Strawberry Elderflower Jam

The recipe, step by step

This strawberry elderflower jam captures the fresh flavours of early summer in every spoonful. Made with ripe strawberries, fragrant elderflowers and a touch of vanilla, it is delicious spread over toast or spooned onto a warm bowl of porridge in the morning.

At this time of year, our dog walks take us past the numerous elderflower bushes growing along the edge of the forest. The aroma of the blossoms, combined with a fresh crop of strawberries picked from the garden that morning, inspired me to make this jam.

The elderflower flavour is intentionally very delicate. It complements the strawberries without overpowering their naturally sweet, fruity flavour.

As well as serving it at breakfast, I love using this strawberry elderflower jam as a filling for sponge cakes or my strawberry Linzer biscuits.

Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Elderflower Jam

• Filled with fresh strawberry flavour
• Delicately scented with elderflower
• Made with only four ingredients
• Easy to prepare
• Naturally dairy-free and egg-free
• Suitable for spreading, baking and filling cakes
• A lovely way to preserve the flavours of early summer

Recipe Highlights

• Ease: Easy.

• Free from: Dairy, eggs, gluten and nuts. It is also suitable for vegans when made with vegan-friendly sugar.

• Taste and texture: Sweet, fruity strawberry jam with a very light elderflower flavour and a hint of vanilla.

• Quantity: Approximately 1.5 kg.

• Time: Approximately 1 day, 2 hours and 15 minutes, including one day of cooling time.

Ingredients

For this strawberry elderflower jam recipe, you will need just four ingredients:

• Strawberries – Fresh strawberries provide the main flavour, natural colour and texture of the jam. Choose ripe, fragrant fruit for the best flavour. Remove the stalks and any bruised or damaged areas before using.

• Elderflowers – Fresh elderflowers add a delicate floral aroma that complements the strawberries beautifully. Use only flowers that you can positively identify as elderflowers. Choose fresh, creamy-white flower heads and avoid any that appear brown, damaged or past their best. Check the flowers carefully and remove any insects before adding them to the recipe. Use only the flowers and remove as much of the thicker green stem as possible.

• Sugar – Sugar sweetens the fruit and plays an important role in the texture and preservation of the jam. Use sugar that is confirmed as suitable for vegans when required. Avoid reducing the amount unless the complete recipe has been developed and tested for a lower sugar quantity, as this may affect both the set and storage.

Pure vanilla extract or vanilla paste adds warmth and rounds out the strawberry and elderflower flavours. nilla Extract or Paste –

What Does Strawberry Elderflower Jam Taste Like?

Strawberries remain the dominant flavour in this jam.

The elderflowers add a subtle floral aroma rather than a strong perfumed taste, while the vanilla gently enhances the sweetness of the fruit.

The result is a fresh, summery jam that feels a little more special than a traditional strawberry preserve without losing the familiar flavour everyone loves.

Ways to Use Strawberry Elderflower Jam

This jam is wonderfully versatile and can be enjoyed in many different ways.

Try serving it:

• Spread over toast, crumpets or warm scones
• Spooned onto porridge or overnight oats
• Swirled through natural yoghurt
• Layered into a sponge cake
• Used as a filling for Linzer biscuits
• Served with pancakes or waffles
• Added to a cream tea
• Stirred into rice pudding
• Paired with vanilla ice cream

Tips for the Best Strawberry Elderflower Jam

Use Ripe Strawberries

The flavour of the finished jam depends greatly on the quality of the fruit. Choose ripe strawberries with a strong aroma and avoid fruit that is underripe, mouldy or excessively bruised.

Pick Fresh Elderflowers

Fresh elderflowers should smell fragrant and look creamy white. Pick them on a dry day when the flowers are fully open. Avoid collecting flowers from busy roadsides or areas that may have been sprayed.

Check the Elderflowers Carefully

Shake the flower heads gently and inspect them closely for insects. Avoid soaking them unnecessarily, as this can wash away some of their delicate fragrance. Follow the preparation instructions in the recipe for cleaning and separating the flowers.

Remove the Thick Green Stems

The aroma comes from the tiny flowers rather than the thick stems. Remove as much of the green stem as practical before adding the elderflowers to the jam.

Do Not Overpower the Strawberries

Elderflower has a distinctive floral aroma, but too much can overwhelm the fruit. This recipe is designed to give the jam a very light elderflower flavour that enhances rather than masks the strawberries.

Use a Large Saucepan

Jam can bubble and rise considerably as it cooks. Use a sufficiently large, heavy-based saucepan to give the mixture plenty of room and reduce the risk of it boiling over.

Stir Carefully

Stir as instructed to help dissolve the sugar and prevent the fruit mixture from catching on the bottom of the pan. Take extra care when handling hot jam, as the high sugar content means it can cause serious burns.

Prepare the Jars in Advance

Have the clean, sterilised jars ready before the jam finishes cooking. The jars should be prepared according to the preservation method used in the complete recipe.

Allow the Jam to Cool

Leave the filled jars undisturbed while the jam cools and sets. The full recipe time includes approximately one day for cooling.

Tools You’ll Need

Here is some of the kitchen equipment I use and recommend for making strawberry elderflower jam:

• Wooden spoon or heat-resistant spatula
• Measuring spoons
• Strawberry huller or small knife
• Potato masher, if required
• Sterilised jam jars and lids
• Ladle
• Clean tea towel
• Labels for the finished jars

• Stellar Saucepan 3.8 Litre
• Hybrid Nonstick Set, 2, 3, and 7.5 Litre – I find a 20 cm saucepan with a capacity of around 3.8 litres, such as the Stellar saucepan or a similarly sized pot from the HexClad set, particularly useful for making jams, preserves and sauces.

• Thermometer – This thermometer helps me achieve perfect results when making jam, marshmallows, caramel and Swiss meringue buttercream.

• Kilner Jam Funnel – The wide opening of this preserving funnel helps prevent spills and waste while providing stability when decanting warm jams, chutneys and jellies into jars. Its 4 cm base fits comfortably inside most standard jar openings.

Nutrition

Serving: one tablespoon of jam

Nutritional information is provided as a guide only. Values may vary depending on the exact ingredients, brands and serving sizes used.

Storage and Freezing

Properly processed and sealed jars of strawberry elderflower jam can be stored for many months.

Keep unopened jars somewhere cool, dry and away from direct sunlight. Check that each jar has sealed correctly before storing it.

Once opened, keep the jam refrigerated and always use a clean spoon when serving.

Can You Freeze Strawberry Elderflower Jam?

Freezing is not advised for this recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does Elderflower Add to Strawberry Jam?

Elderflower adds a delicate floral aroma that complements the sweetness of the strawberries. The flavour in this recipe is intentionally light, allowing the fresh strawberries to remain the main focus.

Can I Use Frozen Strawberries?

Frozen strawberries may release more liquid than fresh fruit and can affect the cooking time and final texture. Use the type of fruit specified in the complete recipe for the most reliable result.

Do I Need to Wash Elderflowers?

Elderflowers are often shaken and carefully inspected rather than heavily washed because water can remove some of their fragrance. Follow the preparation directions in the recipe and make sure all insects and unwanted stems are removed.

How Do I Know Whether a Flower Is Elderflower?

Use elderflowers only when you can identify the plant with complete confidence. When uncertain, do not collect or eat the flowers. Use elderflowers from a trusted supplier instead.

Can I Reduce the Sugar?

Reducing the sugar can change the jam’s flavour, texture, setting properties and storage characteristics. Use the quantity stated in the tested recipe rather than adjusting it without reformulating the complete method.

Why Is the Elderflower Flavour So Light?

The recipe is intended to highlight the fresh strawberry flavour. The elderflowers provide a subtle aromatic background rather than turning the jam into a strongly floral preserve.

What Can I Use This Jam For?

It is delicious on toast, scones and porridge, or as a filling for cakes and biscuits. It works particularly well in sponge cakes and strawberry Linzer biscuits.

How Long Does the Jam Take to Set?

The complete recipe time includes one day for the jam to cool. Its texture may continue to settle and firm as it cools in the jars.

Made it?

Share it from your kitchen

Save the recipe or share it with someone who would enjoy making it too.

Facebook Pinterest Email