The Herbal Kitchen · Recipe
Elderberry Gummies with Turmeric & Lemon
- Prep
- 10 minutes
- Cook
- about 10 minutes
- Set
- 1 to 2 hours in the refrigerator
Ingredients
- 1 cup (240 ml) elderberry juice, unsweetened (store-bought pasteurized juice, or juice made from fully cooked ripe elderberries (see the safety notes))
- 2 to 3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ to 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons unflavored powdered gelatin
- ¼ cup (60 ml) cool water (for softening the gelatin)
Instructions
- Soften the gelatin. Sprinkle the gelatin over the ¼ cup of cool water in a small bowl. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Warm the juice. In a saucepan over low heat, warm the elderberry juice with the honey or maple syrup, turmeric and black pepper. Don't let it boil.
- Dissolve the gelatin. Stir the softened gelatin into the warm juice until it has fully dissolved.
- Add the lemon. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the lemon juice.
- Fill the molds. Carefully pour the mixture into silicone gummy molds.
- Chill until set. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours, until firm. Pop the gummies out of the molds.
Storage
- Keep the gummies in a sealed container in the refrigerator and eat them within 2 weeks.
- For longer storage, freeze them.
Ingredient safety
- Never use raw or unripe elderberries, or the leaves or stems of the elder plant. They contain substances that produce cyanide and can cause nausea, vomiting and severe diarrhea. Cooking destroys this toxin, so use pasteurized elderberry juice or juice made from fully cooked ripe berries of an edible elderberry.
- Don't give honey to a child under 1 year old. Use maple syrup instead if anyone that young might eat the gummies.
- Turmeric in food amounts is different from concentrated turmeric or curcumin supplements, which have been linked to liver injury and may be unsafe in pregnancy.
- Little is known about whether elderberry is safe for health purposes during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you take medicines, ask your doctor or pharmacist before using elderberry regularly.
- This recipe is written for gelatin. Agar sets differently and needs its own recipe, so it isn't a direct swap.
- These gummies are a food. They are not a treatment for any illness.
Sources
HerbsSearch is an educational botanical resource. This recipe is a food, not a medicine, and isn't a substitute for professional medical advice.
