Edible flowers can very simply and easily add a beautiful element to your entertaining! Some of my favorite edible flower varieties to use are orchids, pansies, hibiscus and lavender, but there are many other options out there to give you the color and aesthetic you’re aspiring to with your dish. Edible flowers start to show up in farm stands, Whole Foods and other specialty grocery stores in the summer time, so I wanted to show you some of my favorite ways to utilize edible flowers whether I’m entertaining or just want to pretty something up for myself. And, please, always make sure you’re buying culinary flowers or flowers farmed to be edible. You don’t want to ingest pesticides or other toxic chemicals.
1. Cake and Cupcake Décor
I love using edible flowers to decorate cakes and cupcakes. I am by no means a baker, but the addition of edible flowers adds an elegance that often distracts the consumer from the fact that I need to hone my baking skills. This was made from white boxed cake mix, store bought marshmallow frosting and store bought fondant.
2. Appetizer Spreads
Mixing edible flower petals and fresh herbs into goat cheese creates a tasty spread that looks absolutely beautiful on a platter. I just use whatever fresh herbs I happen to have on hand (in this case chives and parsley). Just take a log or two of goat cheese and mix it in a bowl until smooth. Then add chopped herbs and edible flower petals (in this case orchids) and mix until combined. Then create 1-2 discs and roll the discs in some more chopped herbs and petals until you get a pretty coating on the outside. Refrigerate discs on parchment-lined baking sheet for at least a half hour prior to serving.
3. Cocktail Garnish
Adding edible flowers to a glass of sparkling rosé is such an effortless way to beautify what your guests are sipping. And as any Food Network addict knows, we taste with our eyes first. I believe serving sparkling wine in coupe Champagne glasses is perfect for really showing off the pretty floral garnishes. You can check out some of my cocktails that I garnished with edible flowers below:
Lillet Rosé Sparkler | Hibiscus Ginger Sparkling Cocktail | Ginger Lemongrass Rosé Cocktail | Blueberry Gin Mule | Sparkling Lavender Martini |