Elderflower Skillet Bread

This super easy stovetop bread is an adaptation of what we used to call “Hoe Cake” and incorporates the beautiful and nutritious Elderberry bush flowers that are along creeks and roadside ditches this time of year.  You can substitute any edible flower in this recipe but my favorite is the Elderflower.  Serve it while hot with a little butter and honey as your supper table bread, or add a little sugar to the recipe to turn it into a light cake served with refreshments at afternoon gatherings.  YUM!

Elderflowers ready to be removed from stems

Getting Started:

Strip the flower blossoms from the stems using your fingernail.  You’ll need 5 or 6 large umbrels (flower clusters) to accumulate 1/3 cup of blossoms.  You can use more or less according to your taste or flower availability.

Your Ingredients:

1  1/2 cups plain flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

4 Tablespoons butter, softened

3/4 Cup Milk or Buttermilk

1/3 Cup Elderflower blossoms

Ingredients

Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a large bowl.  Cut butter into the flour mixture until well blended and forms small lumps. (use your fingers!)  Add milk and mix well, then stir in flowers.

Adding flowers to batter

Pour into an 8″ buttered cast iron skillet and cook over medium-low heat for 6-8 minutes.

Cooking the first side, ready to flip

Flip and cook the other side another 6-8 minutes or until browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Keep skillet covered with a lid in-between flipping. Serve while hot, with butter or honey!