Learn how to make elderberry gummies in bulk for toddlers, kids, and adults alike. These delicious gummies are loaded with vitamins. It’s SO easy and costs 90% less than Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, or Kroger!
It feels like eons ago when I made my first batch of elderberry syrup.
I made it, LOVED it, and loved how it provides immune support for my family, especially in the winter months. Black elderberries are high in antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin A. I love that there are no artificial flavors or artificial colors and I can control the sugar content.
You guys loved it too, but I kept getting the same question over and over again:
How can we make these into gummies?
Friends, let’s begin!
Making elderberry gummies is SO easy. Really truly, you’re going to make these and then kick yourself for not making them sooner – they’re THAT simple.
Benefits of Elderberry Gummies
- Lowers blood sugar
- Aids in cold and flu
- Natural laxative
- Anti-inflammatory
- Natural diuretic
How to Save Money on Elderberry Gummies
Before you can make elderberry gummies, you need elderberry syrup.
I HIGHLY recommend NOT running out to the store to buy Sambucol elderberry syrup. It’s overpriced ($9-10 for 4 oz!), it contains ingredients you don’t need (including artificial sweeteners like fructose and sucrose) and it’s really super easy to make your own without sugar or corn syrup.
To warn you, the price of dried elderberries might surprise you. But hear me out – I bought this one-pound bag two years ago, have made no less than four batches of elderberry syrup and I STILL have enough left for another cold and flu season.
I don’t want to bore you with the numbers, but…
- One batch of elderberry syrup uses 2/3 cup of dried berries.
- One batch makes about 12 ounces of syrup.
- You get roughly 4 cups of dried elderberries in one pound…
- So you can make 6 batches of syrup with a one-pound bag.
- That means if I pay $29 for a one-pound bag of dried elderberries (the cost as of this posting), I’m paying just $1.83 for four ounces of elderberry syrup. That means you’re SAVING $8-9 over buying Sambucol at the store!!
Make sure you’re buying dried elderberries when it’s NOT cold and flu season. In the fall, I’ve seen dried elderberries go for as much as $50 per pound! In the winter and spring though, I’ve seen them for around $20 per pound (the price right now).
But… what about the gelatin, right? Because we know how much honey, ginger, and honey cost. (even though both the ginger and cinnamon are optional). The real kicker is going to be – how do we save on the gelatin?
Here’s What You Need
- Elderberry syrup
- Unflavored gelatin (I use this grass-fed gelatin from Perfect Supplements)
Equipment:
- Gummy molds (I’ve used this cube one and this LEGO one and this bear set.)
- Flat Whisk (I use this one)
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1. In a small saucepan, gently warm elderberry syrup over medium-low. Add the gelatin and use a flat whisk to thoroughly dissolve the gelatin.
Step 2. When the gelatin is dissolved, remove the syrup from the heat and carefully pour the liquid into the molds. (I had to do this in multiple steps, pouring from a very small measuring cup, because the bear molds are so small.)
Step 3. The gummies will begin to gel within a few minutes, but they are easier to remove from the mold after they have been in the fridge for 2-3 hours.
Recipe Tip
When the gummies have completely solidified, remove from the molds, and store in the freezer for 6-12 months. Use the dosing guide above, or as desired!
FAQs
Yes, elderberry gummies are naturally gluten-free!
The answer is elderberry gummies, by a smidge.
Both the gummies and syrup are based on immune-boosting elderberries, and all of the good stuff you find in the syrup is in the gummies, too. But elderberry gummies also contain gelatin, which is CRAZY good for you.
Do you remember the health benefits of collagen? They help your hair grow long, your nails grow strong and your skin becomes super healthy.
Gelatin is cooked collagen… so that means when you make these delicious gummies, you’re not only getting the benefits of elderberries, but you’re getting the benefits of collagen too – SCORE!
Absolutely! You can take elderberry gummies daily. I wouldn’t recommend taking more than 2 or 3 a day.
They really do! We have been taking elderberry syrup and elderberry gummies for years and they have drastically helped our immune system! I’m a firm believer.
You can store the elderberry gummies in a container that has a good seal at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Make sure to keep them out of direct sunlight. If you happen to live in a hot environment, it would be best to put them in the refrigerator.
Dosage
It depends on a few different factors, the first being the size of the gummies you make.
If you use a big LEGO mold, you’ll get big gummies. You probably only need half or one gummy each day.
If you use the cute little bear molds like this one, and like the ones I made in these photos, you’ll need more than one for sure.
There’s no “standard” dosage for elderberry syrup or elderberry gummies, but this is what we do in our house:
When we are NOT sick, have NOT come in direct contact or had prolonged contact with someone who is, but there seems to be “something going around”:
- Adults: 1/2 tablespoon daily (about 2-3 gummies)
- Kids: 1/2 teaspoon daily (about 1 gummy)
When we are NOT sick but have come in direct or prolonged contact with someone who is:
- Adults: 1 tablespoon daily (about 5 gummies)
- Kids: 1 teaspoon daily (about 2 gummies)
When we ARE sick:
- Adults: 1 tablespoon, three times daily (about 15 gummies total)
- Kids: 1 teaspoon, three times daily (about 6 gummies total)
And if you’ve wondered if elderberry gummies work, just read how effective the syrup was!!
Perfect Supplements
I get both my collagen and gelatin from Perfect Supplements.
I once did a side-by-side comparison of their collagen and another popular brand and there was absolutely no contest.
With Perfect Supplements, my hair and nails grew like crazy. With the other brand, my nails started breaking and my skin wasn’t as clear as it was before. (This is the shortened version of the story of course, but you can read the full version here.)
That was a couple of years ago now and I’ve never looked back! I’ve been taking Perfect Supplements collagen every day since then, and LOVE the results. Even my husband and hairdresser comment about my weight, my skin, my hair, and my nails!
As the saying goes, “the proof is in the pudding,” and that’s why I buy my gelatin (which is cooked collagen) from Perfect Supplements too. I don’t trust anyone else!
More Home Remedies
- DIY Nasal Saline Solution
- Stomach Flu Charcoal Gummies
- How to Heal Chapped Lips Naturally
- 5 Simple Ways to Stay Healthy this Winter
Fight Inflation Workshop
Sign up for my FREE Fight Inflation Workshop and learn simple strategies to save money, even with rising food costs!How to Make Elderberry Gummies
Learn how to make elderberry gummies in bulk for toddlers, kids and adults alike. It’s so easy and costs 90% less than Walmart, Walgreens, CVS or Kroger!!
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 12 minutes
- Yield: 25–75 gummies 1x
- Category: home remedy
- Method: Stove top
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup elderberry syrup
- 8 tsp unflavored gelatin (I use this grass-fed gelatin from Perfect Supplements)
Instructions
1. In a small saucepan, gently warm elderberry syrup over medium-low. Add the gelatin and use a flat whisk to thoroughly dissolve the gelatin.
2. When the gelatin is dissolved, remove the syrup from the heat and carefully pour the liquid into the molds. (I had to do this in multiple steps, pouring from a very small measuring cup, because the bear molds are so small.)
3. The gummies will begin to gel within a few minutes, but they are easier to remove from the mold after they have been in the fridge for 2-3 hours.
Notes
When the gummies have completely solidified, remove from the molds, and store in the freezer for 6-12 months. Use the dosing guide above, or as desired!
Mold suggestions:
- Cute little bear molds like this one
- Big LEGO mold
- Ice cube tray
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 gummies
- Calories: 20
I have elderberries in my freezer and use it when making syrup. These are elderberries I pick in my area . Can I use these to make gummies.
Hello Vicky,
The elderberries that you have on hand will work. Thank you for posting. 🙂
I’m wondering if slightly dehydrating gummies would solve the mold problem? On the other hand would dehydrating lessen the nutritional value?
Hi Penny, we are not sure! Others have tried freezing them to prevent mold. Let us know if you try it. 🙂
So I use my elderberry syrup and make these gummies regularly, however, every time I freeze them I have found it makes them very icy and changes the texture of them… not in a way I particularly like. Does this happen to yours or?? I can’t imagine anything I could change but just curious! If they froze better I’d definitely love it! 🙂
The texture will change based on frozen or thawed. Perhaps make them in smaller batches so you don’t have to freeze many?
Hello! How long do the gummies last in the fridge in an airtight container? Thank you for all your info!!
How do you store your dried elderberries for another time.
Have you tried storing them in the fridge? I make my own and found that they lasted about 1 month but then grew mold. If they are gone through quickly enough, I think the can be stored in the fridge. Another suggestion for people trying this is freezing them if they won’t be used quickly and just taking out the amount you need for the week to keep in the fridge. ❤ Thank you for sharing your recipe and tips!
Hi Destinee!
Yes, freezing and taking out what you need is a great idea! Thank you for sharing your thoughts.:)
These look great! I have been looking for low sugar gummies, as well, because that’s one of the kids’ favorite snacks. Could you do this with other fried fruits, like dried blueberries and dried cherries? Thanks!
Hi Wendy! If you want to make gummies in other flavors, I recommend this method: https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/easy-and-healthy-homemade-gummies/. Elderberries are a beast of their own, hence the separate recipe. 🙂
How can I make them so they don’t have to be stored in the fridge or freezer? Like how they sell them on the shelves at stores?
And how do you serve them to your kids? Take a batch out of the freezer a week at a time and that them?
You can store them at room temperature for a day or two Alison, but they need cold storage since they don’t have any artificial preservatives. When the kids need a boost, I pull some out when I wake up in the morning. They wake up and have breakfast about 1-2 hours later, and they’re room temperature by then. My kids have had them straight from the freezer though, and they just suck on them until they’re soft enough to chew.
How does the texture of these compare to the store bought ones like Sambucus brand? I like how that brand is chewed quickly if that makes any sense, as opposed to like a gummy worm or some other bears that seem really rubbery and take a long time to really chew up.
I’ve never tried store-bought gummies Natalie, but I think these are “normal?” They’re not excessively rubbery at all and I think they can be chewed pretty quickly!
How long can I store these in the fridge?
These will be good for about a month in the fridge. I recommend the freezer for long-term storage, Nicole.
How important is it to use a flat wisk versus a regular wisk?
Not super important, but the flat whisk makes it MUCH easier. I find that a regular whisk leaves pieces in the corner crevices of the pan.
Can’t wait to try this recipe. I made Elderberry syrup last year and realized how easy it was to make. It is so expensive in the store compared to the cost to make it. My toddler will love these.
Oh yes – the kids LOVE these!! ♥
I have used elderberry syrup in the past to ward off a cold (my grandma’s favorite berry) So, I made up some syrup and added local honey hoping it may help with some kiddos allergies. But why not try some gummies because what kids don’t like gummies..right? Anyways, my question is how do you keep the syrup and gelatin from getting all clumpy? The recipe says to stir until completely dissolved. I did my best and I am hoping that they turn out ok despite some clumpy gelatin blobs. Any trick would be welcome. Thanks
Hi Stacy! I didn’t experience any clumps while making this, but it will gel pretty quickly, so maybe you’re just seeing small bits of gelled gummy already? If it’s a concern, I’d try making these in smaller batches so you can pour into the molds faster, OR just pour into a 9×13 pan and cut into squares!
I waited till my syrup was warm then poured in the gelatin. I wasn’t having a lot of luck mixing it up (I don’t have a small whisk) so I used my milk frother to mix it up. It was only 6 bucks on amazon and it is great for mixing up liquids like this. There were no lumps at all and it only took a moment.
Thanks for the tips on purchasing dried elderberries! So, when you aren’t sick but have come into contact with someone who is, you take fewer gummies? Just wonder if that’s a typo. I have just discovered elderberry this year and want to try this. Thanks for the post!
When we aren’t sick but come into contact with someone who is, we take a few more. I’ll clarify that!! You’re so very welcome Kathryn!