What to do with elderberries?

mrs-moneypenny

do you have a recipie for elderberry jam please, i've never tried jam making but have a big elderberry bush/tree in the front garden, so i'd like to do something with them

thank you

jap200

I have just finished making some lovely pots of almost free elderberry jelly from my Mum's receipe. It all sounds a bit fiddly - and to be honest, it is a bit, but in my opinion, worth it as the taste is fantastic!

• 2Lb elderberries (cut the heads off the tree and pull a fork through and they pop off easily)
• 2Lb cooking apples
• water to cover
• sugar (see below for amount)

1. Wash the fruit. Cut apples into big pieces without peeling or coring and put in a pan. Just cover with water.
2. Put elderberries in a separate pan (don't worry about bits of stalk etc.) and just cover with water. Put lids on.
3. Cook the fruits separately until soft and pulpy - the berries will take much longer than the apples.
4. Combine the fruits and strain through a jelly bag overnight (or see below for alternative!)
5. Measure the extract and return to the pan with 1Lb of sugar to each pint.
6. Bring to boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then boil rapidly until setting point is reached (see below)
7. Skim off any scum, pot and cover in the usual way.

Much easier than a jelly bag (which has to be hung from something) is to line a colander with some thin cloth such as a muslin or even a piece of net curtain! Make sure the cloth is big enough to drape right over the edges. Balance this over a big bowl or saucepan and leave overnight. Don't be tempted to poke or squeeze or the juice collected will be cloudy - just be patient!

Test setting point by putting a saucer in the fridge and dropping a teaspoon of jelly mixture on and let it cool. If it wrinkles when you drag your finger across it, then it has reached setting point. It is safer to under-boil, than over-boil as you can always re-boil it, but you can't do much with jam/jelly that has turned into solid glue!

Although I have got a receipe somewhere for making wine out of jam that has gone wrong - never tried it though!

mrs-moneypenny

thank you very much, i'll start saving jars and let you know how i get on

Janey51

We made elderberry chutney last year and what about elderberry wine. Wonderful!

fudgem

I've just seen a letter in the paper today from someone who reckons they are the best cure for colds and flu

1 pound elderberries washed and crushed, plus 1 pound of brown sugar
bring them both slowly to the boil and simmer until they are of a syrupy consistency. Pass through a sieve and bottle, serve diluted with hot water

I can't vouch for this as I haven't yet tried it, but I'm definitely going to as she reckons it will save us from the flu pandemic which they keep prophesying

thriftlady_2

I've read that they are good for coughs and colds too, I might try that, thanks Fudgem:) any idea how long it keeps for ? I suppose I could freeze it in ice cube trays and dilute one of them in hot water ?

fudgem

I've just re-read the letter and she says it keeps for four years in sterilised bottles. Thats a pretty good shelf life

thriftlady_2

Thanks Fudgem, sounds good stuff.

DonnaP

Hi

We have lots of elderberries around here and I wondered what is the best way of freezing them? Are they like blackberries where you freeze them on trays before putting them in another container? Or would it be best to stew them first?

Also, I want to have a go at making elderberry jam in my breadmaker. Has anyone tried it?

Donna

krishna

Elderberries are a bit pippy. You might want to stew or press and strain them first.