Ginger Honey Cough Drops Recipe

All natural, homemade ginger honey cough drops are easy to make and takes only a few ingredients that you probably already have. There is nothing more annoying than a hacking cough when you have a cold or the flu. And the first thing you think of is gulping liberal amount of cough syrup and passing out, in hopes that when you wake up, you'd be all better.

Well, I have news for you; over the counter cough syrups DO NOT work. In fact, even WebMD says that cough syrup is nothing more than a psychological remedy because you feel like you have to do something when you are coughing uncontrollably and you think it helps. But it doesn't. It's disappointing to find out that cough syrup doesn't stop a cough anymore than a spoonful of honey. Yes, honey! (Maybe that's why most natural cough syrup is made of honey?!?)

Yes, WebMD and Mayo Clinic recommend honey as cough suppressant and they both say that it works just as well as OTC cough syrup. In fact, according to Mayo Clinic,

honey appeared to be as effective as a common cough suppressant ingredient, dextromethorphan, in typical over-the-counter doses

The truth is, whether recent researches recommend honey for cough of not, honey has been used for preventing cold and to treat cough for years! My daughter loves this immune boosting honey syrup in tea as preventive drink and for treatmenting coughs caused by mucus build up.

Speaking of mucus... coughing is a natural way for the body to expel mucus, which is the body's normal response to external assault on the system (i.e. from cold, flu and allergies.) But excess mucus production can lead to other health problems like bronchitis or asthma and pneumonia so using any method to loosen up mucus or to suppress excessive coughing is beneficial in reducing symptoms and eliminating further complications.

Homemade Honey Cough Drops Recipe

When I had the flu last month, I was downing (and drowning) lemon ginger tea with honey every chance I had. But still, I was coughing a lot and after a while, my throat was raw and scratchy from the irritation, not to mention running to the bathroom to pee every hour. So I was melting honey cough drops slowly in my mouth in between drinking tea and they helped a lot. I think I gained about 5 lbs as result but that's another story.

So when I felt a little better, I decided to make my own honey cough drops since it's cheaper and I can add ingredients to achieve any variations I want. Some of the antiviral properties of honey and ginger will be reduced when you heat them in high temperature but the soothing properties of honey and spicy ginger flavor works well to coat, soothe an irritated throat and to loosen up mucus.

Scroll below the recipe for a variety of preventive versions you can make.

Ginger Honey Cough Drops Recipe

Ingredients:

• ⅓ C Peeled and Sliced Organic Ginger (antiviral)
• 3 C of Water
• ½ C raw unfiltered organic honey (antiviral and cough expectorant as well as suppressant)
• ½ Stick of Cinnamon (anti-inflammatory)
• Pinch of Himalayan Pink Salt (Affiliate) (for extra mineral)
• ½ Cup Powdered Sugar (Blend about ½ cup of granulated sugar in high power blender like Vitamix or Blendtec. Not needed if using candy mold)
• Cookie Sheet (Not needed if using candy mold)
• Silicone Candy Mold (Affiliate) (Optional)

Equipment Needed:

• Heavy Bottom Sauce Pot
• Candy Thermometer (Affiliate)
• Heavy Stainless Steel spoon for stirring.

Directions:

1. In a heavy bottom sauce pot, boil sliced ginger in water. When it reaches boil, simmer until the liquid reduces to about ⅓ Cup. This will be the ginger extract.
2. In the same pot with the ginger extract, add the honey and cinnamon stick and bring to boil. Watch the pot carefully because it will bubble up. Make sure it doesn't boil over or burn and be very careful not to touch the boiling honey. It's very very hot.
3. Add a pinch of pink salt.
4. Boil until the candy thermometer reads 250°F - hard candy temperature.
5. If you are using candy mold, pour the honey mixture carefully into the mold. Set it aside until it's cooled and refrigerate until hardened.
6. If you are using the powder sugar method, spread the powdered sugar (blend granulated sugar in a high power blender) on a cookie sheet about ½ inch in thickness. Make round circles with a back of round measuring spoon, creating small craters. Basically, you are making a "mold' right on the powder sugared surface on the cookie sheet. Pour the honey inside the craters. Yes, they will not be all perfectly uniform like silicone candy molds but you'll get the shapes you create and shape you want. You can also portion out the sizes you want too. 
7. When the cough drops are hard enough to pick up or unmold them if using the candy mold, roll them around in the sugar so they don't stick to each other. Store them in a glass jar in the refrigerator. I think they will last a quite awhile.

Tips:

• I love using grated ginger instead of using ginger extract. If you don't mind chewing on small pieces of ginger, you don't have to boil ginger. Just grate about 2 tablespoon of ginger and add it straight to honey before boiling. No fussing with making ginger extract this way. Call me lazy.
• These cough drops will get sticky in your mouth as they melt. Be very careful if you have fillings or any other dental work. They may fall out if you chew the candies.
• Sugar-Free Version - Powder sugar is used mainly for preventing candies from sticking to each other. You can shake them off as much as you can before storing them. But if you are not thrilled with even a smidgen amount of extra sugar, then, use Unbleached Parchment Paper (Affiliate) and wrap them individually when storing them.

Preventive Cold Drops

There are a few ways to make preventive cough drops if you feel a cold coming on. Add these ingredients and stir well before pouring into the mold. Candy mixture might smoke when you add the oils so be careful. One caution; you can not ingest just any essential oil because of toxicity and impurities. The links for the essential oils are for Mountain Herbs Rose which produces 100% pure distilled, certified organic essential oils that CAN be ingested. I trust Mountain Herbs Rose for its quality and these oils are safe to ingest in the amount indicated. If you are not sure, check with your aromatherapist before using them.

• Lemon Essential Oil - Add 10 -15 drops of Therapeutic Grade (Vitamin C)
• Peppermint Essential Oil  - Add 10 - 15 drops of Therapeutic Grade (Cough expectorant)
• Echinacea &/Goldseal Plus Extract (Affiliate) - Add 15 drops (Boosts immune system)
• Horehound Extract (Affiliate) - Add 15 drops (Expectorant)
• Cayenne Pepper - a pinch (Capsaicin acts like analgesic and helps with irritated throat)

CAUTION: One last word about honey is to NOT give it to children less than ONE year old due to botulism fears.

Recipe

Did you try this recipe? We would love your feedback! Click on the stars on the recipe card below.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

3.70 from 13 votes

Homemade Honey Cough Drops

Course : Misc

Author: Karen Lee

Ingredients

• ⅓ C Peeled and Sliced Organic Ginger antiviral
• 3 C of Water
• ½ C raw unfiltered organic honey antiviral and cough expectorant as well as suppressant
• ½ Stick of Cinnamon anti-inflammatory
• Pinch of Himalayan Pink Salt Affiliate (for extra mineral)
• ½ Cup Powdered Sugar (Blend about ½ cup of granulated sugar in high power blender like
• Equipment:
• Vitamix or Blendtec. Not needed if using candy mold)
• Cookie Sheet Not needed if using candy mold
• Silicone Candy Mold Affiliate (Optional)

Instructions

• In a heavy bottom sauce pot, boil sliced ginger in water. When it reaches boil, simmer until the liquid reduces to about ⅓ Cup. This will be the ginger extract.
• In the same pot with the ginger extract, add the honey and cinnamon stick and bring to boil. Watch the pot carefully because it will bubble up. Make sure it doesn't boil over or burn and be very careful not to touch the boiling honey. It's very very hot.
• Add a pinch of pink salt.
• Boil until the candy thermometer reads 250°F - hard candy temperature.
• If you are using candy mold, pour the honey mixture carefully into the mold. Set it aside until it's cooled and refrigerate until hardened.
• If you are using the powder sugar method, spread the powdered sugar (blend granulated sugar in a high power blender) on a cookie sheet about ½ inch in thickness. Make round circles with a back of round measuring spoon, creating small craters. Basically, you are making a "mold' right on the powder sugared surface on the cookie sheet. Pour the honey inside the craters. Yes, they will not be all perfectly uniform like silicone candy molds but you'll get the shapes you create and shape you want. You can also portion out the sizes you want too.
• When the cough drops are hard enough to pick up or unmold them if using the candy mold, roll them around in the sugar so they don't stick to each other. Store them in a glass jar in the refrigerator. I think they will last a quite awhile.

DisclosureThis recipe may contain links that pay commission to this site when you purchase from the links, at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure!

Tried this recipe? Share your photo and mention @drkarenslee or tag #drkarenslee!