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

FAQs

What is the difference between elderflower cordial and liqueur? ›

Contrary to the name, elderflower cordial does not contain alcohol. If the preparation has alcohol in it, it is typically referred to as an Elderflower Liqueur, like. St. Germain.

However, the elderflowers' natural yeasts will no longer function so you'll have to add brewing yeast where relevant. Uses for dried elderflowers include wines, fizzes, teas and cordials.

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.

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.

I use it to sweeten and flavor iced tea and sparkling water, or in place of simple syrup or sugar in co*cktails like the Daiquiri, Tom Collins, or Cucumber Gimlet. 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.

The word “cordial” stems from the medieval Latin word cor, meaning “heart,” and later came to mean “something that invigorates,” as cordials were first used for medicinal purposes.

Elderflower is delicious mixed into cakes, tarts, trifles and jams. It pairs particularly well with tart fruits such as rhubarb and gooseberries. From casual nibbles to celebratory showstoppers, we have a whole host of fantastic floral recipes.

In a teapot, steep 4 fresh elderflowers or 2 teaspoons of dried blossoms in boiling hot water for 5 minutes.

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.

The liquid needs space to expand when frozen and believe me you do not want to experience a sticky elderflower cordial explosion in your freezer! If you are not into the sweet and slightly perfumed flowers try my Rhubarb Syrup Recipe or Raspberry Ginger Limeade instead.

What does elderflower pair well with? ›

The lightly sweet nuances of elderflower blend well with many other natural fruit flavors and botanicals, including honey, pear, blackberry, strawberry, grapefruit, orange, lime, passionfruit, ginger, and even herbal flavors like rosemary, basil, and lemongrass.

Traditionally herbalists recommend taking elderflowers daily in the allergy season to reduce symptoms. They can also be used topically as they impart anti-inflammatory properties, so they're great for calming irritated skin.

With this in mind, I tried the elderflower cordials diluted as directed on the label. They all seemed about right in terms of flavour level, and the sugar content after dilution was mostly similar: between 10g and 12g for a 250ml glass – nearly a tablespoonful.

Elderflowers are great for children and adults. In fact, anyone can use them, including pregnant or nursing moms and the elderly. Elder is a sweet-tasting, gentle herb that has many wonderful properties especially when it comes to children.

A liqueur, or cordial, is a sweetened distilled spirit. Flavored with a variety of fruits, nuts, herbs, and spices, as well as things like chocolate and coffee, liqueurs contribute more flavor than alcohol to co*cktails and mixed drinks.

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.

WHAT IS ST‑GERMAIN? St‑Germain is a French liqueur made with fresh elderflowers, handpicked in full bloom every spring.

The terms elderflower syrup and elderflower cordial are used interchangeably: they both mean a concentrated elderflower extract. This extract can be used in drinks, liqueurs, creams, and any other number of food items as an additional flavor profile and sweetener.