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A glass swing top bottle with elderberry cordial inside. There's a small amber glass bottle in the background, next to a large white bottle and a glass jar with brown sugar. There are fresh elderberries in front of the cordial.
Nico

Homemade Elderberry Cordial Recipe (And Elderberry Syrup)

This elderberry cordial recipe is a rich, spiced syrup made with fresh elderberries and other warming ingredients. It’s a perfect late-summer drink to enjoy and can be made with foraged elderberries!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Additional time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course: Homegrown Eats
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Equipment

Method
 

  1. Wash the fresh elderberries in cold water and remove them from their stems.
  2. Add the berries to a large saucepan with the cold water and the cinnamon sticks. Heat on low heat and let the mixture simmer gently for around 15–20 minutes. Try to avoid boiling the mixture.
  3. After about half of the liquid has evaporated, pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer lined with a piece of muslin or cheesecloth into a bowl. Gently press the berries with the back of a spoon to squeeze out as much juice as possible.
  4. Add the juice back to the saucepan. Add the lemon juice, citric acid (if using), and sugar. Simmer over low heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. Taste and adjust sweetness as needed.
  5. Pour the cordial into clean glass bottles while hot. Seal immediately. Let cool to room temperature before storing in a cool place, away from direct sunlight.

Notes

How long does it last?

You can freeze the cordial in small portions or store it in the fridge for several weeks.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!