Elderflower Cordial – How to Make This Easy Homemade Recipe

Elderflower cordial is a simple, fizzy, and refreshing drink that brings the taste of spring to your glass. It can be enjoyed drizzled over ice cream, in sparkling or soda water, or it’s the perfect sunny day cocktail to enjoy with lemon slices and your adult beverage of choice. This elderflower cordial recipe is simple to make, and one of the best ways to use the tiny buds of elderflower trees! 

I Have My Hens to Thank

Years ago, a random “weed” began shooting up through the run at the back of our chicken coop. It grew rapidly, and eventually weaved its way through the chicken-wire roof and out in a million different directions. We had been letting our hens free-range during the day and, unknown to me, one of the ladies had gotten into a wild elderberry patch that runs along the woods in our backyard. Now, that little sprout has grown into a massive elderflower bush that provides our hens with precious shade in the summer, and me with berries for the health benefits of an immune-boosting elderberry syrup (great for a cold or sore throat), and elderflowers that I’ve finally harvested. 

Every year I vow that I’m going to make an elderflower cordial, and every year I underestimate just how fleetingly brief the season of those beautiful little buds lasts. But this was the year I finally got my life together and made it happen, and let me tell you, if I could bottle up the taste of spring, this would be it. It’s sweet, tart, a little fizzy, and soooo delicious! It only takes a couple of minutes to put together, I don’t know why it took me so long to make! Depending on where you live, the elderflower season will be in full bloom from late spring to early summer, so be sure not to miss your window for the fresh flowers! 

Harvesting Elderflowers

First thing, early one dry morning, before the heat had zapped the moisture from their delicate petals, I set out to the coop to fill my basket with elderflower blooms. I find this to be the best time to harvest the tiny flowers.

I separated the small flower clusters from the thicker stalks, snatched a few eggs for breakfast, and set off to make my tasty treat. It’s so quick and easy that you can knock it out while you’re waiting for your morning coffee to steep. 

Gather your elderflowers and remove the largest stems and just keep the flower head clusters, but do not wash. It sounds kind of gross but trust me! You need the yeast that naturally coats the blooms for fermentation to take place. I do like to give the flower heads a little shake to get rid of the biggest critters, but don’t shake the petals loose.

Then, all you need is a little raw sugar, elderflowers, a squeeze of lemon, and some water. Pour it over ice for the perfect refresher on a warm spring afternoon in the garden, or add a splash of whiskey and sip it by the pool for a refreshing summer drink. And just think, all because one of my hens pooped out an elderberry seed!

How to Make Elderflower Cordial

Ingredients

• half gallon mason jar (can also do a quart if you’d like a smaller batch, just reduce the ingredient amounts by half)
• 2 cups raw can sugar (the first recipe I tried called for a 1:1 ratio of sugar to water, but it was much more of an elderflower syrup and a lot of sugar! It was way too sweet for me. If you find that yours isn’t sweet enough just add a little more, or you can sweeten with honey or agave as you make individual drinks later.)
• 3/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
• enough fresh elderflowers to fill 1/3 of your jar
• 8 cups filtered water – instead of cold water, use warm so that it will dissolve the sugar

Directions

1. Gather your elderflowers and remove the largest stems and just keep the clusters of elderflower heads, but do not wash. I know, it sounds gross and you will see some Mother Nature crawling around on there, but trust me! You need the yeast that naturally coats the blooms for fermentation to take place…aka the fizz. 
2. Add sugar and enough water to fill the jar halfway. Give it a good shake to dissolve the sugar. 
3. Add the lemon juice and elderflowers white flowers, and top off with enough water to fill the jar.
4. Cover with a piece of cheesecloth, muslin cloth, or paper towel and secure with a jar ring or rubber band. You don’t want to seal the container or it will build pressure **and not ferment**. Leave the jar at room temperature in a dark place or shady spot on the counter for 2-3 days to ferment. 
5. Strain, cover with a lid, and place it back on the counter for 2-4 more days for the second fermentation. You can taste test and decide how strong you like your flavors.
6. Place in the fridge and enjoy for months! I like to store them in glass bottles to easily pour with. Add a splash of elderflower cordial to your favorite drink or ice cream! 

Elderflower Cordial Recipe