderberry syrup still need to be warm? I got some out of the fridge that I had made earlier so it was definitely cold, but where your recipe said cooled, I figured it would be okay? Help! Haha

      Reply
        1. Patty Avatar
          Patty

          Can you take the syrup out of the fridge and let it come to room temp in order to make more gummies? My syrup always lasts longer than the gummies.

          Reply
        2. Jessica Peterson Avatar
          Jessica Peterson

          Hi Katie, I just made the same mistake as Jessica. In reading the recipe, I think it would be much clearer if you said that the elderberry syrup should be room temperature. I love your recipes and have been using them for years, so don’t intend to sound too critical. However, I wasted 3 cups of organic elderberry syrup that I can usually sell to my customers (a $50 loss). Not the end of the world. 🙂 I think some people won’t be jumping from a warm batch of elderberry syrup right to making gummies, and many will be taking a cold elderberry syrup from their fridge instead (like I was). Thank you again so much! You are an incredible resource.

          Reply
          1. Renee Avatar
            Renee

            Hi Katie! I’m wondering
            1. would I be able to use agar powder instead of gelatin
            2. Do you think it would make a difference if I reheat my elderberry juice
            3. If using a glas pan can I just pour the mixture in coll in fridge and cut in squares?
            Thank you so much!!!!

          2. Allyson Holley Avatar
            Allyson Holley

            I agree the recipe needs updated to show room temp. Cooled to me means refrigerated. I should’ve read the comments first.

      2. Stacey Avatar
        Stacey

        That’s what happened to me too!!! It was so clumpy that I decided I would put it in the food processor to smooth it out – total mistake! smoothed out but quickly hardened so that I couldn’t even spread it in a pan, much less the molds. I’m afraid to make it again because I don’t know what I did wrong to correct it. I thought I followed the directions, except that mine was out of the frig too.
        Help!

        Reply
      1. Kim Avatar
        Kim

        That’s the same question I need answered, how many mg are in a serving (or the entire batch, I can do the math). But I can’t find my recipe I used last year for the grandkids, where I use the capsules emptied into the liquid instead of the syrup. It’s a lot less expensive. I need to find the ratio using powder. So if you find out, let me know please. Thanks.

        Reply
    1. Stephanie Radtke Avatar
      Stephanie Radtke

      5 stars
      I am wondering if it’s ever been tried with Apple juice instead of the water?

      Reply
    1. Stacy Shelton Avatar
      Stacy Shelton

      Hello, I’m just reading your post so on elderberries, have always bought the gummies and just made my first batch of the syrup. I have a 2, 4, and 6 year old- what are the serving sizes? I couldn’t find anywhere where you stayed it. Would it be 1tsp for the littles and more for my older kid?
      Thank you
      Stacy

      Reply
  14. Julianna Bloodgood Avatar
    Julianna Bloodgood

    Do you think you could add vitamin C powder to this recipe to increase health benefits and add to the shelf life?

    Reply
  15. Deann Sturgiss Avatar
    Deann Sturgiss

    how many molds do you need for this recipe? I only have one…should I half the recipe?

    Reply
    1. Karen Avatar
      Karen

      I used two molds with small shapes (dinosaurs and stars) and one bigger mold (flowers). You could always just put the extra in a pie dish (or other flat glass thing) and cut them into cubes- they just won’t look as cute.

      Reply
  16. Lori Wilson Avatar
    Lori Wilson

    Hey there – any suggestions for a workable vegan gelatin?
    I love your site – a wealth of info! thanks!

    Reply
    1. Julianna Bloodgood Avatar
      Julianna Bloodgood

      Maybe try agar, made from red algae. I’ve never tried it myself, but I’ve heard it is a good substitute for gelatin.

      Reply
    3. Asha Avatar
      Asha

      5 stars
      I tried this recipe tonight with Agar Agar flakes. It turned out wonderfully. I halved the recipe just in case it didn’t work. I used 1/2 cup of Elderberry syrup, 1/4 cup of water, and 3 Tbsp. of Agar Agar Flakes. I mixed the liquids and warmed them in a pan and then added the Agar Agar flakes. I mixed for exactly 15 minutes. It came out great! I hope this helps.

      Reply
  17. Jess Avatar
    Jess

    What does “serve 6″mean?
    I’m wondering how many molds I need for this sized batch?

    Reply
    2. Jill Avatar
      Jill

      5 stars
      Do the gummies freeze well? Does the elderberry syrup freeze well? I have 3 little ones and do a lot of batch cooking.

      Reply
    3. Nicole Avatar
      Nicole

      I used 2 gummy molds from JoAnns but had lots of left over that I put in a glass pan. I’ll buy 2 more molds

      Reply
  18. Aurora Dizel Avatar
    Aurora Dizel

    Is this like a gummy vitamin, so that I should only allow one or two per day as a preventative or more if they are actually sick?

    Reply
    1. Elliott Avatar
      Elliott

      I was wondering the same thing. How many a day? I’m curious for my 4 year old and 2 year old.

      Reply
      1. Karlee Horton Avatar
        Karlee Horton

        Hi, I was wondering if you could freeze the elderberry gummies? I want to make a batch that will last at least a few months but I know they go bad after about a week.

        Reply
        1. Sarah Avatar
          Sarah

          I’ve frozen them and they’ve been just fine. When I’m ready to use them I just put them in the fridge for a couple of hours.

          Reply
          1. Aliza Avatar
            Aliza

            4 stars
            Does freezing decrease the medicinal properties? Do you know if I freeze the syrup if it destroys the medicinal component?

  19. brookie Avatar
    brookie

    The challenge has been going great!  The forum has been awesome to connect with others & offer support (and get it!).  Thanks for doing this…it has been wonderful.  During these past weeks, I’ve been able to stay off of sugar, legumes, wheat, & dairy while focusing on all the things I can eat & enjoy.  I threw out the scale, and will do my after weigh-in and measurements as the challenge comes to an end.  It has been a fun experience & I feel so much better!  

    Reply
  20. Kelly Avatar
    Kelly

    I’ve already switched to homemade toothpaste, shampoo and deodorant, so this hurdle is jumped… thanks in part to your recipes! I also don’t use soap when bathing, just water and baking soda if I’m extra smelly.

    Next big thing is switching to homemade laundry soap and fabric softener. I’m part-way there — I only use Oxi-Clean powder and a tiny bit of liquid softener, but I’d love to make a complete switch.

    My biggest challenge now is household cleaning, specifically in the kitchen. I really can’t find anything that cleans as well as I’d like, especially with all the cooking and raw meat handling that I’m now doing. Doesn’t help that we have white everything (including tile counters), which stains like crazy.

    Reply
    1. Rashmi Avatar
      Rashmi

      Try Shaklee’s Get Clean products. I’ve been using them for the past eight years and love them!!

      Reply
    2. deanna Avatar
      deanna

      5 stars
      Try Mrs Myers cleaning products. Smells divine and all natural cleans great!

      Reply
      1. Pam Avatar
        Pam

        But a warning is in order on those: the fragrance is very strong for sensitive individuals. If you have sensitivities to scents, you likely will not do well with these.

        Reply
      2. Debbie Avatar
        Debbie

        I use NORWEX products. The cloths have silver in them and you clean with water only. They work great!

        Reply
        1. Jessica Young Avatar
          Jessica Young

          5 stars
          I’ve used your elderberry syrup recipe for several year as well as the recipe for gummies and it always turns out perfectly! We use it during flu months and we have all managed to stay healthy aside from some sniffles and an occasional cough. My kids LOVE the syrup and gobble up the gummies. I’ve shared this recipe with so many people and am grateful you have shared it with us! Thank you!

          Reply
    3. Shelby D. Avatar
      Shelby D.

      White vinegar and baking soda is awesome in the kitchen! I add tea tree oil and lemon rinds in a spray bottle filled with vinegar and water. Works as a degreaser and removes turmeric stains no problem.

      Reply
    4. Rebecca Avatar
      Rebecca

      For my white tile and ceramic sink I sprinkle baking soda, then spritz with hydrogen peroxide. Allow to penetrate for 10 min to an hour (whatever works for your schedule) then gently scrub. The peroxide will whiten AND kill gross germs. The baking soda helps keep the peroxide in place and is a gently abrasive cleaner.
      You can clean the counters with a peroxide spray:
      1 (16 ounce) spray bottle
      16 ounces peroxide (3%)
      8 ounces water
      5 drops tea tree oil
      5 drops lemon oil
      Pour all ingredients into spray bottle
      Shake well
      Spray on counter surfaces and wipe with a clean rag

      Reply
    5. Debbie Avatar
      Debbie

      Have you ever used Norwex? It is a cloth that has silver in it and you only clean with water. 🙂 Check it out on youtube.
      🙂

      Reply
        1. Kari Avatar
          Kari

          This is what I did wrong too. Will it still work can I salvage it? I put it all in the fridge. Should I warm my elderberry to room temp next time?

          Reply
      2. Heather Avatar
        Heather

        Actually Norwex is Amazing! If you haven’t heard about them or tried them you will at least love he cleaning cloths. They also sell natural spray cleaners, detergent, and tons of other chemical free agents. Check them out!

        Reply
    6. erin Avatar
      erin

      try lemon and eucalyptis essential oils in a spray bottle of water. It will kill the germs and make your kitchen have that clean smell. Depending on the tile you could possibly use hydrogen peroxide to get the stains out.

      Reply
    7. Mary Avatar
      Mary

      A simple cleaner that you may enjoy is 1 part white distilled vinegar (do not use apple cider as it is alkaline and you want the acidic value of white vinegar to kill germs), 1 part water, several drops of lemon essential oil. Shake well and clean away. Avoid wood, but most everything else goes. I have used this for years in cleaning my bathrooms, kitchen, appliances, doors, glass, walls. It’s simple, clean, inexpensive and works and smells great without dangerous chemicals.

      As an added note, white vinegar is great for weed control and especially those pesky weeds that grow in our sidewalk cracks. Just don’t spray where you want plants to grow as it works by creating an unfavorable acidic environment.

      Reply
    8. Nikki Avatar
      Nikki

      5 stars
      I’ve just discovered the combo of spraying vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, one right after the other. Apparently it kills ecoli, salmonella, etc and performs as good as bleach! Look it up, there have been a couple of studies. Don’t mix them in the same container.

      Reply
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