Elderberry powder recipe (and 15 ways to use it) (2024)

Elderberry powder is a versatile potent substance with a specific colour, taste and unmissable medicinal benefits that can enhance our plate. It is also a very convenient way to preserve elderberries.

I am blessed living in a country that is very rich in nature. When I walk my dog these days I see at least 6 elderberry bushes and it made me wonder how nature is generous to offer us its treasures. When they were in flower I made Elderflower probiotic yogurt, cordial, and icecream. Now when they turned into dark purple elderberries I searched for an easy way to preserve them and use later when the flu season hits. Elderberry syrup, tincture, fire cider and jam I make every year but this time I was hoping to come up with something versatile that I can easily add to my smoothies or morning oatmeal. The idea of elderberry powder popped up when last year, I made beetroot powder, rosehip and nettle powder and I was surprised how many uses and variations I could use them for. Powders are concentrated substances that are easy to make, store and add to any dish. So why not to try elderberry powder.

WHAT IS ELDERBERRY POWDER GOOD FOR?

One of the best ways of preserving elderberries is to turn them into a powder. In one teaspoon of this concentrated form packed with healthy nutrients is equivalent to a 100 g of fresh elderberries.

Elderberries are known for their high content of vitamin C and antioxidants mainly polyphenols (1) that help to stimulate the immune system and increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the blood.

Moreover, elderberries also contain high amounts of fibre (2) and anthocyanins (3) that give the berries their characteristic dark blue-purple colour and possesses anti-inflammatory properties.

Elderberry Powder is a versatile substance that can be prepared in tinctures, syrups, wine, cordials, and even ketchup, often combined with propolis or echinacea.

Are elderberries toxic?

As I mentioned earlier I intend to use this elderberry powder in smoothies, on top of yogurt or just to put one spoon or two in my morning porridge. This means I don’t plan to use it in cooked or baked dishes. So I was very cautious whether I could make the powder from just dried berries or whether it is necessary to cook them before drying.

I went through several articles searching for facts and studies that could confirm whether it is safe to use dried elderberries without further cooking.

Elderberries are considered a top antiviral herb on the planet with many medicinal components that when processed with heat lose some of their properties such as vitamin C or antioxidant anthocyanin (4).

Secondly, the toxic compounds (cyanogenic glycosides) are far more present in stems and leaves rather than in ripe berries and flowers. (5)

Other components such as lectin that might be present in uncooked berries may rather cause digestive problems such as vomiting or nausea and not everybody is sensitive to lectin.

So I personally used uncooked elderberries in the powder as I don’t want to lose their powerful components with heating and I only use a small dosage (such as a teaspoon or 2) in my meals.
However, if you are sensitive to lectin or plan to use a higher dosage of elderberry powder I suggest you cook the elderberries first for 10 minutes before letting them dry.

How to make elderberry powder

First step

Using scissors, collect at least 30 large ripe elderberry heads, remove the berries from the stems and leaves, as these are bitter and mildly toxic and we don’t need them for our project.

Some people use a comb to speed up the process of removing berries but I held the stem in my hand and gently picked all the berries with the other hand (my mom in law did it – as you can see on the image below).This will also allow me to remove unripened berries (that are green or pale purple) or other debris.

Elderberries have a short life and need to be preserved on the same day or you better keep them in the refrigerator.

Second step

Wash them thoroughly and leave them in a strainer to remove excess water

Third step

There are three methods you can choose to dry your elderberries – sun-dried, using a dehydrator or oven. Bear in mind that any heat source can destroy many flavonoids in the berries. So I decided to use the sun-dried method

Using the sun-dried method:

Place the berries in a container and spread them evenly in one layer on parchment paper. It takes 7-9 days to have them dry completely. One way to check if they are dried completely is to pinch them and see if there is still any moist coming out. At the end, they look like dried raisins

Using dehydrator

If you are running out of time or live in a place where there is no sun or warm weather use a dehydrator. It takes just 4-5 hours for elderberries to dry under 130 F (55 degrees Celsius).

Using an oven to dry the elderberries

The temperature should not exceed 120F (48 C). Place the elderberries evenly on the baking tray lined with parchment paper and slide it in the oven. Let them dry for 15-30 minutes and check every 10 minutes to avoid overcooking. The best way is to dry them in small batches to achieve the best result. Once dry, take out the berries and leave to cool.

Fourth step

Using a grinder just grind the elderberries into a powder-like consistency

Fifth step

Store them in an airtight container, in a dark and cold place

How long does elderberry powder last?

Properly dehydrated and stored elderberry powder should last up to one year. To achieve that you need to avoid direct exposure to sunlight. Store it in an air-tight container at room temperature or below.

How to use elderberry powder?

A) Add 1-2 teaspoons into your breakfast delights, here are just a few ideas but the possibilities are endless

1. Put 1 teaspoon of elderberry powder into a smoothie bowl with 2 frozen bananas, 1 cup of coconut milk and place some fruits on the top.
2. Mix 1-2 teaspoons with greek yogurt and put cinnamon and honey on top
3. I love to sprinkle 1-2 teaspoons into my morning oatmeal

B) fill the powder into gelatine capsules and use it as a supplement twice a day to boost your immune system

C) Use the elderberry powder the same way as dried berries to make:

Syrups

Jams or jelly,

Elderberry wine

cordials

teas

Gummies

lollipops

ketchup

Elderberry mead

Cream puffs with Elderberry filling

Elderberry muffins

D) Elderberry Powder can be used in home remedies such as tinctures or oxymels