This no-bake Elderflower and strawberry cake is an easy summer dessert for days when it is too hot to turn on the oven. With layers of biscuits, elderflower-infused cream and fresh strawberries, it is light, delicate and full of seasonal flavour. It is simple to make, requires no cooking, and is a lovely way to bring together two classic summer ingredients.
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Why You'll Love this No-Bake Elderflower and Strawberry cake
- No oven needed, making it perfect for warm summer days
- Light and summery, with delicate Elderflower and sweet strawberry flavours
- Easy to make ahead for gatherings, afternoon tea or dessert
- Simple to prepare with minimal effort
- A lovely seasonal dessert that makes the most of elderflower and strawberries
A Note on Using Elderflower
If you are using homemade Elderflower cordial in this recipe, it is worth learning how to identify Elderflower properly before foraging. Elderflower usually appears in the UK from late May into June and grows in broad clusters of tiny creamy-white flowers. Only forage elderflowers if you are completely confident in your identification, and never consume any wild plant unless you are certain it is safe. For more on identifying Elderflower and making cordial, see my Elderflower cordial recipe.
Key Ingredients & Notes
- Elderflower heads: Fresh elderflower heads are used to infuse the vegan cream with a delicate floral flavour. Choose ones that are creamy white, fragrant and freshly picked. Only use them if you are completely confident in your identification.
- Strawberries: Fresh strawberries add sweetness, colour and a bright fruity flavour that pairs beautifully with elderflower.
- Vegan whipping cream: Vegan whipping cream gives the cake its light, airy texture. It is infused with elderflower, then whipped until soft peaks form. For best results, keep it well chilled before whipping.
- Icing sugar: Icing sugar sweetens the cream and blends in smoothly without any graininess.
- Elderflower cordial: Elderflower cordial adds extra floral flavour and is used to soften the biscuits. Homemade elderflower cordial works especially well, but a good-quality shop-bought cordial can also be used.
- Rich tea or shortcake biscuits: These form the layers of the cake and soften as they sit, creating the cake's no-bake texture. Rich tea biscuits give a lighter finish, while shortcake makes it slightly richer.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to Make No-Bake Elderflower and Strawberry Cake
Start by slicing the strawberries into thin slices, then set them aside.
- Snip the elderflower heads from the stems into a bowl of vegan cream.
- Submerge the elderflowers in the cream and leave to infuse for at least 2 hours. For a stronger flavour, chill overnight.
- Strain the cream through a sieve into a clean bowl to remove the elderflowers.
- Add the sifted icing sugar to the infused cream.
- Whip the cream until it forms soft peaks.
- Dip the biscuits briefly in elderflower cordial.
- Arrange a single layer of dipped biscuits in a deep dish, then spread over a layer of whipped elderflower cream and a layer of sliced strawberries.
- Repeat with another layer of dipped biscuits, whipped elderflower cream and sliced strawberries. Finish with a final layer of biscuits, cream and strawberries, then scatter a few elderflowers over the top for decoration. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
Substitutions & Variations
- No fresh elderflowers? You can skip infusing the cream and rely on the elderflower cordial for flavour instead. A good-quality shop-bought elderflower cordial will work if you do not have homemade.
- Swap the strawberries for other soft summer fruits such as raspberries or blueberries.
- Use rich tea or shortcake biscuits, depending on what you prefer. Rich tea biscuits give a lighter finish, while shortcake makes the dessert a little richer.
- Try other floral flavours if you like. Rose works especially well, though it will change the character of the recipe.
Equipment
For this recipe, you will need a sieve and an electric whisk or hand whisk.
Storage
Store the no-bake elderflower and strawberry cake in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
More Elderflower Recipes
Looking for more ways to use elderflower? Try my easy elderflower cordial recipe or elderflower and strawberry ice lollies
📖 Recipe
No-Bake Elderflower and Strawberry Cake
This no-bake Elderflower and strawberry cake is layered with biscuits, Elderflower cream and fresh strawberries for an easy make-ahead summer dessert.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 Elderflower flower heads
- 250 ml Vegan whipping cream
- 50 g Icing Sugar
- 150 ml Elderflower Cordial
- 300 g Shortcake or Rich tea Biscuit
- 200 g Strawberries
Instructions
- Snip off the flower heads from the stem into a bowl.
- Pour whipping cream over the flowers and leave to infuse for at least two hours.
- Strain the cream to remove the flowers. Add sieved icing sugar.
- Whisk the cream to soft peaks.
- Slice the strawberry into thin slices.
- Soak the biscuits in elderflower cordial one by one and place them on a deep dish or plate in a single layer.
- Now spread a layer of whipped cream, followed by a layer of sliced strawberries.
- Place another layer of soaked biscuits, then cream and strawberries, followed by the final layer of soaked biscuits, cream and strawberries.
- Optional but highly recommended, finish the final layer with a sprinkling of individual elderflowers removed from the heads.
- Refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours before serving.
- If preparing the cake a day in advance, cover the cake with a lid to prevent the cream and strawberries from drying up.
Nutrition
Calories: 387kcal (19%)Carbohydrates: 59g (20%)Protein: 4g (8%)Fat: 15g (23%)Saturated Fat: 6g (38%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 31mg (1%)Potassium: 136mg (4%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 22g (24%)Vitamin A: 10IUVitamin C: 20mg (24%)Calcium: 11mg (1%)Iron: 0.2mg (1%)
NOTES
The nutritional values are for guidelines only, generated by the Spoonacular API.
The cordial was homemade using my recipe. The biscuits were a specific brand. Therefore the nutritional values for shop-bought cordial and other biscuit brands will vary.
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Food safety
- Wash your hands regularly while preparing, handling and cooking food.
- Wipe down countertops and high-contact points regularly.
- If you cook meat and fish, do not use the same utensils on cooked food that previously touched raw meat. Use separate chopping boards for meat and fish. Wash your chopping boards immediately after use.
- Thoroughly cook food to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C).
- Don't leave food at room temperature for extended periods (more than 2 hours).
- Store food correctly.
Margaret Driver says
I have been making this every year. The instructions are so easy to follow and it really does taste like cake.
Thank you