Elderflower Lemon Cordial Recipes

HOMEMADE ELDERFLOWER CORDIAL

Steps:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

ELDERFLOWER & LEMON CORDIAL

Steps:

• Dissolve sugar in water over a gentle heat, then bring to a simmer. Pour over the elderflower heads with the zest from the lemons - use a potato peeler to get nice wide strips. Slice the rest of the lemons and add to the syrup with citric acid. Stir well, cover and leave for 24 hours in a cool place to infuse. Strain through muslin and pour into sterilised bottles. Once open, refrigerate.

ELDERFLOWER LEMON CURD

Steps:

• Gently shake elderflower umbels to remove any insects. Remove as much of the green stems as possible. The best way to do this is to strip them off the stems with your fingers into a bowl.n
• Combine sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved in the warm liquid. Add elderflowers, turn off the heat, and let steep for 1 to 2 hours.n
• Strain mixture through a fine sieve into a double boiler or a metal bowl placed over a saucepan with simmering water. Squeeze the elderflowers to extract as much of the liquid as possible.n
• Add eggs to the double boiler and cook over simmering water, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until mixture coats the back of the spoon, about 10 minutes. Make sure to scrape over the bottom and the sides of the double boiler.n
• Once mixture is thick, remove from the heat. If it seems a bit lumpy, strain it through a fine sieve again. Add butter and stir until fully dissolved. Pour into a jar with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate or freeze.n

ELDERFLOWER CORDIAL

Steps:

• Bring sugar and 2 cups water to a boil, stirring, until sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine lemon juice, zest, and elderflowers. Pour syrup over flower mixture; stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate 1 day. Strain cordial through a fine-mesh sieve; discard flowers. Cordial can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 month.

SPIKED ELDERFLOWER LEMONADE

Steps:

• Divide cordial, lemon juice, and vodka among 8 ice-filled glasses. Top with seltzer; stir. Serve, garnished with lemon rounds.

ELDERFLOWER CORDIAL CONCENTRATE

Steps:

• Combine the elderflower heads, sugar, lemon juice, and citric acid in a large acid-proof container. Pour the boiling water over the ingredients and let steep for 24 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Strain the liquid by pouring it through muslin into a large bowl. Ladle into bottles and refrigerate, or pour into freezer containers and freeze.