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

Prep:20 mins
Cook:10 mins
Plus picking and 24 hours steeping

Easy

Nutrition per serving

kcal 619
fat 0g
saturates 0g
carbs 165g
sugars 165g
fibre 0g
protein 0g
salt 0.03g

Ingredients

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

Tip

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.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.

Method

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.