This Green Apple and Elderflower Smoothie offers an early summer twist on a refreshing and healthy classic.
So get out foraging and make the most of this delightful flower whilst you still can!
How to Forage and Prepare Fresh Elderflowers
Sweetly scented elderflowers are best picked on a dry, warm and windless day. Not always possible in our climate I admit!
As the unpicked heads of the little white flowers mature over the summer months into elderberries in Autumn, only ever pick what you can use in the same day.
Even if you or your neighbours don’t put those elderberries to good use, the wild birds certainly will.
Gently shake and nudge any bugs and wildlife out from between the tiny little flowers.
Don’t wash them or shake too vigorously as you’ll lose much of the pollen.
Next remove the flowers from the stems.
I use a pair of scissors to snip the flowers and the tiniest bit of the stem they attach to off.
It’s fiddly work. But it’s worth noting that whilst the flowers and the berries of the elder tree are edible, the leaves and stems are poisonous [source].
Different sources give different information on the levels of toxicity and how dangerous it is.
So as always I would advise erring on the side of caution and avoiding it.
How to make a Green Apple and Elderflower Smoothie
OK, now let’s walk you step by step through this easy peasy recipe!
1/ prepare your fruit
Wash your apples, remove any stickers and chop in half.
Cut out the core and dice the apple flesh into chunks.
Chop the banana up too and add this to the blender along with the apple pieces.
2/ add the milk and nut butter
Measure out the milk and pour this in too.
I’m lactose intolerant so I used oat milk in my smoothie. This is what the nutrition data below is based on.
However you can swap this out for your favourite dairy or non dairy milk. Just adjust the macros if you track them.
Unless you’ll be eating a proper meal within an hour or so of consuming this smoothie, you’ll want to add a source of healthy fat to it.
Without the fat content, you’ll be ravenous in no time.
I used peanut butter (again, that’s what the macro data below reflects), but you could swap this out for any nut or seed butter.
Another option, would be to add some oil (liquid coconut or MCT oil spring to mind), some avocado, or maybe swap some of the milk out for a can of coconut milk.
As well as making you feel fuller for longer, any of those options will make your smoothie taste extra creamy too!
4/ add the elderflowers
Using the advice above, add in the tiny little flowers that you’ve removed from the stems.
I also like to add a little pinch of salt to my smoothie, which will help make the flavours pop.
Doesn’t it all look beautiful!
5/ blend your green apple and elderflower smoothie
Blitz all of the ingredients in a blender.
Give it a couple of minutes at full speed, and you’ll end up with a thick, creamy smoothie with all the scent and flavour of a warm summers day.
6/ pour and enjoy!
I do hope you love this recipe as much as we do!
As always, if you give it go please feel free to tag me in any pics you share online. You can find me pretty much everywhere as @hedgecomber. I try to share all the pics I see :)
Janie x
- 1 green apple
- 1 banana
- 1 elderflower head
- 350 mls oat milk
- 1 tbsp peanut butter
- 1 pinch salt
Pick the elderflower heads. 1-2 per serving is about right.
Snip off the tiny flowers as shown in the article above. Place in the blender jug.
Wash the apple and remove any stickers. Chop into chunks and add to the blender.
I recommend you don’t peel your apple as the skin is full of fibre. However if you don’t like any texture to your smoothie you may wish to peel it first.
Add the chopped banana, milk, nut butter and salt.
Blend for two or three minutes, or until it’s creamy and smooth.
Pour into a large glass and enjoy!
Garlic + Zest says
This sounds like a great smoothie, but I have no idea where to find elderflower in South Florida – what would you recommend as a substitute?
Jane Sarchet says
Sure Garlic + Zest! Hop on a plane and fly over to the UK.
I’ll pick you up from the airport and take you on a foraging adventure! :D
Janie x
PS in more sensible news, jasmine flowers spring to mind but their scent can be really rather sickly en masse so not sure. Definitely come to the UK ;)
homemadezagat says
I so need to try elderflower. So great that you have free access to it! This smoothie sounds tasty
Jane Sarchet says
Thanks so much for your kind comment :)
Janie x
efwalt says
I love the idea of using elderflowers in smoothies :D why have I never thought of this?! Now I know what I’m looking for I keep seeing elderflowers everywhere. Will definitely make this next :)
Jane Sarchet says
Perfect! I do hope you enjoy it Emma :)
Janie x
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
This sounds amazing! I love the flavour of elderflower but have never foraged for it myself. Something I’d love to try but I feel sure I’d pick the wrong thing! ;)
Jane Sarchet says
It’s nigh on impossible to get wrong Becca. I’ll get you some pics of what to look out for and you’ll start seeing them everywhere!
Janie x
Azlin Bloor says
Sun’s shining over in my part of Dorset today, for a change! I love the sound of this smoothie. I’ve never used elderflowers before, thanks for the tip, just off to find me an elderflower tree now!
Jane Sarchet says
Happy foraging Azlin :)
Janie x
laughingspatula says
A beautiful smoothie but no idea where to get an elderflower! Maybe the public market downtown?
Jane Sarchet says
Perhaps try googling if Elder trees grow in your climate Laughing spatula? Good luck :)
Janie x
holacroqueta says
This looks delicious! Will pin it for later!
Jane Sarchet says
Thank you so much :)
Janie x
choclette says
Love, love, love this idea Janie. Just gutted now that as a keen forager I never thought of it myself.
Kate Veggie Desserts (@veggie_desserts) says
This sounds so good! I have two big elderflower trees, but I haven’t gotten around to making cordial yet so I can try this tomorrow (weather permitting) as it’s so much easier. Love this!
Jane Sarchet says
Cool! Hope you love it too Kate :)
Janie x
Foodie Quine (@foodiequine) says
I was out for a run in the sunshine yesterday and there was a heavenly scent of Elderflowers in the air. Would never of thought of using them in a smoothie. I’m such a lush that I normally use mine in Elderflower ‘Champagne’.
Jane Sarchet says
Hahaha, that made me chuckle FoodieQ :D
Janie x
greensofthestoneage says
I love foraging elderflower – and this recipe is just such an amazingly simple yet tasty way to use them! I’ve definitely got to try this out :)
Jane Sarchet says
Superb! I do hope you enjoy it :)
Janie x
Ceri @Natural Kitchen Adventures says
I can imagine this tastes wonderful. Literally no idea where to forage for elderflower in London so looks like I missed out again this year. Will be more organised next year!! Yum!
Jane Sarchet says
Perhaps you need to plan a trip to the south west next spring/early summer Ceri ;)
Janie x