If you’re looking for a good patch of elderberries to forage, look for them while they are in bloom – they are so easy to spot as you drive down the road. For us in NE PA, that would be mid-June.
Come late August, we’ll be foraging elderberries to dehydrate for elderberry syrup to fight colds and flu, for pie and jelly, and for wine and liqueur.
The flowers are edible, too, and they are so prolific, that there’s no need to worry that you’ll be reducing the number of berries available later on. There’s plenty, so enjoy them now by making homemade elderflower fritters!
Homemade Elderflower Fritters
A great way to enjoy the foraged flowers is to make crispy, crunchy, elderflower fritters. Dip the flowers in your favorite crepe recipe, or use my recipe below, and fry them up for a wonderful treat! They are extra yummy served with maple syrup.
I fry my elderflower fritters while they are still on the stem, but then, using scissors, I snip off the stems before eating. They should not be eaten as they could potentially cause stomach upset.
Do you harvest elder flowers? What’s your favorite way to use them?
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Elderflower Fritters
Ingredients
- 12 Medium elderflowers with stems
- 3/4 cups organic unbleached flour *
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- tallow lard, or other fat which can withstand the high heat of deep frying
Instructions
- Heat tallow or lard in a heavy pot over medium high heat. You'll need approximately 1/2" of fat in the bottom of the pot.
- Mix together the flour, baking powder and sea salt.
- Stir in the milk, melted butter, vanilla extract and egg. Beat until smooth.
- Holding each elderflower by the stem, dip it in the batter and then place it in the hot oil. Shake it gently to get it to spread out.
- Fry, without turning, until golden brown. Repeat for all of the flowers.
- Drain on paper towels, or on brown paper.
- Using scissors, snip off all of the stems, which should not be eaten as they could potentially cause stomach upset.
- If desired, serve with maple syrup.
Notes
Here’s how to render lard or tallow for frying your elderflower fritters.
More Posts on Elderberry
Homemade Low Sugar Elderberry Jelly
Supercharge Your Elderberry Syrup
How to Use Elderberry to Make a Tincture or a Liqueur
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Daphne says
I’ve seen them in bloom around here while walking in some of our conservation areas. I’ve never used them though.
Susan Vinskofski says
They’re beautiful, aren’t they?
Clare says
I’m in Queensland, Australia and have one elderflower plant which I’m extremely proud of. It flowered at Christmas time and I’m hoping for berries soon.
Susan Vinskofski says
Yay; wonderful to hear from the other side of the world!!!
Barbara says
At what point are the flowers best harvested? How do you determine when to harvest them?
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi Barbara, harvest the flowers when they just open. In the photo above, the flowers in the lower right are just right.