Eat Your Blooms!
Grow a variety of edible flowers in your garden (be sure to skip the toxic sprays, pesticides, and fertilizers!) or order them from dealers who ship them straight to your door in clamshell packages. Before going all in, however, sample a petal or two since some flowers can err on the bitter side.
If the flavors get your seal of approval, try freezing them in ice cubes for the prettiest cocktails around or incorporate them into one of our showy recipes.
Strawberry, Mango, and Rose Pavlova
Talk about a showstopping dessert! Made of meringue and topped with fruit and cream, Pavlova is the perfect light dessert. This version features mango, strawberries, and edible rose petals.
Zucchini-Walnut Cake
Edible flowers aren't limited to traditional blooms like roses—you can also use zucchini flowers (aka squash blossoms) in your recipes, too! If you grow your own zucchini, this summery recipe was made for you. Add zucchini to the cake batter to make it moist and tasty, then sprinkle bright yellow squash blossoms on top just before serving.
Cranberry-Hibiscus Babka
If you're used to swirly cinnamon- or chocolate-filled babka, just wait until you try this gorgeous sweet-tart loaf. Cranberries and hibiscus flowers combine to make a vibrant jam filling.
Pansy Meringues
For a simple yet showy dessert, pipe a mixture of whipped cream and lemon curd on top of store-bought meringue shells. Or try making your own meringue cookies. Finish with an edible pansy or two.
Viola Tea Sandwiches
Our favorite meal (brunch) just got more beautiful with the addition of these dainty tea sandwiches. Chopped viola petals and fresh herbs add a subtle floral flavor to cream cheese.
Sparkling Wine and Roses Cocktail
We know just what your Prosecco has been missing: rose petals. Of course, just adding rose petals as a garnish isn't quite enough for us, so we also mixed some homemade rose syrup into each glass. The drink gets its gorgeous pink color from a splash of grapefruit juice—it fits right in with the edible flowers.