This easy elderflower cordial recipe is made with fresh elderflowers, sugar, lemons and water for a fragrant homemade drink that tastes like summer. It is simple to make, keeps well, and is a lovely way to make the most of elderflower season. Serve it diluted with still or sparkling water, or use it in desserts and frozen treats such as my elderflower and strawberry ice lollies and no-bake elderflower and strawberry cake.
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Why You'll Love This Elderflower Cordial.
- Easy to make - with just a handful of ingredients and simple steps
- Fresh and floral - with a light, summery flavour
- A great way to use foraged elderflowers - while they are in season
- Versatile - for drinks, desserts and frozen treats
- Keeps well - in the fridge and can also be frozen for later
How To Identify Elderflower
Elder grows as a shrub or small tree and is commonly found in hedgerows, along paths and at woodland edges. In the UK, the flowers usually appear from late May into June, forming broad, flat clusters of tiny white to creamy-white blooms.
The leaves are compound, with 5 to 7 oval leaflets arranged in opposite pairs, plus a single leaflet at the tip. On older plants, the bark becomes rough, corky and ridged.
For this elderflower cordial recipe, it is the flower heads you need. Only forage elderflowers when you are completely confident you have identified them correctly. Never eat or drink any wild plant unless you are certain of what it is. A good foraging guide and expert-led foraging course are far more reliable than relying on an app alone.
Key Ingredients & Notes
- Elderflower heads: Choose flower heads that are creamy white, fresh-looking and highly fragrant. Pick them on a warm, dry morning when the blossoms are fully open. Give them a gentle shake to remove any insects, but do not rinse them, as this can wash away the pollen and some of the flavour.
- Caster sugar: Caster sugar sweetens the cordial and balances the delicate floral flavour. It also helps preserve it.
- Unwaxed lemons: Lemons add freshness and acidity, which balance the sweetness and help preserve the cordial.
- Water: Water forms the base of the cordial, drawing out the flavour of the elderflowers and dissolving the sugar.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Elderflower Cordial
- Add the water and caster sugar to a saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved.
- Add the sliced lemons, reduce the heat and simmer gently for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and leave to cool.
- Snip most of the stems from the elderflower heads, then add the flowers to the cooled lemon syrup to infuse.
- Add the elderflowers to the cooled syrup, then leave them to infuse at room temperature for 24 hours.
- After 24 hours, remove the lemon slices and elderflowers, then strain the liquid through a muslin-lined sieve.
- Your elderflower cordial is ready. Pour it into sterilised bottles or jars, then dilute to taste with still or sparkling water when serving.
Equipment
A muslin cloth or nut milk bag is very useful for straining elderflower cordial and removing any fine bits of flower or pollen. A fine-mesh sieve also helps catch any remaining debris.
Storage
Pour the elderflower cordial into a properly sterilised bottle or jar and store it in the fridge for up to 1 month. To sterilise your bottle, wash it in warm soapy water, rinse well, then place it in a low oven at 100°C for about 30 minutes.
For longer storage, freeze the cordial in ice cube trays, then transfer the frozen cubes to a freezer-safe bag or container. It will keep in the freezer for up to 1 year.
Chefs Tips
- Trim away most of the thicker stems from the elderflower heads before adding them to the syrup, as too much stem can affect the flavour.
- Let the syrup cool before adding the flowers. It should feel comfortably warm or cooler, not hot, so the delicate floral flavour is not damaged.
- Freezing is the best option for longer storage. Freeze the cordial in ice cube trays, then transfer the cubes to a freezer-safe container or bag. It is convenient, helps preserve the flavour well, and gives you ready-portioned cordial whenever you need it.
📖 Recipe
Easy Elderflower Cordial Recipe
Equipment
- Muslin cloth
- Sieve
- 1 Litre Glass bottle
Ingredients
- 15 Elderflower heads
- 400 g Castor sugar
- 1 Unwaxed lemon
- 1 l Water
Instructions
- Add the sugar and water to a saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Reduce the heat and simmer gently.
- Add the sliced lemons to the syrup and simmer gently for 5 minutes.
- Remove the syrup from the heat and leave it to cool.
- Trim most of the thicker stems from the elderflower heads, then add the flowers to the warm syrup. The syrup should be warm rather than hot, so if needed, leave it to cool a little first
- Cover the pan and leave for 24 hours to allow the elderflowers to infuse.
- After 24 hours, remove the lemon slices and elderflowers, then strain the cordial through a muslin-lined sieve.
- Pour the cordial into a sterilised bottle or jar, then store it in the fridge or freeze for longer keeping.
- To serve, pour a little cordial into a glass and top up with still or sparkling water. Adjust to taste, adding more cordial or water as needed.
Nutrition
More Elderflower Recipes
Looking for more ways to use homemade elderflower cordial? Try my elderflower and strawberry ice lollies or no-bake elderflower and strawberry cake.
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.
Karen Yoshida says
Today I had the last bottle of this delicious cordial and reminded me to write a comment to say thank you for sharing this recipe. It’s great and easy to make. I can’t wait to make it again this year.