I’m very passionate about two things. Nutrition, and my little boy, Daniel. So I get really excited when I get to combine the two. I am always looking for ways to boost his immune system to keep him strong, and fighting off any colds and germs. In 21 months, he hasn’t’ been sick once and I have to give credit to my homemade vitamins. I have been giving him elder berry syrup for months now, but I find that I forget to do it because it’s a bit messy, sticky, and can get very expensive. So, yesterday I got creative… VERY creative. And the best part is it made my home smell like Christmas, just in time for the holidays!
What could be better than homemade, HEALTHY, vitamin packed gummies without the refined sugars and low quality ingredients that you would find at the drug store? These little superstars are gelatin gummies with not only elderberry syrup but also probiotics. I thought it would take me all afternoon to make them, but I whipped them up in about 45 minutes. And the best part of it all was that Daniel was BEGGING for more. He loved them, and loved the novel chewy and gummy texture. This is his first ‘candy’ and he loves it!
Why Elder Berry?
Elder berry is a rock star when it comes to supporting the immune system and fighting off the common cold and more specifically the flu. It really is natures flu shot. It contains high levels of A, B, and C and is a powerful antioxidant. To top it off, it’s high in flavonoids which help to prevent cellular damage.
Why Gelatin?
Gelatin is a not so glamorous superfood. It comes from dehydrated protein collagen found in the connective tissue, bones and cartilage of animals. This magical stuff does wonders for the skin, hair, nails. It is also powerful to healthy liver function and is great for the GI tract. The list goes on and on, but the best part about gelatin is it can transform your food magically into a gummy wonderland.
How to make Gummy Immune Superstars
Gummy Immune Superstars
You can purchase elderberry syrup. I love the brand Gaia Herbs, but it can get very expensive. It’s super easy to make your own!
Homemade Elderberry Syrup Ingredients:
1/3 cup black dried elderberries ( I order mine from vitacost.com. You can get a 1lb bag for about $12)
2 cups water
1 T fresh ginger root
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp clove powder
Combine ingredients and let simmer for about 30 minutes. Your whole house will smell amazing and delicious. Water should be reduced by about halk. Remove from heat and strain the berries out. Keep the liquid, and toss the berries.
Making the Gummy Superstars:
1 cup elderberry syrup
5 Tablespoons gelatin
½ cup raw honey
Add gelatin to the elderberry syrup until dissolved. This works better if syrup is slightly warm. Stir in honey (but make sure mixture isn’t too hot.)
Optional Immune boosting supplements:
Probiotics. 1-3 caps (orthomolecular or PB8)
Vitamin C
Vitamin D liquid
Reishi Mushroom
DHA
Pour into molds and let set. Give 1 gummy to your child daily!
Pour into silicone molds for fun shapes (or a glass bowl) and put into the freezer for about 10 minutes. (Check out Amazon for these- there are lots of fun shapes and ideas.)
Give about 1 tsp worth to your kiddos every day (especially during flu season!)
For Gummy Superstars made from purchased elderberry:
Using 1 cup of warmed elderberry syrup, and slowly stir in 5 Tablespoons of gelatin. (I always use Great Lakes unflavored gelatin. It’s the best high quality gelatin on the market.)
Stir in probiotics. (I used 3 capsules of OrthoMolecular’s Orthobiotic, but PB 8 is a good one from the health food store.)
Pour into silicone molds for fun shapes (or a glass bowl) and put into the freezer for about 10 minutes. (Check out Amazon for these- there are lots of fun shapes and ideas.)
Good Luck!
