Simple woodruff recipes – what you can prepare with the native plant

Everyone knows the delicious Waldmeister shower from childhood. Hardly anyone likes the pleasant aroma of this native plant. But shower is not all you can make from the plant. Cakes, punch bowls and even alcoholic beverages are a real delicacy that is worth trying out. We would like to introduce this interesting plant to you and provide some delicious woodruff recipes.

Woodruff in the kitchen

Woodruff Recipes - The native plant has many positive properties

The woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a European garden plant that is often used as ground cover. In the kitchen, the leaves and flowers are valued for their pleasant aroma, which can develop especially when they are dry or at least withered. Both the leaves and the flowers are harvested shortly before and during the flowering period. Since the stems have a bitter taste, it is best to avoid them.

Woodruff Recipes - How to Harvest and Dry the Plant

Woodruff is also known for its positive effects on our health, which is another reason why woodruff recipes are so popular. Soaked in milk overnight, you get a delicious drink that is supposed to reduce anxiety and help us find sleep more easily. In the form of tea, the plant is said to have an invigorating and strengthening effect (especially as far as the liver is concerned), stimulates digestion and has an anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and diuretic effect. The properties summarized again:

  • soothing
  • blood cleansing
  • digestive
  • soothes the gastrointestinal tract
  • antispasmodic and thus also helps with mesmerization complaints
  • helps with insomnia and restlessness
  • strengthens the vessels and veins
  • prevents migraines and headaches in normal amounts
  • reduces blood clotting
  • helps with eczema, boils and poorly healing wounds
  • sweaty
  • has a positive effect on the liver and bladder stones
  • beneficial for weak heart

Woodruff must wither or dry so that it can develop its aromas

Caution should be exercised for people who are taking blood-thinning medications because the plant contains coumarin, which is a natural anticoagulant. However, since the amount in the dried plant is extremely small, dried woodruff is generally considered safe for almost everyone. Nevertheless, you should consult your doctor in any case before consuming the plant in any way. People with migraines should also avoid consuming it, since coumarin is a potential trigger.

Woodruff recipes for cakes

Woodruff recipes for cakes - bake delicious dessert yourself

Woodruff cake recipes are very popular and at least after you have tried the following recipe you will understand why. Allow around 3 days for preparation if you use woodruff, as this should first develop its aromas in the milk. You need the following products:

  • 3 handfuls of woodruff leaves and flowers that will wither you overnight
  • 2 tsp well dried woodruff, ground into powder
  • 4 large eggs, egg yolk and egg white separated
  • 150 g of sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of cold water
  • 8 tablespoons melted butter
  • 75 g wheat or spelled flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp grated lemon peel
  • 480 ml milk or coffee cream
  • Powdered sugar for sprinkling

Woodruff recipes freshly prepared at home - prepare the garden plant properly

Recipes with woodruff – Prepare the cake

After leaving the woodruff leaves and flowers withered overnight, stir them in the milk or coffee cream and leave the whole thing covered for a day in a warm place. Then put the Waldmeister cream in the fridge for another two days, after which you sieve the cream to remove the plant parts. Line a 20 x 20 cm baking sheet with baking paper, leaving some paper hanging over the edges to make it easier to lift the cake out of the sheet later.

Woodruff Recipes - Let leaves and flowers soak in milk overnight

Preheat the oven to 160 degrees. In a bowl, smash the egg yolk together with the sugar and water until creamy for about 5 minutes (the sugar should dissolve). Stir in the melted butter and then add the flour, lemon peel, salt and dried woodruff. After you have mixed everything well, stir in the milk or cream.

Woodruff recipes for baking cakes with milk or cream

In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff and then lift them under the batter. Don't stir too long! The protein may still be a little lumpy in the dough. Spread the dough in the tray and bake the cake for about 50 to 55 minutes. Then let the woodruff cake cool at room temperature, then cover it and put it in the fridge for at least 4 hours (even better overnight). Sprinkle the cake with icing sugar before serving.

Woodruff syrup recipes as a basis for drinks and other

Woodruff Syrup Recipes - Keep in bottles and use for sauces and drinks

If you want to prepare woodruff recipes with fresh woodruff, syrup is the perfect choice. Woodruff recipes for syrups are particularly practical because the syrup can then be used for various other recipes, such as drinks and creams. Ice cream, cakes, puddings or other desserts can also be served with it. We would like to introduce you to a Waldmeister syrup recipe below. It is intended for a larger stock. If you need a smaller amount, you can also simply reduce the ingredients.

  • 1 kg of sugar
  • 2 liters of water
  • 3 lemons
  • 120 g fresh woodruff
  • optional: green food coloring

Woodruff cook for homemade syrup with lemon

Wash the woodruff, remove flowers and leaves and let them wither overnight or for 2 days (the longer, the more aromatic). Wash the lemons and cut them into slices. Heat the water with the sugar in a saucepan and cook for about 10 minutes until the sugar has dissolved and the water is clear. Turn off the stove and put the lemons and the woodruff in the pot. Let the mixture rest covered overnight or for a maximum of 2 days (no longer!).

Then pour the syrup through a cheesecloth or a very fine sieve into a saucepan, where you can give it a green color with a few drops of food coloring. Reheat the syrup and simmer on low heat for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Fill the syrup into clean bottles and close them immediately, after which you put (not put) them on a kitchen towel, where they let them cool. Try Selters with Waldmeister syrup! This is one of the simplest woodruff recipes and you will love it!

Jelly

Make green jelly yourself with this woodruff recipe

The good old god's dish must of course not be missing from our list for woodruff recipes. The woodruff flavor is a true classic. If you want to make the jelly completely yourself, you need:

  • 1 liter of water
  • 200 ml woodruff syrup
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons of gelatin
  • 4-6 drops of green food coloring
  • 120 ml water for the gelatin

Woodruff food from the woodruff is a classic and not only popular with children

Place the 120 ml of water in a glass or metal bowl and stir in the gelatin, after which you set it aside for 5 to 10 minutes. Fill a saucepan with about 5 centimeters of water. bring it to a boil and turn the stove off again. Place the bowl with the gelatin in it and dissolve it, stirring constantly. Be careful that the gelatin does not start to boil. Remove them from the hob.

Mix the water with the syrup and the food coloring and add this mixture slowly and with constant stirring to the gelatin. Pour the still liquid jelly into any container in which it should harden. Let them solidify in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 hours and only take them out to serve. In addition, a vanilla sauce tastes very good, but also sweet whipped cream.

Woodruff recipes for drinks without alcohol

Prepare soothing tea with dried woodruff leaves for a good night's sleep

Woodruff tea recipes

For about 150 ml of tea you need a teaspoon of dry woodruff leaves and flowers. Simply boil the water, pour over the leaves and let it steep for 30 minutes. If you prefer sweetened tea, you can sweeten it with honey. Since the tea has a calming effect, you can enjoy it in the evening before going to bed if you suffer from sleep problems. Its antispasmodic properties also make the woodruff perfect for menstrual cramps.

Non-alcoholic punch bowl with apple juice and woodruff flowers

Woodruff punch recipes

  • 500 ml of carbonated water
  • 500 ml apple juice
  • 1/2 lemon
  • approx. 25 woodruff flowers

Put the flowers and apple juice in a bowl, cover them with cling film and put them in the fridge for 24 hours. Remove the flowers with a sieve, squeeze half of the lemon and add the juice and water and cool the bowl with some ice cubes. If you want, you can also add fruit pieces to woodruff recipes for punch.

Lemonade with woodruff leaves, honey and lemon juice for spring and summer

Woodruff lemonade recipes

  • 150 g honey
  • 235 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 235 ml water
  • 3 tbsp woodruff leaves

Prepare a syrup from 80 ml of water and the honey by heating both but not boiling them. Pour in the lemon juice and the rest of the water. Taste the mixture to see if it is sweet enough for you. Put the woodruff leaves in a tea strainer and let them steep in hot water for 30 minutes. Then squeeze out the leaves to preserve the aroma in the lemonade and let the lemonade cool down at room temperature. Then put the refreshing lemonade in the fridge and serve it cold.

Recipes with woodruff plants – alcoholic beverages

Punch with white wine, sparkling wine, woodruff branch, lime and sugar

Punch with wine

  • 2 bottles of dry white wine
  • 1 branch woodruff
  • 3 tablespoons of sugar
  • 1 lime
  • 1 bottle of semi-dry sparkling wine

Put the white wine and sugar in a bowl, rinse off the woodruff and place it in the bowl as well, but in such a way that the stems are not in the wine. After 10 to 15 minutes, remove the woodruff, grate the peel of the lime and squeeze out the juice, which you then both put in the bowl. Finally, add the sparkling wine and the punch is ready.

Mix the cocktail with vodka or other neutral-tasting alcohol

Woodruff cocktail recipe

  • 1/2 branch woodruff
  • 500 ml lemonade (e.g. homemade woodruff lemonade from the recipe above)
  • 1 lime
  • 100 ml vodka
  • fresh woodruff leaves for garnish

Rinse the branch and let it wither overnight. Cut the lime into thin slices and catch the juice. Mix half of the lemonade with the lime juice and add the withered woodruff leaves. Let the mixture rest in the refrigerator for one hour, stirring once after 30 minutes. Then remove the leaves with a sieve and add the remaining lemonade and vodka. Serve the cocktails in cocktail glasses, which you garnish with lime slices and woodruff leaves.

Mix beer with woodruff syrup for a refreshing kick in the drink

Woodruff beer recipe

Delicious woodruff recipes for all beer fans? A Waldmeister beer is quick and easy if you have homemade Waldmeister syrup at hand. And this delicacy is prepared very simply: for every 300 ml of beer you need 2 cl syrup. Mix both in a large glass, which you then fill up with more beer. Finished!

Fresh woodruff recipes for schnapps with syrup and food coloring

Woodruff schnapps recipes

  • 6 fresh woodruff stems
  • 500 ml vodka
  • 2 tbsp woodruff syrup

Let the stems dry for at least 4 hours so that they can develop their aroma. Fill 3/4 of a bottle with vodka, add the stems and let everything steep for at least 2 days. Fill the rest of the bottle with syrup or until the desired sweetness is reached, close the bottle and shake it well. The finished schnapps can then be kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. You can also dye the schnapps green with food coloring. If you want to use other alcohol for such woodruff recipes, use more neutral alcohol so that the aroma of the woodruff can come into its own.

Recipes for woodruff drinks and sweets to make yourself

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