Elderberry Gummy Bears Recipe
Elderberry Gummy Bears: Immune Support in a Tiny Spoonful of Joy 🍇✨
The berries and flowers of elderberry have been beloved for generations—and for good reason. They’re packed with antioxidants and vitamins that may support the immune system, help the body calm inflammation and stress, and even offer a bit of heart-protective love along the way.
In other words: this isn’t just a trendy purple syrup. It’s an old-world ally dressed in a very cute, very kid-friendly outfit.
And turns out, Mary Poppins was onto something when she sang,
“A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.”
Except today, we’re upgrading that spoonful into homemade gummy bears—with a boost of elderberry syrup that kids actually ask for.
These gummies are:
Fun for kids to help make 🧑🏽🍳
A gentle way to weave herbal support into daily life
Tiny enough for picky eaters, magical enough for little imaginations
Let’s get into it.
Why Elderberry for Immune Support?
Elderberries are rich in:
Antioxidants – to help your body neutralize free radicals
Vitamin C & other nutrients – to support overall immune health
Traditional use – many families have used elderberry as part of their winter wellness routine for generations
While elderberry isn’t a cure or a guarantee against illness, it can be a lovely piece of your immune-support toolkitalongside:
Good sleep
Hydration
Nutritious food
Fresh air + movement
Handwashing + basic hygiene
Always check with your child’s doctor or healthcare provider before introducing new herbal products—especially for little ones, pregnant/breastfeeding mamas, or anyone on medication.
Flu-Busting* Elderberry Gummy Bears
*Flu-busting is our playful nickname. These gummies are meant as immune-supporting treats, not a stand-in for medical care.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Chill Time: ~2 hours
Total Time: ~2 hours 10 minutes
Servings: About 60 gummies
Recipe credit: Inspired by Katie Wells of Wellness Mama
Ingredients
Silicone gummy molds or a small glass dish
1 tablespoon coconut oil (for greasing molds/pan)
1 cup elderberry syrup (homemade or store-bought)
¼ cup gelatin powder
½ cup hot (not boiling) water
Instructions
Prepare your molds
Lightly grease your silicone molds or glass pan with coconut oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
Bloom the gelatin
Pour ¼ cup of cooled elderberry syrup into a 2-cup measuring cup or small bowl.
Quickly whisk in the gelatin powder until it’s well combined and thickened. This step helps the gelatin “bloom” so your gummies set up nicely.
Add hot water
Pour in the ½ cup of hot (not boiling) water and stir quickly until the mixture is smooth and the gelatin is fully dissolved.
Stir in the remaining syrup
Add the rest of the elderberry syrup to the mixture.
Whisk or stir until completely smooth—no lumps.
Pour + chill
Carefully pour the mixture into your prepared silicone molds or glass dish.
Transfer to the refrigerator and chill for about 2 hours, or until fully firm.
Unmold + store
Gently pop gummies out of the molds, or if using a glass dish, cut into small squares.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Place a piece of parchment paper between layers to keep them from sticking together.
They typically keep about a week in the fridge—if they last that long. In most homes, they mysteriously vanish. 😏
How to Enjoy Elderberry Gummies
Here are some gentle, non-prescriptive ways families like to use them:
As a daily immune-season treat (for example, 1–3 gummies, depending on size and age—always check with your pediatrician)
As a special “wellness candy” during the colder months
As part of a bedtime or morning ritual: “We stretch, we sip water, we have our little purple bears.”
Again: these are food + herbal support, not medication. If your child is sick, running a high fever, or you’re concerned about flu or other illness, please contact a healthcare provider.
Tips & Variations
Kid collaboration: Let kids help grease molds, whisk (once cooled), and pop gummies out of the tray. It turns wellness into a little kitchen ritual.
Shape magic: Use different molds—bears, stars, hearts, forest animals—to make them extra fun.
Less sweet? If your elderberry syrup is very sweet, you can experiment with slightly reducing the amount or using a lower-sugar syrup next batch. Just keep the liquid ratios similar so the gummies still set.
If you make these, you’re not just sneaking something “healthy” into your child’s day—you’re inviting them into a tiny, delicious ritual of self-tending.
A spoonful of sugar may help the medicine go down.
But a handful of purple gummy bears?
That’s medicine they’ll actually ask for. 💜✨