Homemade elderflower cordial

Homemade elderflower cordial

Fragrant and refreshing, elderflower cordial is simple to make. Mix with soda water, or add to sparkling wine to start a summer party in style

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Makes about 4 litres

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 20 mins

Cook time

Cook 10 mins

Plus picking and 24 hours steeping
Freezable

Method

  1. Put the sugar and 1.5 litres/2¾ pints water into the largest saucepan you have. Gently heat, without boiling, until the sugar has dissolved. Give it a stir every now and again. Pare the zest from the lemons using a potato peeler, then slice the lemons into rounds.
  2. Once the sugar has dissolved, bring the pan of syrup to the boil, then turn off the heat. Fill a washing up bowl with cold water. Give the flowers a gentle swish around to loosen any dirt or bugs. Lift flowers out, gently shake and transfer to the syrup along with the lemons, zest and citric acid, then stir well. Cover the pan and leave to infuse for 24 hrs.
  3. Line a colander with a clean tea towel, then sit it over a large bowl or pan. Ladle in the syrup - let it drip slowly through. Discard the bits left in the towel. Use a funnel and a ladle to fill sterilised bottles (run glass bottles through the dishwasher, or wash well with soapy water. Rinse, then leave to dry in a low oven). The cordial is ready to drink straight away and will keep in the fridge for up to 6 weeks. Or freeze it in plastic containers or ice cube trays and defrost as needed.
Try

Picking elderflowers

Elders burst into life at the end of May and flower through to the middle of June. The secret to making a well-flavoured cordial is to pick flowers on a sunny day before it gets too hot, then use as soon as possible. Choose the freshest-looking heads, frothy with creamy-white flowers.

Use your cordial to...

Drizzle over fruit salad; whip into a gooseberry fool; set into jellies and serve with berries; splash over the sponge in a trifle; drizzle over lemon sorbet.

Per 250ML

619 kcalories, protein 0g, carbohydrate 165g, fat 0 g, saturated fat 0g, fibre 0g, sugar 165g, salt 0.03 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, June 2010.

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Latest comments and suggestions

Results 1-20

  • 2010-06-14 19:10:01.252849

    Gwennie rated and commented on this recipe

    2 stars

    Made this recipe over the weekend but found it very sweet, next time I will probably halve the sugar.

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  • 2010-06-16 12:17:23.998007

    Leon commented on this recipe

    I tried to freeze the cordial but after 2 days it's still liquid....assuming it's the high sugar content. Maybe if i try ice cude trays rather than plastic box which is holding a larger amount.

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  • 2010-06-16 14:13:53.305518

    Sue Spink rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I made a half quantity of this just 5 hours ago but I couldn't resist trying it. It is delicious! I will make a double amount tomorrow. You only need a small quantity per glass of soda water - About 1 to 2 tablespoons. I think Gwennie maybe added too much and that was why it was so sweet. This is as nice as any expensive cordial I have bought, a definate favourite.

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  • Binder photo Val

    2010-06-16 18:45:24.022815

    Val commented on this recipe

    I made some for 1st time on Monday and was so pleased, I'll never buy Bottle Green again (nice as it is). I used about 28 heads of elderflowers (they weren't huge), 3.5 lbs. sugar & 2 pts. water, 3 lemons and 75g citric acid. I zested the lemons, rather than pared them, then sliced the fruits. I didn't want it over-sweet hence less sugar & another lemon. Its gorgeous, still sweet but not overly. I haven't checked in freezer to see if it has frozen, but will do so now.

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  • 2010-06-17 09:21:07.802754

    debsthelawyer commented on this recipe

    Hello can anyone advise me how long the cordial is likely to keep? we are getting married late september and i really wanted to try and make my own cordial to use for soft drinks..... thanks Debs

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  • 2010-06-17 12:23:47.486659

    Ruth commented on this recipe

    hi debsthelawyer, I made a similar recipe last summer and it lasted well into February this year before going off. I imagine it'll be fine until September for your wedding. I bottled it in old soda water plastic bottles and left them closed the whole time. Once the bottle has been opened, I think the amount of air in the bottle tends to cause the cordial to go off quicker. So I'd recommend filling your bottles full and drink any half-filled bottles first.

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  • 2010-06-17 22:27:50.81523

    Leon commented on this recipe

    Val did your cordial freeze?

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  • 2010-06-19 18:38:09.134415

    Lesley R commented on this recipe

    I suggest you source your citric acid before you pick your elderflowers. Sadly a lot of chemists do not keep citric acid, and they have to order it in, because it is used by drug users. So be prepared to be questioned about what you intend to use it for.

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  • 2010-06-23 19:34:46.958736

    Janet rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Wonderful, just making my second batch! I agree that it doesn't freeze, but that makes it easier to take the amount you want out of the freezer each time. Mine is stored in well washed plastic 1 litre milk bottles.

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  • 2010-07-07 21:10:30.823345

    kfrej rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I used old jam jars and preserved it for winter -really lovely!!

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  • 2010-10-27 02:01:04.204411

    Amanda commented on this recipe

    I have never made anything with elderflowers before. When it says use 20 something flowers is that the individual tiny flowers or the whole head of flowers. I am in AUstralia and have managed to grow a nice little shrub that should work with this recipe. Thanks.

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  • 2011-05-21 20:27:19.49079

    VintageMunchkin rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Mmmm, I do love this stuff! Made it with my class, and have been saving glass bottles all year to bottle it. We've made pretty labels and are selling it. Gorgeous stuff!

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  • 2011-06-03 17:54:11.004233

    Avril commented on this recipe

    made this cordial last year, it was amazing and easy. Had some with sparkling wine for our silver wedding anniversary-yum. Made a few batches and sold it in my cafe.Keeps for longer than 6 weeks, some sediment may form on top, just pour it away.Shall be makeing this year first batch tomorow.

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  • 2011-06-03 17:54:11.330992

    Avril commented on this recipe

    made this cordial last year, it was amazing and easy. Had some with sparkling wine for our silver wedding anniversary-yum. Made a few batches and sold it in my cafe.Keeps for longer than 6 weeks, some sediment may form on top, just pour it away.Shall be makeing this year first batch tomorow.

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  • 2012-05-30 01:52:28.14051

    WillyFez commented on this recipe

    Well its harvesting time for the elderflowers and this years batch of elderflower cordial. As with any recipe I would advise that you play around with it a bit untill you find the right balance for your own tastes. Try swapping out the elderflowers for something else, crushed strawberries, crushed raspberries or even blizted mango ... they all make great cordial ... although the mango one can be very sweet.

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  • 2012-06-04 13:14:20.602376

    scallysmum commented on this recipe

    we went to the woods and got the elderflower i was so impressed with this drink i would love to make it for my sons wedding, we had it with lemonade and also just water with strawverries and ice its such a brilliant drink I think it tastes very classy and you can serve it with wine its just great and costs next t nothing to make i made 31/2 ltrs not sure how long it will last in fridge but please elt me know. I going to take a bottle to work to share with everyone.

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  • 2012-06-05 12:18:49.780734

    JaneyR commented on this recipe

    We swapped citric acid for vitamin c powder - a lot better for you and easier to get (we got ours from Holland and Barrett)

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  • 2012-06-11 19:00:00.307366

    Ripley8 commented on this recipe

    I wish I'd seen your vitamin C comment. I live in Glasgow and have just spent an entire afternoon trying to get citric acid. Unfortunately no chemist or store stocks it because heroin addicts use it to dissolve their heroin before injecting. In the end I used some lemon sugar and added an extra lemon. It's my first time making it so who knows what I'll get.

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  • 2012-06-13 17:34:29.814186

    stepharoo rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Delicious cordial. It's sweet, and you really don't need much at all. I have had it with fizzy water, lemonade, and even cava. SO nice.

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  • 2012-06-20 18:34:03.483627

    kitten rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    used 2kg sugar, bowl not big enough for any more! Its delicious esp over ice with sparking water. Found citric acid at the local chemist but it was under the counter so i had to ask! Def dont need much just a large splash in a glass.

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Difficulty and servings

Easy

Makes about 4 litres

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 20 mins

Cook time

Cook 10 mins

Plus picking and 24 hours steeping
Freezable

Ingredients

  • 2½kg white sugar , either granulated or caster
  • 2 unwaxed lemons
  • 20 fresh elderflower heads, stalks trimmed
  • 85g citric acid (from chemists)
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Per 250ML

619 kcalories, protein 0g, carbohydrate 165g, fat 0 g, saturated fat 0g, fibre 0g, sugar 165g, salt 0.03 g

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