What Is Elderflower? How To Replicate The Flavor Of The Royal Wedding Cake

Ever since Kensington Palace announced that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s wedding cake would be lemon elderflower, the internet has been abuzz with elderflower recipes to help you re-create the flavor at home.

But if you’re anything like most Americans, you’re wondering, What is elderflower? And where do I get it?

Commonly used in British drinks and desserts, elderflower is the white blossom of the elderberry tree. Before it’s turned into food, it looks like this:

A flowering elderberry tree.

A closeup of the elderflowers.

The elderflowers develop into these deep purple elderberries.

Elderflowers are delicate in flavor, unlike other flowers like roses or lavender. They don’t quite pack as strong a punch, so even if you hate floral-flavored foods, you may not mind dishes made with elderflower.

The blossoms are used in a few different culinary preparations, perhaps the most common being booze.

They flavor St. Germain, a liqueur. As Drizly explains, every year about 40 to 50 workers gather in the French countryside to collect elderflower blossoms before macerating them with citrus fruits and sugar and then distilling the result. St. Germain is often used in Champagne cocktails, the perfect type of drink for easing your way into the flavor of elderflower.

Elderflower syrup ― also known as elderflower cordial ― is another ingredient that’s commonly used to add flavor to cocktails and desserts. It’s a simple syrup of water and sugar that’s infused with the flower. You can buy it already bottled, or if you’re lucky enough to live near elderflowers, you can make some yourself.

And obviously, as in the case of the royal wedding cake, elderflower finds its way into desserts ― especially cakes ― through this syrup. The Kitchn has a recipe for a lemon elderflower cake that drizzles elderflower syrup into the just-baked cake to infuse it with flavor and moisture.

There are some healthy uses for elderflower too. It is rich in bioflavonoids and has been used in traditional medicine for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s been used to treat the cold and flu, pain and swelling, high blood sugar levels and ... constipation. How elegant.

Check out some of the best ways to taste elderflower with the recipes below.

1Gin, Elderflower and Prosecco CocktailGarnish With LemonGet the Gin, Elderflower and Prosecco Cocktail recipe from Garnish With Lemon.
2Elderflower Lemon CakeJoe Lingeman/KitchnGet the Elderflower Lemon Cake recipe from The Kitchn.
3Elderflower Gin and TonicGarnish With LemonGet the Elderflower Gin and Tonic recipe from Garnish With Lemon.
4Strawberry Melon Elderflower Pimms CupHalf Baked HarvestGet the Strawberry Melon Elderflower Pimm's Cup recipe from Half Baked Harvest.
5Homemade Elderflower SyrupLove & Olive OilGet the Elderflower Syrup recipe from Love & Olive Oil.
6Elderflower and Honey Glazed Donut HolesHummingbird HighGet the Elderflower and Honey Glazed Donut Holes recipe from Hummingbird High.
7Vodka and Elderflower LemonadeGarnish With LemonGet the Vodka and Elderflower Lemonade recipe from Garnish With Lemon.
8St. Germain Pomegranate SpritzersMinimalist BakerGet the St. Germain Pomegranate Spritzers recipe from Minimalist Baker.
9Elderflower Sangria RecipeGarnish With LemonGet the Elderflower Sangria Recipe from Garnish With Lemon.
10Lemon Elderflower CakeFollow the RuelsGet the Lemon Elderflower Cake recipe from Follow the Ruels.
11Elderflower French 75Garnish With LemonGet the Elderflower French 75 recipe from Garnish With Lemon.
12Elderflower, Peach and Lavender Gin SourCooks With CocktailsGet the Elderflower, Peach and Lavender Gin Sour recipe from Cooks With Cocktails.
13Elderflower MartiniGarnish With LemonGet the Elderflower Martini recipe from Garnish With Lemon.