Most people do not know that the gorgeous flower of the lilac tree is also an edible one. This flower lasts about two weeks on the vine, so our window is always short to harvest, but beyond worth it. There is a multitude of lilac flower recipes that you can use to create delicious food and drinks with- but this specific use is the best. This is the easiest and (the unbelievably delicious) lilac syrup recipe!
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Why Use Lilacs?
Lilacs are used for so many things as I mentioned before, but why? There is so many reasons to use your lilacs instead of letting them fall to the ground this year. They are not just beauty for the eyes, but for the mouth and for your health as well. Lilacs have so many health benefits when used on the skin through oils and creams, as well as to ingest for better digestion, anxiety and so much more. The bonus is that the flowery flavor beats all man made and overly processed desserts we typically buy off the shelves. It is seriously flowery goodness for the mouth.
What do we Use Lilac Syrup For?
This syrup is used for so many things. That is why I appreciate having so much of it on my shelves. Use this syrup for mixing into drinks like an Italian soda or lemonade. Also it can be a substitute for extracts in recipes or to drizzle on top of pancakes or scones. It brings Spring back to life in the middle of Winter, and is simply majestic all times of the year. It seriously shows us how much God loves us. He didn’t just leave the beauty of this one for the eyes and I wish I would have known that sooner. A healing and beautiful food as well, used first in the Middle Ages. Let’s bring back its uses in the kitchen.
Want more recipes for your lilacs? Check out our Instagram for lots more:
The Four Ingredients for Lilac Syrup
- Water
- Lilac Flowers (separated from the stems)
- Blueberries or Blackberries
- Sugar
The ingredient list is so small for this specific recipe which makes it super easy for pretty much anyone to make it!
The specific measurements of the recipe are so easy that is makes it simple to multiply as well. I made this specific recipe times six this past week and my mother made some as well times five.
Supplies Needed to make the Syrup
There is a few items you need to make sure that you can create the syrup at home. Lots of these items you probably already own and use often but there is a few that are unique. I am linking below all the items I consider ‘special’. Since you probably own a set of pots and pans I won’t link those. But things like canning sets, canning jars, and cheesecloth are not in every house. So I put a few below to help you out. Highly rated, and either the exact same items I use or similar, but all quality.
- Cheese Cloth with Handle (I have a very similar one and this is the method I prefer to use when straining).
- Cheese Cloth Sheets 6 Pcs.
- Water Bath Canning Set (everything you will need in one purchase to be able to can with a water bath)
- Pint Canning Jars 12 Count
- 8OZ Canning Jars 12 Count (my preferred size)
Picking the Lilacs
Picking the lilacs is super simple. It is also extremely fun. If you are always looking for new and fun things to do with your family, friends, or significant other this is an amazing one to add to the list. It is wonderful. I asked on the Facebook Marketplace if anyone would let us come pick some lilacs and we had so many people say yes. We found some really amazing places, and people. Of course be very careful reaching out to people online. I primarily met up with people who I knew or knew of. It’s super fun to make a day of it, packing a picnic basket and of course some scissors and bags for the lilacs. We were given leads to abandoned homesteads, and many community members. We drove around town for a while and collected five grocery bags full. (You do not want to go overboard or you may be in over your head. I split up my picking days throughout the week. This was so that I could finish the first bags and once I was done with them I would go pick more).
You may be asking: how do I pick the lilacs? Let me explain that to you. Lilacs grow on a small stem that is a part of a greater branch to the lilac tree or bush. The part you cut is the stems that are attached to the branches. These stems will be covered in the flowers and they are usually very green stems. Anything that is brown is not a part of the flowers, it is a part of the growth of the actual tree.
We simply took scissors and cut at the point closest to the branches on the stems and put them in grocery bags. Do not pack the bags too tightly or you will begin to smash the lilacs and you don’t necessarily want them all to smash.
Preparing The Lilacs for the Lilac Syrup Recipe
After this you can take them home and remove all the flowers from the stems completely. The only part we use in this specific recipe is the flowers. This is because the rest of the stem is bitter and overpowers the flower flavor.
Lilac Syrup Instructions
Lilac recipes are so simple, even down to how you prepare them. You only need two pots and some cheesecloth unless canning. If you are canning you need the Equipment for water bath canning.
Basically, you throw everything into a large pot and simmer it for around twenty minutes and that the basis of the recipe.
Once you are done you can put it into small cans and water bath can them on the stove. They have a shelf life of about one year.
They are put in the water bath for ten minutes, taken off of the heat to rest for five, and then taken out and places on your counter overnight. Then you can put them away.
Lilac syrup is super simple to make. I enjoyed making so much of it this Spring season and will do it again next year. With all of this information in mind you have the basic idea of creating this delicious elixir but let’s dive into the specifics to the lilac syrup recipe below!
Lilac Syrup Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Large Pot
- 1 Piece of Straining Cheese Cloth
- 2 or 3 Pint Sized Jars With lids and rings
- 1 Water bath for canning With all the needed tools for water bath canning
- 1 Small Pot To warm the seals of the canning lids
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Lilac Flowers Separated from the stems and washed
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 1 Cup Water
- 4 Blueberries or Blackberries For all natural darkening/coloring of the syrup
Instructions
- First you will pick all the flowers off of the lilac stems. Pick them into a strainer which either has very small holes or into a strainer with cheesecloth laid out inside.
- Secondly, you will rinse the lilacs in gentle water. Moving the lilacs around in the bowl to make sure you are getting every side.
- Next you will pour all the ingredients into your large pot for the stove. (Again it is super simple to multiply if you want more than one batch.
- Put the pot on the stove on medium to high heat stirring regularly until it begins to boil lightly.
- Turn the stove down to medium low heat and let the syrup simmer for twenty minutes. Stir every once in a while.
- After this pour the syrup out into a bowl or jar straining all of the flowers out as you pour. Just use the cheesecloth from before.
- After this make sure all the lilac flowers and anything else that didn’t dissolve is out of the mixture and pour them into small jars for canning. I use 16 oz and smaller.
- At this point you can store them in your fridge for a few weeks or can them. If you can them, on the stove warm up the water bath to a boil and place the lids for your canning jars into a small pot of water on low heat for ten minutes before canning.
- Once the water is ready in the water bath and is boiling place all the lids and rings onto your jars and carefully place the cans into the water bath. Make sure that the water goes over top of the jars completely. Then put the lid on and set your timer for ten minutes.
- After ten minutes take the water bath off of the heat and let the cans sit inside the bath for another five minutes.
- Then you will take them out using the proper tools and place the jars on a towel on your counter for twenty four hours.
- You can use immediately or place in a food pantry after the twenty four hours. Make sure to label them with the name and year on the canning lid.
- Then enjoy!
Just like that you have prepared and made some delicious lilac syrup for a multitude of drinks, desserts and more. I hope you enjoyed this post and making your own lilac syrup with this lilac syrup recipe! God bless you all and let me know how it turned out in the comments below.
