Elderflower recipes – 10 ideas for savory & sweet dishes and drinks

Elderberry bushes are known for their healing properties, incredibly beautiful flowers and delicate aroma. The elderflowers are not only pretty to look at, they also promise a delicious change in seasonal cuisine. They can be processed in a variety of ways and enrich sweet and savory dishes with their lovely, spicy taste. Find out here which delicacies the flowers of this wild plant can be processed into. Try our elderflower recipes and experience a new taste.

Before using the delicate umbels of the elderberry bush, it is advisable to shake the flowers well to remove dirt or small insects. You are welcome to gently toss the flowers in water, whereby some of their typical aroma will be lost.

Elderflower recipes for aromatic syrup

Elderflower syrup is undoubtedly the classic recipe with elderflower. The aromatic syrup can be easily processed in the kitchen and enriches every drink with its enchanting scent. We have selected a delicious recipe for homemade elderflower syrup by Jamie Oliver for you.

Ingredients:

15 elderflower umbels

500 g of sugar

4 tbsp liquid honey

2 organic lemons

1 liter of water

Pick the elderflower umbels by carefully cutting the stems with scissors. Keep the flowers upright so that the pollen, which has all of its unique scent and taste, does not fall off. Wash the flowers and remove dark or withered parts if necessary. In a large saucepan, add water, sugar and honey and bring to the boil over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Take the pot off the stove. Finely grate the lemon peel and add the zest to the saucepan. Turn the umbels upside down so that the flowers are completely submerged. Add the juice of one lemon, halve the other lemon and add it to the rest of the ingredients. Let it steep for 24 hours under the lid closed. Finally, pour the syrup through a fine sieve and pour it into bottles. Enjoy diluted with water, soda or prosecco.

Using the same principle as the syrup, you can also prepare elderflower liqueur. Rum or double grain is added to the finished syrup. When filled in bottles and tightly closed, it can be kept for up to a year.

Recipes with dried elderflower – easy elderflower jam recipe

The beautifully sweet smelling flowers of the elder are also ideal for the preparation of tasty spreads. Elderflower gives a homemade jam a special, aromatic flavor. Maybe an elderflower jam with apricots and honey is something to your taste?

Ingredients:

350 ml of water

1/4 cup dried elderflower

450 g apricots, finely chopped

85 g honey

2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan and let the dried elderflower steep for 20 minutes. Then strain the liquid and set aside. Bring the apricot pieces, honey and lemon juice to the boil in a saucepan and cook over medium heat for about 45 minutes until the mixture becomes syrupy. Finally, add 2 tbsp of the elderflower concentrate to the apricot jam and stir. Fill the jam into mason jars and keep them in the refrigerator.

Recipe for elderflower jelly

The elderflower jelly also tastes good on breakfast rolls. You can also use it to refine your desserts or process it into sauces. We have selected a recipe for jelly for you that is the ideal way to end a summer dinner.

Ingredients:

5 gelatin sheets

200 ml dry rosé wine

600 ml of white grapes and peach juice

1 tbsp elderflower liqueur

¼ teaspoon rose water

Neutral oil for greasing

2 peaches, thinly sliced

Handful of fresh mint

Put the gelatine sheets in a bowl and pour cold water over them. Let soak for 5 minutes. In the meantime, mix the wine, juice and rose water in a large measuring cup. Pour some of the liquid into a small saucepan, heat it and then take it off the stove. Squeeze out the gelatine and dissolve it in the warm liquid. Now add the mixture to the remaining liquid. Grease 6 x 150 ml jelly molds. Put a few peach slices and a few mint leaves in each mold and pour the jelly into them. Let the elderflower and apricot jelly set in the refrigerator. Dip the molds briefly in hot water and arrange them on plates.

Elderflower pancake recipe

For those who are looking for ideas for interesting elderflower recipes for desserts, we have selected a recipe suggestion for breaded elderflower in pancake batter.

Ingredients:

10-12 elderflower umbels

250 g flour

280-300 ml milk

2 eggs

pinch of salt

1 teaspoon of sugar

1 packet of vanilla sugar

Lemon zest

Sunflower oil for deep-frying

Powdered sugar for garnish

Mix the flour, salt, sugar and vanilla sugar together. Mix the eggs and add the milk. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ones and finally stir in the lemon zest. Put the breadcrumbs in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. In the meantime, wash the cones and pat dry with paper towels. Heat the oil, gently dip the elderflowers into the batter and fry them until golden brown. Drain on kitchen paper, dust with sugar and serve warm.

Elderflower recipes for cakes – Elderberry-lemon cake with elderflower cream

If you fancy a juicy and aromatic lemon cake topped with a delicious elderflower cream, then try the following recipe.

Ingredients:

230 g butter, soft, unsalted

230 g fine sugar

2 tbsp lemon zest

260 g flour

1 tbsp baking powder

1/2 teaspoon fine salt

For the syrup:

60 ml elderflower syrup

Juice of half a lemon

For the elderflower cream:

120 g whipped cream, cold

1 tbsp elderflower syrup

Beat the butter and sugar until frothy and stir in the grated lemon zest. Gradually add the beaten eggs to the butter and sugar mixture and continue to stir. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add a quarter of the flour mixture to the remaining ingredients and carefully fold in with a spatula. Repeat this process until all of the flour has been used. Pour the dough into the greased loaf pan lined with baking paper and finish baking at 170 degrees. Let the cake cool down. In the meantime, prepare the syrup. Pierce the cake with a skewer and spray or brush it with the syrup. Whip the cream with a tablespoon of elderflower syrup, cut the cake into slices and garnish with a creamed rose.

Dessert elderflower recipes – mini cakes with elderflower

Our next suggestion is an elderflower recipe for a tasty mini-format dessert. The elderflower cakes are ideal finger food at a party and will delight all those present with their sweetish-lovely aroma.

Ingredients:

175 g butter (room temperature)

175 grams of sugar

175 g flour

3 eggs

1 teaspoon Baking powder

5 tbsp elderflower liqueur

Pinch of salt

For the frosting:

110 g butter, soft, unsalted

200 g powdered sugar

2 tbsp elderflower liqueur

50 g cream cheese

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Mix the butter with the sugar. In a separate bowl, gently mix the eggs with the elderflower syrup. Add a tablespoon of flour to the butter and sugar mixture. Mix on a low level with the mixer and then add the eggs. Sift the flour with the baking powder and salt and work everything into a smooth mass. Fill the muffin tin about 2/3 full and bake the mini cakes for 18-20 minutes until golden brown.

For the cream cheese frosting, first mix the butter with the powdered sugar. Then add the cream cheese and the liqueur and mix the mixture with the hand mixer.

You can dust the mini cakes with powdered sugar and decorate with elderflower or garnish with the frosting of your choice.

Prepare elderflower recipes vegan – cheesecake with elderberry without baking

We have attached a simple recipe for a vegan elderflower cheesecake that works without baking and surprises you with a fine taste note.

Ingredients:

For the elderflower syrup:

10 elderflower umbels

470 ml of boiling water

70 ml lemon juice

1 lemon, sliced

100 ml agave syrup

For the cake base:

180 g cup of ground almond

25 g coconut flakes

1 cup of dates

pinch of salt

cinammon

The filling:

300 g cashew nuts (soaked)

220 ml coconut milk

4 tbsp coconut oil (melted)

100 ml elderflower syrup

To prepare the elderflower syrup, pluck the blossoms from the twigs and place them in a glass. Add the lemon slices, lemon juice, agave syrup and pour the boiling water over them. Stir well and let steep in the refrigerator for a day. Strain and transfer to a bottle or mason jar. Soak the dates in hot water for a few minutes. Drain them and add them to the food processor along with the coconut flakes, maple syrup and cinnamon.

Mix the ingredients until they become a sticky batter. Line the baking pan with parchment paper and press the dough evenly onto the bottom of the baking pan with your fingers. Process the ingredients for the filling in the food processor until they have a creamy consistency. Spread the mixture on the cake base and put the cake in the freezer for a few hours. Remove from freezer two hours before serving.

Elderflower Recipes for Drinks – Elderflower Schnapps Recipe

Ingredients:

6-8 elderflower umbels

1 lemon

1 tablespoon of sugar

70 ml of vodka or gin

Place the cleaned elderflower in a large sterilized mason jar. Peel the lemon with the small paring knife. Add the lemon peel and sugar to the flowers. Pour vodka or gin over the mixture and seal the container. Shake the mason jar to allow the sugar to dissolve. Let it steep for a week in a cool and shady place, occasionally turning the mason jar upside down. Then sift the schnapps and serve it with plenty of ice or with tonic water and a wedge of lime. The latter is a refreshing and interesting take on gin and tonic, you won’t find it?

Elderflower recipes for hearty dishes – Bruschetta with Brie, blueberries and elderflower dressing

Elder flowers can also be incorporated into hearty and savory dishes and bring the taste to a different level. We have selected a recipe for you for delicious bruschetta with brie and blueberries, which are refined with a fine elderflower dressing. Regardless of whether as breakfast, light summer food or a quick snack, the bruschettas pamper you with a fruity, sweet and savory taste and are ready within 15 minutes.

Ingredients:

1 ciabatta bread

250 g brie, sliced

250 g blueberries

fresh thyme

arugula

olive oil

salt and pepper

For the elderflower dressing:

3 tbsp elderflower syrup

50 ml of olive oil

Thyme leaves

Juice and zest of a lemon

salt and pepper

Cut the ciabatta bread into thick slices, brush with olive oil and bake in the oven for 5 minutes at 180 degrees. Cover each slice of bread with a piece of brie and bake for another 5 minutes. Mix all the ingredients for the elderflower dressing. Garnish the brie bruschettas with blueberries and drizzle with elderflower dressing. Finally, garnish with rocket and thyme and season with salt and pepper.

Fried elderflower with chives 

The deep-fried elderflower and chives are ideal finger food and the perfect light and delicious accompaniment to your after-work drink.

Ingredients:

10 medium-sized elderflower umbels, divided into small florets

130 g of flour

Pinch of yeast

170 – 240 ml of mineral water

1/2 tbsp finely grated lemon peel

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

2 tbsp chives, cut into small pieces

Grapeseed oil for frying

As already mentioned above, clean the elderflower and pat dry. Mix the remaining ingredients into a dough. Heat the oil, dip the flowers in the batter and fry until golden brown for 1-2 minutes. Drain the fried florets on crepe paper and serve with a dip sauce of your choice.

Good success with the preparation of our elderflower recipes!