As regular readers will know, I made apple butter recently. Apple butter is good but wasting the huge quantity of off cuts is not, so what to do??? Make cordial or syrup is what. I feel good not throwing away good food and we get a refreshing, flavoursome cordial, with nothing artificial added. Everyone wins!!
Here's how I did it.
Put apple peels and cores into a big saucepan. Cover with water and bring to boil. I added whole (native Tasmanian) pepperberries and whole cloves. Simmer until apples have pulped. You may need to add more water.
Strain through muslin cloth into a large bowl.
This recipe has no long term keeping qualities, so will need to be stored in the fridge and consumed within a couple of weeks.
My kids like the cordial served with sparkling water. I love it as a mixer with gin!! Everyone is happy!! *wink*
Have you made fruit cordials? How do you do it?
Linking to Fat Tuesday
What a fabulous idea! As I was reading this I was thinking "a flavoring for sparkling water", and there you recommend just that. I'm a big fan of homemade flavoring like this. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement mjskit. Hope you have fun making your own cordial!!
DeleteDo you think it would be alright to sweeten with stevia, honey, aguava, or any other natural sweetner.
ReplyDeleteAn alternative sweetener would be fine to use. It would not last as long, but make smaller batches and use it up quickly. That is a great idea. I will use stevia to sweeten mine next season.
DeleteI learned last year, from my English friend, how to make elderflower cordial. Tried it this summer and it was yummy! The concoction was cooked, then sat for a couple of days before putting into plastic bottles and frozen.
ReplyDeleteThank you!This apple cordial recipe is just what I was looking for! I too am eyeing up the fattening eating and cooking apples in my garden and wondering what to do with them other than the usual! I've recently had success with loganberry cordial, delicious!
ReplyDeleteCharlotte Tofts
Yum. Loganberry cordial
DeleteFantastic idea, our apples have been set upon by devilish little insects this year so I think, flushed with success after my first elderberry cordial, I'll give this a go to use up all the bits of apples I can!
ReplyDeletetry add citric acid it makes it last a bit longer i know its added stuff but it des help thats how i make all my cordials :) (nicole, 17)
ReplyDeleteoh also freeze cordial they usually freeze great do it in bottles bout 500ml so u can pull one out a time that will last for a little while but means u can d big bathecs and have it at xmas etc
ReplyDeleteI love making fruit cordials! I've never made apple before though. I just googled Apple cordial because we picked fresh apples on Friday and need to take cordial to a friend's house. And found your blog! Lovely.
ReplyDeleteI almost feel silly asking this question, but I'm not sure what you mean when you say "cook until the apples are pulped". Also, some time estimates and measurements of peppercorns, cloves, and sugar would be helpful. Even proportions would be helpful. I am standing here with a pot full apple cores and peels with some peppercorns and cloves (guessing the amthe amount from the picture on your site). I hope I am not wasting my time and I get something that is tolerable out of this.
ReplyDeleteHi Charlene, In this instance, pulped means to be well broken down by the cooking process. As for the quantity of peppercorns and cloves, it does depend on how much apple you start with. For 1kg apple you could use 1tsp peppercorns and 6-8 whole cloves. I hope the results you got were more than just tolerable! Have fun experimenting and may it taste amazing!
Deletesmallthingsbynona
Hi Charlene, In this instance, pulped means to be well broken down by the cooking process. As for the quantity of peppercorns and cloves, it does depend on how much apple you start with. For 1kg apple you could use 1tsp peppercorns and 6-8 whole cloves. I hope the results you got were more than just tolerable! Have fun experimenting and may it taste amazing!
Deletesmallthingsbynona
Have been looking for an apple cordial recipe without alcohol, and this looks excellent. I make various cordials, and used to make it in small batches as it does not keep long. Now I make quadruple batches, bottle, and put in a boiling water bath for half an hour (like a Fowlers Vacola unit). Keeps for months. I know it will probably lose some nutritious value, but I doubt there is so much nutrition to be had from cordial to worry about! I also make a sugar free lemon cordial for my husband (type 1 diabetic) and it also lasts well after the water bath. Cheers, Sandy
ReplyDeleteHello how are you? Happy New Year.
DeleteWould you mind sharing your recipe for the sugar free lemon cordial? My dad had a kidney transplant a few months ago and I am sure he would love that. Also would you please explain to me how to do the boil bath to keep it to last longer?
Thank you so much.
Kelly