I love the flavour of elderflower, and now is a perfect time to harvest them (usually the end of May onwards for a few weeks) it seems a little later this year, must have been the strange changeable weather we are having. I wanted to share with you a few Elderflower recipes.
Firstly though, here is an Elder tree in flower:
A close up of an Elderflower and the leaves:
Its recommended that you pick them in the morning, as this is when they are at there most fragrant. I however wanted to do it with the girls this week, so we did it on the school run on the way home. Miss N was really enthusiastic, helping me look for flower heads to put in our special bag. Miss A was doing her own kind of foraging though, collecting buttercups and daisies. We had lovely time ambling along, looking for the dainty mob heads.
I’ve tried a few Elderflower recipes, but they all start the same way:
Elderflower Cordial:
Once you have collected and shaken your Elderflowers, put 25 heads of flowers into a large bowl add the rind (taken off in strips) of 3 Lemons (unwaxed) and then slice the lemons and add those too
Boil 2 bags of sugar (it does seem like alot but remember this is to be watered down) together with 1.5 Litres of water, you need to stir until sugar has dissolved. Once this had happened add to the Elderflower and lemons and combine. Then add 100g of Citric Acid and mix.
Cover the bowl, and leave to to cool at room temperature and to infuse for 24 hrs. The next day strain. I used a muslin cloth in a sieve, and it worked really well.
Here is the finished cordial, it is so delicious and refreshing. I strongly recommend that you give it a go, so quick and easy:
The next two recipes, are a little bit of an experiment. I bought 2 x 70cl bottles of Vodka and I used empty and sterilised 500g Douwe Egberts jars. I tried three jars, but there was not enough vodka to fill all three, so two would be fine, with some vodka to spare, happy days!
Elderflower Vodka
I loosely packed (around 8-10) flower heads with 5 tablespoons of sugar and the rind of half a lemon in the Jar. I then topped up the Jar with vodka. I have left it for just over a week so far. I think I will leave for another 2-3 weeks in a cupboard, giving it a shake every now and then. I will then strain and bottle. I shall update on how this tastes.
Elderflower and Blackberry Vodka
For this I added 150g of blackberries, loosely packed the elderflower heads again, this time adding 8 tablespoon of sugar and the rind of half a lemon. I’m hoping this won’t take quite as long as the Elderflower vodka as it’s already a beautiful colour. I shall again update once I have strained and tested, I am hoping in approximately a weeks time.
Ohh just had a thought, maybe I can bring my moonshine with me to Britmums Live?
UPDATE: Both of the recipes were delicious, the elderflower vodka was very refreshing topped with soda or lemonade. The Blackberry, was so smooth it could be drunk on its own over ice! I will definitely be making both of these again.
Or how about trying my good friend Lizzie’s recipe for Elderflower and Rhubarb cordial.
Thank you for reading
Wow- am LOVING the look of these recipes! I’m racing out this weekend definitely to collect some elderflowers and get making! Mmmmmm elderflower cordial with a bit of champagne- lushness! Great post! x
Great stuff Gerry, I going to make another batch this week of the cordial. The citric acid you can buy at health food shops, I got mine on The Avenue.
Love the ideas here!
I just need to find some elderflowers 😉
You will not be disappointed! Worth a quick forage 😉
How lovely! The photographs are gorgeous too and your graphics. I am liking the look of the blackberry and elderflower cordial very much. I think sneaking some into Britmums is a VERY good idea 🙂
Thank you! I shall be bringing the vodka, if I can find something safe enough to transport it in…we can have an aperitif in the hotel 😉
The blackberry one in particular looks lush – yum! x
I can not wait until I try it…It’s going to be a lovely colour 🙂
I left my cordial mix for four days – the elderflower flavour was stronger. And I put an orange in with the lemons for an extra something. Yum. A little bit of cordial at the bottom of a glass of white or sparkling wine is deeelicious, and pouring it over fruit salad instead of plain sugar syrup is very good (very). Elderflowers and gooseberries (and rhubarb, for that matter) go well together, so adding a little bit of cordial to your gooseberry (or rhubarb) fool is a cunning plan, too.
Ohh, I think I’ll try leaving it for longer next time too, see what the difference is. LOVE the idea of oranges!
Can not wait to try in wine, this is definitely in my plan! Lots of great ideas…thank you 🙂
Love the recipes. Need to find an elderflower tree 😉
Good luck, let me k ow if you make it!
Two things: 1. This was amazing. I want more. and 2. I’m a vegetarian who NEVER eats bacon, and the bacon vodka was one of the best things that’s ever been in my mouth…take that as you will.
I don’t think I have ever had elderflower in any of my drinks before. This is very timely because I am hosting a party this weekend for my girl friends. Cheers for the recipe, Amanda. I am so excited to try it already, the blackberry and ederflower vodka looks absolutely yum!
Fantastic! I am also going to freeze it, and add it to wine. Welcome to The Ana Mum Diary 🙂
LOVE the sound of the blackberry vodka :0)
Your rhubarb cordial sounds amazing….beautiful colour too!