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A small glass jar with red strawberry cordial inside and fresh strawberries in front of it.

Easy Homemade Strawberry Cordial Recipe

This simple strawberry cordial recipe is a delicious way to enjoy and preserve fresh berries. Learn how to make it at home using just a few ingredients and basic kitchen tools.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Additional Time 30 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course: Homegrown Eats
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 kg strawberries washed, hulled, and halved if large
  • 600 ml water
  • 500 g sugar you can adjust to taste
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice or lime juice
  • 1 tsp citric acid for longer shelf life and tartness
  • Optional: a strip of lemon zest or a star anise pod for flavour

Equipment

Method
 

  1. Wash your strawberries and remove the hull (the green part). Cut the clean berries in half.
  2. Add the strawberries to a large saucepan with the water. Heat gently over medium heat for 15–20 minutes, until the berries soften and release their juice. Stir occasionally, using the back of a wooden spoon to mash the strawberries gently against the side of the pan.
  3. After about 20 minutes, pour the contents through a fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or jelly bag into a clean bowl. Let it drip through without squeezing to keep the liquid clear. I like to tie a string around the cheesecloth and hang it on a cupboard handle to let the juice drip through for 30 minutes or so.
  4. You’ll be left with bright strawberry water and a soft pulp. You can use the pulp in baking (I like to freeze it and add it to muffins), or it can be used in jam making.
  5. Add the strained juice back to the pan. Add the sugar, lemon juice, and citric acid. Heat again over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. This should only take a few minutes.
  6. Pour the hot cordial into sterilised glass bottles using a funnel. Add a lid and seal it right away. Let cool at room temperature and then store in a dark place for up to 3 months. It’s best to store it in the refrigerator after opening it.

Notes

Variation ideas

Strawberry-Lemon Cordial: Use both lemon juice and lemon zest for a brighter, zesty flavour.
Strawberry-Orange Cordial: Replace half the water with fresh orange juice and add orange zest for a sweeter citrus flavour.
Strawberry-Lime Cordial: Sub in lime juice for lemon and add lime zest for extra tartness.
Strawberry + Basil or Mint: Add a handful of fresh basil or mint during the initial simmer, then strain. This gives more of a subtle herbal flavour.
Strawberry + Elderflower: Stir in a few fresh elderflower heads or a splash of elderflower cordial to infuse the syrup with the lovely light sweetness of the flowers.
Strawberry + Star Anise: This gives a gentle licorice flavour, which I like to have in the winter.
Strawberry-Blackberry Cordial: Great for late summer with foraged blackberries!
Wild Berry Cordial: Combine foraged strawberries, bilberries, and wild raspberries.

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