Summer Fruit Cordial is a wonderful cordial that makes use of the glut of strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blackcurrants , redcurrants and more you can collect from hedgerows or PYO farms in August. Summer Fruits are an addictive mixture of sweet and tart. Homemade Summer Fruit Cordial is gluten-free and vegan and wonderful as a drink (with or without Prosecco).

Summer Fruit Cordial is so easy to make. It stores well for three to four weeks in the fridge or keeps in the freezer for six months or so.

You can use summer fruits in any proportion you like, depending on your taste and availability. You can use 100% of your favourite seasonal fruit if you like. I like to use 100% blackcurrants (to make cassis!).

As well as the traditional non-alcoholic drink with still or sparkling water or as the key ingredient in fancy cocktails you can also use Summer Fruit Cordial to make a wonderful sorbet, ice lollies or drizzle over Lavender Ice Cream, fruit salad, breakfast porridge or add some pizzazz to Banana, Peanut Butter and Almond Smoothie. You can also use it as a mixer with Prosecco, gin or vodka! The left over fruits are also great with ice-cream or sorbet or added to overnight oats and smoothies.

Allergy Information – Summer Fruit Cordial

Summer Fruit Cordial is gluten-free and vegan as well as… celery free, coconut free, garlic free, lupin free, mustard free, nightshade free, onion free, peanut free, sesame free, soya free, tree nut free.

Top Tips – Summer Fruit Cordial

You can use frozen fruit if you cannot get seasonal fruit.

The best way to sterilise jars, funnels and other equipment is in the dishwasher. Just make sure when you remove items from the dishwasher you do not ‘de-sterilise’ them by touching any inside surface.

Recipe – Summer Fruit Cordial

Difficulty easy
Makes around 750 millilitres
Preparation time 5 minutes
Cooking time 25 minutes

Ingredients – Summer Fruit Cordial

500 grams summer fruit (your choice!)
275 grams sugar
300 millilitres water
Zest and juice of 2 lemons

Method – Summer Fruit Cordial

1. In a heavy-based pan, bring the sugar, summer fruits, lemon zest and water to a boil and simmer gently for 5 minutes or until the fruit starts to break down
2. Break up the fruit with a spoon or masher to release as much juice as possible, simmer for a further two minutes and then add the lemon juice, bring back to the boil and remove from the heat. Allow to cool for a few minutes
4. Strain the liquid through a scalded jelly bag or piece of muslin into a sterilised jug. Use a sterilised funnel to pour the hot syrup into sterilised bottles. Seal the bottles with swing-top lids, sterilised screw-tops or corks. Allow to cool and store in the fridge or freezer
5. To serve as a drink dilute one part Summer Fruit Cordial to three parts still or sparkling water.