What can I do with elderberry juice?

Cafe Society
#1

I’ve got about two quarts of elderberry juice sitting in my pantry. Mr. E’s wonderful grandmother gave it to us. I’m very grateful, of course, but what in the world can be done with it? I don’t want to drink it straight, and it’s too thin to be a good topping.

Can I use it in a recipe of some type? Can I boil it down, add something to it, to make a good thick topping for icecream or something? Is there any mixed drinks it might be good in? How about smoothies?

If anyone can think of anything, please let me know. I’d really love to use it, she obviously spent some time on it. Thanks!

#2

Make some poisoned wine with it, then invite lonely old men to your house, serve it to them and bury them in the basement?

#3

Can you use the juice to make yogurt or milk-based smoothies?

#4

You can make jelly.

Dilute with 5or6 parts water, add a splash of lemon juice for a refreshing drink.

Boil it down, add some sugar syrup and try it over pancakes, ice cream, etc.

#5

[John Cleese as Insulting French Guy in Holy Grail] “Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries!”[/JCaIFGiHG]

#6

Dammit!

Thief!

#7

He who posts first… :wink:

#8

Actually, with gin and club soda over ice it makes a nice mixed drink.

We’re big on it here in Sweden. Coca-Cola has even put out an elder flavored Fanta.

#9

Elderberry jelly is the best. Way better than grape IMHO.

#10

Or you could make wine from it and serve it with primrose pie. (I dare anyone to catch that reference.)

Unfortunately, the amount you have isn’t enough for wine (pity–elderberry wine is quite tasty, even without the arsenic). Jelly is probably your best option.

#11

Sorbet?

#12

Sorbet is an excellent idea. Also the two drink ideas, the club soda and gin over ice and the regular water dilution, both sound great.

No, I don’t have enough to make wine, poisoned or unpoisoned! Maybe next year. :wink:

#13

Brian Jaques?

#14

Brian Froud, actually. The Fir Darrig (at least, I think it was a Fir Darrig) in the animated adaptation of Froud’s Faeries is downright manic about offering the hero primrose pie and elderberry wine.

Why this stuck in my memory for more than 20 years, I have no idea, other than the fact that the creature sprouted extra arms to do so…

#15

If you add some sugar you can trade the elderberry nectar to Apothecary Todd for a rubber chicken.

#16

If you don’t have enough to ferment wine of it, you can add it to bottled wine - about 1 part juice to 8 parts white or rose wine is yummers.

Or freeze it into juice cubes and serve in lemonade or iced tea.

Simmer peeled and cored pears in elderberry juice and a little sugar. Serve with freshly whipped cream or creme fraiche.

Save some for upset stomachs or digestive ailments.

#17

To cause or to cure?

#18

:smack: oops! To cure. Old Gramma remedy which always worked for me as a little 'un. Of course, it was preserved with sugar as elderberry syrup, which I realized after posting.

Of course LOTS of elderberry juice would probably give one the tummy rumblings, just like any juice, so if that’s what you’re after, go for it!