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Immune Boosting Elderberry Popsicles

Think of these as tea-turned-treat: first you brew up a simple elderberry tea, then transform it into immune-boosting popsicles the whole family can enjoy.
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Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups fresh elderberries
  • 2 cups water
  • Optional sweetener (honey*, maple syrup) to taste
  • Apple juice, coconut water, or whatever juice you enjoy to taste

Directions
 

  • To begin, you’ll remove the fresh berries from the stems. This is easiest when the berries are frozen.
  • Next, place the berries in cold water to remove any stems, debris, and unripe berries that you may have missed in the first step.
  • Add the elderberries and water to a pot and bring the mixture to a boil. As soon as it boils, reduce the heat to a simmer for at least 10 minutes. (Boiling for 10 minutes is essential for destroying the cyanogenic glycosides found in fresh elderberries that can cause digestive distress.)
  • Once the liquid takes on a deep purple color and the elderberries have all softened, use a spatula or potato masher to push on the berries so they can release any remaining liquid. Simmer for another 7 minutes.
  • Remove the pot from the heat and let the mixture cool. Strain it through a fine-mesh strainer and continue to press the berries to release any excess liquid. You can compost the leftover pulp of the berries (or turn it into fruit leather).
  • Elderberry tea is rich and tart, so you may want to add some honey* or maple syrup.
  • Now that you have your elderberry tea, to make the popsicles, you’ll want to fill the popsicle mold halfway with elderberry tea and then the rest with apple juice (or whatever unsweetened juice you like).
  • Freeze for at least 5 hours. De-mold and enjoy!

Notes

  • You can pour any leftover elderberry tea into clean glass jars and store in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for 6 months or more.
  • The tea is great on its own, added to fizzy water or mocktails, or mixed with other juices.
*VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE: Do not give honey to babies under one year, as there is a possibility that botulism (Clostridium botulinum) endospores can be present. The risk is that these spores can grow into a potentially fatal botulism infection in a baby’s immature digestive system.