Elderberry cordial is a flavorful, fruity, non-alcoholic beverage concentrate made from the deep-colored berries of the elderberry tree. It can be enjoyed diluted with water or seltzer or used to add unique flavor to your favorite cocktails.
People love elderberries for their antioxidants. You've likely seen many cold remedy and prevention products made with elderberries in recent years. While the health benefits may be true, I grow them more for culinary use.
The berries' deep, earthy, almost wine-like flavor is a welcome alternative to the common sweetness of most fruits. And an elderberry cordial is a very simple way to enjoy it.
🍷 Why You'll Love This Elderberry Cordial Recipe
- A cordial is an excellent way to enjoy elderberries weeks after being picked or bought in late summer.
- You can customize the flavor additives to craft the cordial to your liking. I use vanilla, which pairs wonderfully with the deep, complex notes of the fruit. However, I mention a few other ideas below.
- It's a versatile base for flavoring water, seltzer, and cocktails. You could even use it in desserts by mixing it into homemade whipped cream or using it to soak a cake.
To find more homemade beverages featuring fresh ingredients, check out my Lemon Balm Lemonade, Blackcurrant Smoothies, Lilac Tea, and Strawberry Cream Soda recipes. And for a cocktail made with elderflower liqueur, the flowers of the elderberry plant, check out my refreshing Elderflower Gin and Tonic.
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A quick clarification: In the US, we more often refer to cordials as alcoholic beverages. However, I'm making the English version of this recipe, which is a fruit juice concentrate.
🫐 Ingredients
Here's everything you need to make elderberry cordial recipe:
- Elderberries - You'll need a pound of fresh elderberries for this recipe. If you're not growing your own, check for them at your local farmers markets or orchards in late summer.
- Sugar - Either white or raw sugar.
- Water - For simmering the elderberries.
- Vanilla - Optional, but I find it adds a bit of complexity and a complimentary flavor. See the note below about other flavor ideas.
See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and quantities.
🍋🟩 Substitutions & Variations
- Try other flavorings, such as cinnamon, ginger, lavender, or lime zest, in addition to or in place of vanilla.
- Use this base recipe to make other fruit cordials. Raspberries, blackcurrants, rhubarb, cranberries, cherries, and many other fruits would make great cordials. Adjust the amount of sugar as needed.
🍲 Instructions
How to make elderberry cordial.
- Step 1: Rinse your elderberries and remove as much of the stems as possible. It's ok if some remain, as they'll be strained out.
- Step 2: Add the elderberries to a pot with water and simmer until soft, about 20 minutes. Strain out the berries.
- Step 3: Return the liquid to the pot with the sugar and vanilla. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 5 more minutes.
- Step 4: Pour the cordial into a bottle, cover, and store in the fridge for up to two months.
🥄 Top Tip
You don't want to simmer the fruit juice and sugar for too long, otherwise you'll end up with jelly rather than cordial. You only want to reduce and thicken it slightly for about five minutes.
🫙 Storage
Store the cordial in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to a few weeks. Elderberry cordial may also be frozen in jars and defrosted as needed.
🤔 FAQ
Elderberry cordial is a fruit juice concentrate similar to a fruit syrup but not as thick and concentrated. You can use it to flavor seltzer, iced tea, cocktails, and other beverages or dilute it with water to enjoy as elderberry juice.
Do not eat raw elderberries. They contain a compound that can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Cooking breaks down these compounds and makes them safe to eat.
Elderberries are high in antioxidants and vitamins that help support your immune system. However, they may not be suitable for everyone. Learn more about elderberries.
🍰 Pairing
These recipes would go great with elderberry cordial:
📖 Recipe
Elderberry Cordial Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: about 16 ounces 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Elderberry cordial is a flavorful, fruity, non-alcoholic beverage concentrate made from the deep-colored berries of the elder tree. It can be enjoyed diluted with water or seltzer or used as a flavoring for your favorite cocktails.
Ingredients
- 1 pound elderberries
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Rinse the elderberries and remove most of the stems. It's ok if you don't get all the stems, as they'll be strained out after cooking.
- Add the elderberries to a pot with the water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Mash up the berries a bit with a potato masher to help release their juice, then strain the liquid and discard the berries.
- Return the elderberry liquid to the pot and add the sugar. Continue to cook at a gentle simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar, for about 5 minutes. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- To enjoy: add one ounce cordial to a glass and fill with water or seltzer. Stir to combine.
Notes
Try other flavorings aside from vanilla, such as cinnamon, ginger, or lime juice.
Store the cordial in a sealed bottle in the fridge for up to a few weeks.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: British
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Steve says
I love to make a bottle of this and use it for weeks to flavor my seltzer.