Looking for candy without all the junk? These elderberry caramels deliver so much flavor and amazing wellness benefits for you and your family. 

I can’t be the only one whose kids have wished I would let them eat store-bought candy like most of their friends. Kids love sweets; it's a universal fact, and as a mom, it can be hard to find healthier alternatives. I want the best for my family, so that means passing on certain things at the grocery store and when we eat out. 

A treat every once in a while never hurts anyone, but eating store-bought candy and sweets consistently can have negative long-term effects. That’s why we avoid most candy, because they are all full of refined sugar, dyes, preservatives and high fructose corn syrup. These are not things I want my kids ingesting regularly, and I wouldn’t eat them either. 

It’s been a journey finding healthier alternatives for most foods and sweets, but I think it’s well worth it. Not giving in to keeping store-bought candy around the house led me to create these mouthwatering elderberry caramels. The homemade caramel candies are the perfect solution to the minefield that is the candy section at the grocery store. 

Made without dyes, toxic ingredients or refined sugar, these elderberry caramels have quickly become a family favorite in our house. It's been so refreshing to have this recipe on hand for movie night, game night or just something sweet to snack on. Now we can enjoy candy without all the junk, and honestly, I think it tastes better, too. 

Healthier Candy for the Win

Before we hop into the details of this recipe, I wanted to introduce myself. I’m Lindsey, founder of Elderberry Queen, but most importantly, a mom to five boys. With all the boys in the house, including my husband, there is a lot of energy to go around, and refined sugar doesn’t help with that. 

Unfortunately, refined sugar is hiding in so many foods today, and candy is full of it. My boys definitely have a sweet tooth, so I had to figure out a better way to enjoy candy without buying all that crap full of harmful ingredients. So, when I started making these elderberry caramels, things got a lot sweeter around here. 

One of my favorite things about these elderberry caramels is that the elderberry syrup and the raw honey I use as a sweetener offer their own health-supporting properties. Here are some wellness perks of using elderberry syrup and raw honey.

Benefits of Elderberry Syrup:

• Contains lots of antioxidants that boost your immune system

• Reduces inflammation throughout the body

• Can help lower cholesterol and promote heart health

• Can relieve flu and cold symptoms 

Benefits of Raw Honey: 

• Soothes cough and sore throat

• Acts as a prebiotic and aids in digestion

• Natural sugar alternative

• Full of antioxidants that reduce inflammation and boost immunity

This is why I try to use elderberry and raw honey as often as possible. They taste great and give us an extra boost. 

My second favorite thing about this recipe is how easy it is to make. You also only need four ingredients to make these elderberry caramels. These homemade elderberry caramels are delicious, easy to make and full of healthy ingredients — what’s not to love?

Ingredients You’ll Need

It’s so wonderful to be able to whip up these elderberry caramels and know exactly what they are made of. Four simple and wholesome ingredients are all you’ll need to make these healthy candies. They come together to create something that tastes fantastic and is also good for you. So let’s talk about what you’re going to need.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of Organic Elderberry Syrup: Our elderberry syrup is certified organic and made with natural ingredients to help you feel your best year-round.

• 1 cup of Local Raw Honey: We source our raw honey locally here in Minnesota, and it’s unfiltered, pure and ready to deliver that sweet flavor we deserve.

• 1 stick of salted butter: Butter is a key ingredient in this recipe; it gives the caramels their creamy, salty edge. 

• ½ tsp of vanilla extract: Vanilla extract gives the caramels a classic flavor boost and elevates them a bit. 

What I love most about these ingredients is how wonderfully they come together to create these cozy elderberry caramels that make candy healthy and enjoyable. The rich caramel flavor paired with the sweet elderberry twist makes these caramels unique and delicious, something my whole family loves.

Knowing these elderberry caramels are made with intentional, clean ingredients makes them even sweeter. Now that you’ve got everything ready to go, let’s jump into how to make these elderberry caramels with some quick and easy steps.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Making homemade candy can feel intimidating, but I promise it’s not as hard as you think. It’s very simple and, for me, quite relaxing and fun to make these elderberry caramels. The prep is pretty easy, and they don’t take too long to make, which is always a big plus in my book.

Instructions:

• Heat a saucepan over medium heat and add the elderberry syrup. Then, let it simmer until bubbly. 

• Add the stick of butter to the elderberry syrup and stir gently until completely melted.

• Now add your raw honey and stir frequently. Let this mixture cook until it reaches 260℉ on a candy thermometer.

• Remove from heat, add the vanilla extract, pour into a parchment-lined 8x8 baking pan and let cool completely. 

• Once cooled, remove from the pan and cut into pieces. Enjoy!

Not too complicated or time-consuming — that’s something I bet we all can appreciate. These elderberry caramels have really upped our game for movie nights and holidays. Having a snackable sweet treat on hand that is actually good for you has become the norm around here, and I love it. 

You can store these caramel candies in an airtight glass container in the fridge for up to a week. They will stay good in the freezer for three to six months, making these great for prepping ahead of time. 

Healthy Treats to Fall For

If you enjoyed these elderberry caramels as much as I did, you’re in for a treat. There is a lot more where that comes from, because here at Elderberry Queen, we’re dedicated to giving you the best recipes for flavor and wellness alike. 

Eating healthy never has to be boring; with the right ingredients, it can be perfection. Be sure to grab our Organic Elderberry Syrup and Local Raw Honey for all the recipes ahead. 

Here are more wholesome sweet treats to try out:

• Healthy Fudgy Elderberry Brownies

• Elderberry Pecan Shortbread Bars

• Mixed Berry Crisp

• Gluten-Free Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake

• Healthy Chocolate Mousse

Time to enjoy sweets with wellness-packed ingredients instead of all the unwanted junk!