I wrote this June 21, 2009 after my first experience making and consuming Elderflower fritters. As I type this they are in full bloom waiting to be harvested for a repeat of this recipe and also to dry for Elderflower teas.
Oh my goodness…. I think I’ve died and went to heaven!!!
I just made nature’s version of Funnel cakes! I decided to seize the day and harvest elderflowers while they are at the peak of their glory and make fritters.
They are easy to make and so delicious!
After dipping them in the batter and swirling them a bit to remove excess batter, I then held them by the long stem (with an oven mitt on) in the hot hot oil till they were perfect (actually depending on how quickly they cook you can leave them in the oil for a bit but WATCH constantly) then holding them by the stem shake the excess oil off gently and place on paper towels to drain.
Then for fun I place them on top of a pile of peeled and cubed fresh peaches, and sprinkle powdered sugar over the fritter. The best part is then pouring elderberry syrup over all and then enjoy!
I had made a lot of elderberry syrup last Fall for colds and flu and this is the first time I’ve used it as a pancake syrup or fritter syrup.
Oh I wish you could all have dropped by for a bite to eat and a sip of Linden tea….
And to think of all the years that I had Elder trees in my yard and merely admired the white clustered flowers and fussed at the dark berries that stain anything that touches them. I thought they were poisonous and all along they were another gift from God waiting for me to discover.
Elderflower Fritters
1 3/4 cups Flour
2 Eggs A little over
1/2 cup of milk Small pinch salt
16 Elderberry blossoms with stems
Powdered sugar for dusting
Lard or shortening for frying (I used coconut oil)
Whisk together the flour, eggs, salt, and milk into a pancake batter. Rinse the elderberry blossoms several times, then pat dry with paper towel. Briefly dip the blossoms into the dough, and then deep fry until golden brown. Dust with sugar and serve with warmed Elderberry syrup and peaches!
Nutrition Facts
Elderflowers
Excellent diaphoretic for helping a fever to be productive. Great for colds and flu tea.
Elderberries
Low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium
High in Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Iron and Potassium
Good for losing weight
Maintaining good general health
Key Colds and Flu combatant and preventative
The good old elderberry plant known to mankind for centuries now has been supremely esteemed for its astonishing health benefit. Although these edible berries have been around for long, it is only now that these dark-colored berries have come to be acknowledged by contemporary medical science. Mostly grown in the subtropical regions of North America, Europe, Northwest Africa and South America, elderberry plant is also popular as ‘black elder’, ‘European elderberry’ and ‘European black elderberry’ worldwide. This purple tinted fruit had featured as a vital ingredient in folk herbal medicinal cure and was xwidely used to treat many health conditions. The hullabaloo on this potent berry led modern-day researchers to delve deeper on its health benefits that have produced surprising results. Elderberry is found to have many health-boosting properties and is known to be the ultimate remedy for seasonal flu. To explore more on the health benefits of these healthy berries, read on.