The Elderflower Recipe Files – The elderflowers are almost in full bloom in my garden and the local hedgerows, so I thought it would be timely to share some of my elderflower recipes using this fragrant flower.
Fragrant Elderflowers Recipes from my Recipe Folders
The Elderflower Recipe Files – The elderflowers are almost in full bloom in my garden and the local hedgerows, so I thought it would be timely to share some of my elderflower recipes using this fragrant flower.
I love this aromatic flower, for me it heralds the start of summer with its heady fragrance and frothy white blooms.
From cakes, salad dressings and cordial to champagne and fritters, this seasonal flower is always a welcome sight, and I try to make sure I gather as much of it as possible for baking and cooking.
Before I venture out into our cottage garden here in the beautiful Lincolnshire Wolds, to gather what I can, I have shared a few of my favourite elderflower recipes below.
And, don’t forget to leave some blossom for the elderberries, which will be ripe and ready to use during the Autumn months. Karen
The Elderflower Recipe Files
- Old Fashioned English Elderflower Cordial
- Strawberry & Elderflower Cake and Tart Topping
- Elderflower and Strawberry Cordial/Syrup
- Elderflower, Rose and Strawberry Sorbet
- Eton Mess with Strawberries and Elderflower Cream
- Raspberry & Elderflower Pimm’s Cocktail
- Lemon & Elderflower Cake with Raspberries
- Apple, Lemon and Elderflower Drizzle Cake
- Royal Elderflower & Lemon Curd Butterfly Cakes
An Ode to Elderflowers
Who can resist an English country lane, (when it’s not wet of course) where blackbirds trill and swallows swoop in between hedges, where frothy white flowers hang heavy, ready to be picked and preserved into this most wonderful of summer beverages.
The English summer is thought to start when the elderflower blossoms end and the elderberries ripen; with a heady floral aroma floating down country lanes.
May and June indeed heralds a bountiful harvest for the forager and home-brewer as soon as these flowers are in bloom.
How to Pick Elderflowers
The flowers taste best picked early on a dry, hot day, and speed is crucial – they should be used straight after picking.
The cream-coloured heads (or umbels) are tastier than the white, and don’t worry if they smell unappetising at first, the heady scent does become delicious later on I promise you.
Choose umbels free of discolouration and keep them dry until you’re ready to begin.
More Summer Floral Recipes
- Old-Fashioned Rose Lemonade Scones
- Rosemary Flower Butter with Grana Padano Cheese
- Egg and Tomato Salad with Marigold & Chive Flowers
- Provençal Stuffed Apricot & Goat’s Cheese Salad with Edible Flowers
- Rhubarb and Rose Champagne Cocktails
- Figs stuffed with Blue Cheese and Lavender Honey Drizzle
- Orange Cream Cheese & Rose Petal Cake
- Elizabethan English Herb and Flower Salad with Honey Dressing
Or how about baking a Focaccia Garden?
My recipe or process how to make a Sourdough “Focaccia Garden” is a creative and easy way to make and bake a fabulous centrepiece for any social gathering.
HOW TO MAKE A SOURDOUGH “FOCACCIA GARDEN”
Leave a Reply