Well, I don't know about you, but I've already been down with my first cold of the season. To make myself feel more comfortable, I've been relying on some great home remedies for colds, flu, and sinus infections. One thing that always seems to linger a little longer than the other symptoms is the cough. So annoying!
Homemade cough drops can really help by soothing a scratchy, tickly throat, so it doesn’t stimulate the cough. And, you’d be surprised, they are very easy to make.
How to make your own cough drops
The ingredients are simple: water, sugar, honey, lemon juice, ground ginger, and cloves. Everything goes into a pan and the mixture is cooked until it reaches the hard crack stage.
Candy molds can be used, but I find it's even easier to let the mixture cool a little bit and drop it by the spoonful onto a piece of parchment paper. (A marble slab helps the drops cool more quickly.)
The honey is soothing and works as a natural cough suppressant.
Lemon adds vitamin C.
Ginger has anti-inflammatory benefits and works to keep the immune system strong. So add as much or as little as you can handle!
The oil in cloves helps to fight germs and also loosens phlegm (source).
The drops need to be dusted with powdered sugar, cornstarch, or arrowroot starch to keep them from sticking together. Store them in a cool, dry place, and they should last for a few weeks. Dust them again if they become sticky.
📖 Recipe
Homemade Lemon Ginger Clove Cough Drops
Equipment
- saucepan
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Candy thermometer (optional)
Ingredients
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup evaporated cane juice or granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon ground ginger add more for taste
- ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- powdered sugar or cornstarch for coating
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper, or greasing very well. A marble slab comes in handy and helps the drops cool quickly.
- Combine the ingredients, except for powdered sugar or cornstarch, in a heavy-bottomed pot or saucepan. Cook to hard crack stage, about 300°F, whisking every now and then in order to check the color and consistency. This may take between 15-20 minutes, or longer depending on the pan and stove. Test by dropping a little from a spoon into a bowl of ice water. If it cracks, it's ready. If it's chewy, cook for a few more minutes. Remove from the heat. Be careful not to let it burn - the temperature rises quickly at the end.
- Let the mixture cool slightly. Drop onto baking sheet into rounds. Allow to cool completely.
- Once cool, dust with the powdered sugar or cornstarch. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place away from any moisture. (Moisture will cause them to stick together.) Alternatively, they can be dusted and wrapped individually in small pieces of waxed or parchment paper.
Notes
Nutrition
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Gina Jansheski, a licensed, board-certified pediatrician who has been practicing for more than 20 years. Learn more about Hello Glow's medical review board here. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
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