This elderflower syrup recipe can be used to make a refreshing elderflower cordial simply by adding it to sparkling water. It would also be an excellent addition to cocktails including this apple cider martini. But that's not all! Drizzle it over ice cream, use it to sweeten desserts...the possibilities are endless!
I have been meaning to make elderflower syrup and cordial for years now. What's stopped me is finding these elusive flowers! I can never get up into the mountains in time to pick them. I'm either too early or too late.
Last year, I planted an elderberry bush so that I don't have to deal with this issue ever again. I noticed most recipes call for around 30 elderflower clusters, but my small elder tree only had around 15, so I used 10 of them to make a small batch of elderflower syrup.
If you are one of the lucky ones who have access to a lot of elderberry bushes, you'll definitely want to make elderberry syrup and one of my favorite wines ever, elderberry wine! If you don't, you can purchase dried elderflower blossoms.
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😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Elderflower syrup can be used to make elderflower champagne, sweeten your tea or lemonade, or in desserts.
- Elderflower cordial and syrup make excellent gifts for the mixologist in your life!
- You don't need a ton of elderflower heads to make this small-batch elderflower syrup recipe. You only need around 10!
- Add a tablespoon or two of this syrup to club soda for a refreshing, non-alcoholic beverage.
🛒 What You'll Need For This Recipe
🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
- Elderflowers: You can use fresh elderflowers or dried elderflower blossoms to make this recipe. However, when possible, choose freshly picked elderflowers.
- Lemon: Half of a small zested and sliced lemon plus a couple of orange slices. I used dehydrated orange slices but fresh can also be used.
- Optional: Sometimes citric acid is added to lengthen the shelf-life of the syrup but I didn't find it necessary since this is a small batch recipe.
*A full list of ingredients can be found in the recipe card!
🍯 How to Make Elderflower Syrup
Step 1: In a small saucepan, bring sugar, water, lemon zest, sliced lemon, and orange slices to a gentle boil, stir gently until the sugar has dissolved. Simmer over low to medium heat for 10-15 minutes or until syrupy.
Step 2: Meanwhile, pick 10 elderflower heads, being careful not to lose any of the tiny flowers. Pluck flowers off of stems and add to a pint-sized sterilized mason jar.
Pro Tip: Keep in mind that elderberry stems and leaves are toxic. You only want to use the flowers, leaving most of the stems behind. It's ok if a small amount make it into the syrup.
Step 3: Pour hot syrup into jar, covering the elderflowers. Bring to room temperature, then refrigerate, shaking a few times a day to mix. Allow this mixture to infuse for a couple of days.
Pro Tip: If you don't want the citrus flavor to be overpowering, simply remove the citrus before pouring the syrup into the mason jar.
Step 4: When you're satisfied with the flavor and scent of the elderflower syrup, strain through muslin cloth or a fine mesh sieve and into an 8-ounce flip top bottle. Store in the fridge.
🥂 How to Make Elderflower Cordial
Making elderflower cordial from elderflower syrup couldn't be easier! Just mix a few tablespoons of elderflower syrup with seltzer water and serve over ice.
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🍸 How to Use Elderflower Syrup
Elderflower syrup is so versatile! As mentioned, it can be used to make elderflower cordial, but you can also make elderflower lemonade. Add a little to your favorite champagne to make elderflower champagne. The syrup can also be drizzled over ice cream, an apple dutch baby or pancakes, or used to make this elderflower vinaigrette! Finally, use your elderflower syrup to glaze meat and veggies before grilling.
🧐 How to Identify Elderflowers
Please use caution when foraging elderflowers. If you are an inexperienced forager, you may want to consult someone who's more knowledgeable.
Elderberry bushes are not too hard to identify, once you know what to look for. They grow in mountainous regions of North America and in Europe. Foragers can look for them in late spring/early summer. But keep in mind, the higher you go in elevation, the later you will find them.
You want to pick the flowers from black elder (Sambucus nigra) or blue elder (Sambucus cerulea). Once you find black or blue elderberries, you can come back to the same spot each year to pick elderflowers in late spring and elderberries in late summer.
Red and black elderberries have pyramid-shaped flower clusters, while blue elderberry has flat-topped clusters. The delicate flowers are cream-colored.
The leaves of elder plants are pinnately divided into 5-9 sharply toothed leaflets about 2-6" long (Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rockies).
There is mixed information regarding the edibility of red elderberries (Sambucus racemosa) which are said to be more toxic than the other varieties. I err on the side of caution and don't consume the red berries or their flowers.
Other Elderberry Lookalikes
When picking elderflowers, pay attention to the small details like the shape of the leaves and flower clusters, as well as their color. When in doubt, plant your own elderberry bush or buy the dried elderberries or elderflowers.
Pro Tip: You may think you know what you're looking for until you come upon a plant that has similarities. For this reason, I highly recommend having some photos on your phone to refer to. If you have cell reception, a plant-identifying app like Picture This can also be helpful.
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
Yes, both freshly picked elderflowers and dried elderflowers can be used to make elderflower syrup and cordial, however, freshly pickled blossoms are best, if you can find them.
Infused elderflowers have a light and delicate floral taste with a subtly sweet flavor reminiscent of honeysuckle or pear.
Elderflower syrup is made with elderflower blossoms before they mature into elderberries. This syrup is light and floral. Elderberry syrup, on the other hand, is prepared with elderberries. It's red in color and used for its medicinal qualities and to build up immunity.
Not really, but people seem to use the terms interchangeably. Elderberry syrup is prepared with elderflowers infused in syrup, while elderflower cordial is prepared with a few tablespoons of elderberry syrup mixed into a sparkling beverage or water.
👩🏼🍳 Pro Tips
- I didn't rinse the elderflowers because they were clean, but if yours look dusty, you can give them a quick rinse. Keep an eye out for insects too!
- Don't discard the lemon slices, add them to hot or iced tea or lemonade. You can also dehydrate them to make candied orange slices.
- If you don't keep your elderflower syrup cool by storing it in the fridge, it can ferment. Don't store it in a flip top jar unless it's refrigerated.
- When stored in the refrigerator, elderflower syrup lasts up to 3 months.
🌸 More Foraging Recipes
If you enjoy this elderflower syrup recipe, be sure to check out these related posts!
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📖 Recipe
Elderflower Syrup And Cordial
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 small lemon
- 2 small orange slices
- 10 elderflower clusters
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, bring sugar, water, lemon zest, sliced lemon, and orange slices to a gentle boil, stir gently until the sugar has dissolved. Simmer over low to medium heat for 10-15 minutes or until syrupy.
- Meanwhile, pick 10 elderflower heads, being careful not to lose any of the tiny flowers. Pluck flowers off of stems and add to a pint-sized sterilized mason jar.
- Pour hot syrup into jar, covering the elderflowers. Bring to room temperature, then refrigerate, shaking a few times a day to mix. Allow this mixture to infuse for a couple of days.
- When you're satisfied with the flavor and scent of the elderflower syrup, strain through muslin cloth or a fine mesh sieve and into an 8-ounce flip top bottle. Store in the fridge.
How to Make Elderflower Cordial
- Making elderberry cordial from elderberry syrup couldn't be easier! Just mix a few tablespoons of elderberry syrup with seltzer water and serve over ice.
Notes
- I didn't rinse the elderflowers because they were clean, but if yours look dusty, you can give them a quick rinse. Keep an eye out for insects too!
- Keep in mind that elderberry stems and leaves are toxic. You only want to use the flowers, leaving most of the stems behind. It's ok if a small amount make it into the syrup.
- If you don't want the citrus flavor to be overpowering, simply remove the citrus before pouring the syrup into the mason jar.
- Don't discard the lemon slices, add them to hot or iced tea or lemonade. You can also dehydrate them to make candied citrus slices.
- If you don't keep your elderflower syrup cool by storing it in the fridge, it can ferment. Don't store it in a flip top jar unless it's refrigerated.
- When stored in the refrigerator, elderflower syrup lasts up to 3 months.
- You may think you know what you're looking for until you come upon a plant that has similarities. For this reason, I highly recommend having some photos on your phone to refer to. If you have cell reception, a plant identifying app like Picture This can also be helpful.
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