How to make elderflower cordial and the best recipes to use it in

How to forage for elderflower

Elderflowers are a British summer icon. Drive around the countryside in late spring and early summer and you can’t fail to spot these ubiquitous blooms in the hedgerows, their sprays of delicate white flowers bobbing in the breeze.

Elderflowers are easy to identify and pick. They are usually in bloom from late May and at their best until late June.

• Look for sprays with lots of open, clean, white, star-shaped flowers.
• Trim at the fork in the stem below and use within a few hours.
• As with all foraging, pick away from busy roads, where flowers may have been tainted by fumes
• Don’t leave any of the elder tree branches too barren as this will prevent them producing berries later in the year.
• The flowers from different elderflower trees can have variable depth of scent. Find a tree you love and go back to it!
• Before using, give the freshly picked elderflower heads a shake, then inspect and remove any insects.

If you’re concerned about confusing elderflower blossom with other white flowers, give it a sniff – elderflower has a distinctive fresh scent, which you’ll recognise easily if you’ve ever had elderflower cordial.

What can I make with elderflowers?

Once you’ve cleaned your hedgerow haul, there are plenty of things you can make with elderflowers. Start with our classic elderflower cordial or elderflower fizz recipes below. Your cordial can then be used in dozens of cocktails, mocktails, desserts and bakes, even after the short elderflower season has passed.

What does elderflower go well with?

With their floral, slightly honeyed flavour, elderflowers pair beautifully with other seasonal treasures including strawberries, gooseberries and cherries.

How to make elderflower cordial

Elderflower cordial
This is only elderflower cordial recipe you’ll ever need. Once you’ve gathered a decent bunch of elderflower heads (around 50 or so), you can make two litres of this classic summer cordial. Mix with sparkling water, champagne or prosecco for a refreshing springtime tipple. It’s great in a classic hugo spritz cocktail.

1. Start by placing 1kg of granulated sugar with 1.75 litres of boiling water in a bowl, stir to dissolve, then cover with a clean tea town and leave to cool.
2. Then, thinly zest and slice 3 lemons and 4 limes and add this to the sugary water.
3. Add the flowers of about 50 elderflower heads, plus 65g citric acid, stir, cover with cling film and leave for about 36 hours in a cool dark place.
4. Finally, strain once though a fine sieve, then strain again thought a muslin cloth.
5. Decant into sterilised glass bottles (see tips) and keep in a cool dark place for up to two months.

Get the full elderflower cordial recipe

Tips for making elderflower cordial

• It’s important to sterilise the glass bottles before decanting your cordial in order to remove any lurking bacteria. Find out how with our handy video.
• Before adding the elderflowers to the sugary liquid, make sure to give them a good shake first to remove any hidden insects and dirt.
• Once opened, use your elderflower cordial within a month.

How to use up leftover elderflower cordial

• Aromatic icing
  Add a couple of teaspoons of elderflower cordial to icing sugar with enough water to make a thick, spreadable icing. Use to decorate biscuits or thin down with a little more water to ice fairy cakes.
• Fragrant cake
  Add a couple of tablespoons of elderflower cordial to a simple victoria sponge cake mix or drizzle over a loaf cake.
• Elderflower spritz
  Mix a glug of cordial, a measure of vodka, some chopped fresh mint and a good squeeze of fresh lime in a glass, then top up with prosecco and soda water.

The best recipes using fresh elderflowers

Elderflower tempura with elderflower dipping sauce
This elegant dessert puts a British summertime twist on the classic Japanese recipe. Fronds of flowers are dredged through a simple batter and deep-fried for crispy, fragrant results.

Strawberry, lemon and elderflower meringue
Gill Meller’s summery pavlova-style recipe features pillows of cream sweetened with elderflower cordial – and if you can get your hands on some fresh blooms too, it looks oh-so pretty topped with a tumble of them.

Elderflower fizz
This effervescent fermented drink is made by combining just-picked elderflowers with water, sugar, vinegar and lemon juice, before letting the natural yeasts on the flowers work their magic. It’s easier to make than you might think – follow our tips on bottling it safely and you’ll be rewarded with a refreshing, low-alcohol drink that’s perfect for toasting the arrival of summer.

Mango and elderflower mess
Elderflower cordial intensifies the heady, floral notes of ripe mango in this modern mess recipe. Serve in tall glasses for dramatic effect and garnish with elderflower heads.

The best recipes using elderflower cordial

Elderflower, cherry and cream flourless cake
Catering for gluten-free guests this summer? They’ll adore this flourless cake. Ground almonds and cherries give the dessert a bakewell tart flavour profile. You can use elderflower cordial or liqueur to sweeten the whipped cream cloud on top.

Elderflower jellies with boozy cream
These jellies are perfect when you want a make-ahead dessert for two. Pop them in the fridge in the afternoon, then enjoy after dinner in the garden, while you watch the sun go down.

Strawberry and elderflower sorbet
Stash a tub of this homemade strawberry and elderflower sorbet in the freezer ready for dessert emergencies, especially on those summer nights when it’s too hot to cook. It’s a great way of using up squishy berries or a haul from the pick-your-own farm.

Elderflower and cucumber prosecco cocktail
Stir up an easy summer cocktail using your homemade elderflower cordial and your favourite fizz. This recipe makes enough to serve eight, but can easily be scaled up for a bigger bash.

Pannacotta with gooseberry and elderflower compote
Tart gooseberries and honeyed elderflowers go together beautifully in elegant summer puds, like this creamy pannacotta topped with a tangy gooseberry and elderflower compote.

Looking for more ideas? Browse our complete collection of elderflower recipes.