20+ Elderflower Recipes: cordial, liqueur, tea, jelly, cake + more! (2024)

FAQs

Is elderflower cordial the same as elderflower liqueur? ›

No, this is non-alcoholic; elderflower cordial is a liqueur. I have both. I did use this (elderflower syrup) in a champagne co*cktail but I've used the elderflower liqueur in margaritas (to change it up from a "normal" margarita) and will use it in other drinks.

Elderflower is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when used short-term as medicine, or in small amounts as part of a combination product containing elderflower, sorrel, gentian root, verbena, and cowslip flower (SinuComp, Sinupret). The combination product can cause digestive system upset and sometimes allergic skin rash.

Recipe Tips

They can be frozen if liked: freeze about 25 heads in a bag and add to the hot sugar syrup straight from the freezer - this will stop them turning brown once defrosted.

Why use citric acid in elderflower cordial? The addition of citric acid simply prevents the cordial from fermenting and acts as a preservative. You can buy citric acid for cordial online in a number of sizes depending on how you choose to use this versatile product.

St‑Germain is a French liqueur made with fresh elderflowers, hand-picked once a year in the late spring. To accomplish its exquisitely natural flavor, every bottle of St‑Germain contains up to 1,000 of the very best elderflower blossoms, resulting in a finely crafted, perfectly balanced and refined liqueur.

Absolutely, you can drink elderflower liqueur straight! If you're new to this, try it chilled or at room temperature in a small, elegant glass. This method lets you savor its aroma and taste in its purest form, creating a delightful sensory experience.

Constipation. Drinking a tea containing elderflower, senna flower, fennel fruit, and green anise fruit seems to improve symptoms and increase the chance of having a bowel movement in people who are constipated.

Pasteurising Your Elderflower Cordial

You can enjoy your newly made cordial for a few weeks if simply refrigerated.

Sweet drinks are high in energy and contain very little nutrition for your child's diet. Regular intake of sweet drinks may lead to excess weight gain. Children who have sweet drinks such as cordial, soft drink and juice regularly are at a higher risk of tooth decay.

(The fairy godmother of liquor?) You can also pretty much keep it around forever—either in a cabinet, on your bar cart, or in your fridge, it never really goes bad, even if it does start to change color.

Why does my elderflower cordial taste bitter? ›

As with all things Elderflower, I advise removing the thick stems from the flowers and as many of the little stems as you can be bothered to remove. The more stem left in whatever you're making, the greener the final result will be. And the greener it is, the more bitter it may become.

There is enough yeast in the flowers of the elderflower to cause it to ferment, go fizzy and become (very slightly) alcoholic. The solution is to freeze your cordial in small batches, and defrost as and when you need it.

What is the shelf-life of your drinks? Cordials: Our best before date is printed on the neck of our bottles, but typically will have about 12-18 months shelf life by the time you get your hands on them! Once opened, they should be consumed within 3 weeks.

What is the difference between elderflower syrup and elderflower cordial? The terms elderflower syrup and elderflower cordial are used interchangeably: they both mean a concentrated elderflower extract.

The cream coloured flower heads have honey-scented blossoms and are edible. So if you do not have time to make cordial over several days throw them in your salad or pancake batter. You can easily freeze the elderflower cordial, just make sure you don't fill the container to the rim.

Liqueurs And Cordials

Liqueurs are basically liquors that have been flavored and sweetened. The term is interchangeable with “cordial,” except in the U.K., where cordial can also just refer to a sweet, non-alcoholic liquid.

The essence of up to one thousand elderflowers can be found in each Belle Epoque-style bottle of St-Germain! You can substitute St-Germain with Giffard Fleur de Sureau Sauvage, St. Elder, and RoomeR Elderflower Aperitif.

With a little tasting and tweaking, it'll work in place of elderflower liqueur in concoctions as diverse as the Yellow Jacket or Watermelon Crawl. Elderflower cordial is a natural companion for sparkling wine—add a little cordial to your bubbly along with some gin and a lemon slice for a twist on the French 75.

Elderflower has a woodsy and floral taste, and their sweetness comes out when elderflower is cooked. Photo courtesy of Shadi via Unsplash. Compared to elderflower, elderberry has a more intense taste: woodsy and floral, with a dark flavor that can be bitter and earthy when the fruit is consumed raw.