As edible flowers for cakes and bakes continue to grace the plates of TikTok and Instagram influencers, it’s time to get in on the act. You can easily grow your own edible flowers, too.
The petals are being used to decorate cakes and loaves, garnish weekend cocktails and make pretty ice cubes. Many have a unique taste, from the almond flavour of hawthorn to the subtle spicy notes of cornflower.
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But most important to the gardener is that growing these nectar-rich edibles can provide nourishment for bees too.
“Growing them can help to feed pollinating insects like honey bees all year round. Without pollinators, around 30% of the crops we consume wouldn’t make it to our plates,” says Hanenne Madi, brand manager at Rowse Honey, whose Hives For Lives (rowsehoney.co.uk/hives-for-lives) programme of initiatives aims to support bees and beekeepers.
Grow your own edible flowers for cakes and cocktails
To help you navigate the best nectar-rich blooms to plant and pick in every season, gardening expert Michael Perry, aka Mr Plant Geek, offers this guide to planting and foraging edible flowers in your garden:
Spring flowers for cake decorating
Chive blossoms – I love the gentle onion taste that these flowers give. Perfect as a garnish for salads or scrambled eggs. They’re easy to grow, even in a window box. Sow in March for early puff balls of flowers in May.
Crab apple tree blossoms – Remember that many spring blossoms are edible and these will be one of the first edible blooms in the year. Crab apples are perfectly safe to eat, and while tart, you can make some delicious recipes with them like crab apple wine and crab apple pie. If you’ve only got a patio, why not try a dwarf variety? I’d recommend planting during the winter months. By early spring you should start to see pretty blossoms surrounded by happy pollinators.
Hawthorn – The blossom of hawthorn is often used in cooking, but don’t forget the foliage is also edible which has a nutty taste when young. In the autumn, the berries are also useful in the kitchen for jams and jellies. Hawthorn grows best in sunny conditions and is tolerant of all soil types. Best planted in the winter. Expect blossoms by late spring.
Summer flowers for cake decorating
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Cornflower – Bees and pollinating insects love the electric blue of the traditional cornflower. It’s also edible and adds an injection of colour to any baking and is ideal for decorating cakes. Sow the seeds in April for flowers by July.
Elderflower – The perfect flower for making cordial. Forage your own in the wild or grow yourself from a great range of cultivated varieties. Elderflowers are ready around mid-May to mid-June and are best planted in winter.
French marigolds – This childhood favourite is edible, and the petals can look decorative on cakes. Easy to grow from seed or you can buy plants at your local garden centre. French marigolds have little helicopter pads for bees to land on and feast on the nectar. Sow in spring for flowers by July.
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Lavender – A pollinator favourite, Lavender is an easy to grow edible flower and can be used in baking to decorate cakes. For something a bit different, try a lavender latte. They prefer Mediterranean conditions, so keep them on the dry side.
Borage – The cool blue colours of borage are perfect for cocktails and also add a cucumber flavour to salads, as do the leaves. Very easy to grow from seed, and will self-set too, meaning you don’t need to re-seed each year. Bees adore the flowers of borage, as it’s an essential nectar source.
Sow in April and May for flowering from June through to November, sometimes even lasting into early winter.
Autumn flowers for cake decorating
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Nasturtiums – Probably the most well-known of all edible flowers for cakes, they are easy to grow in any soil type. Use the flowers, leaves and unripe seeds in the kitchen to add some surprise and delight to your recipes. Sow in the spring for flowers all the way through to October.
Dahlias – Dahlia petals are edible and can be used to add a flush of colour to salads, while the tubers can also be eaten. Bees buzz around for nectar, preferring the single blooms. Plant in May and June for flowers all the way until November, providing a late source of nectar for pollinating insects.
Winter flowers for cake decorating
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Primroses – An essential nectar source for bees during the colder months, the primrose is also a deliciously edible flower for cakes. I think the classic yellow colour looks amazing on top of cakes. Very easy to grow. Plant in September, in a shady corner.
Violas – Violas are a miniature pansy, and the flowers are perfect for decorating your favourite bakes. These cool-season bloomers can remain in bloom throughout the winter.
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Edible flower expert Erin Bunting, co-founder and head of cooking at The Edible Flower (theedibleflower.com), says: “Pressed flowers are so delicate they make a perfect garnish for little canapes and tartlets. You can press them when the flowers are in season and then store them for months, meaning you can use them for your special occasions throughout the year.”
Best-selling edible flowers for cake decoration
Unable to grow your own flowers for decorating your bakes? Check out our list of best-selling edible flowers for cakes on Amazon.
- Our Freeze Dried Edible Viola (Pansy) Flowers are a beautiful collection of natural freeze-dried edible viola flowers for decoration of your culinary creations both savoury and sweet, or to decorate...
- Our Freeze Dried Edible Viola (Pansy) Flower are ideal for decorating cakes and bakes When we have used these petals to decorate cakes we found that no edible glue was needed, simply press the petals...
- Our Freeze Dried Edible Viola (Pansy) Flower also look lovely simply scattered on to culinary creations or floating in cocktails
- A beautiful collection of natural edible flower petals; Blue Cornflower;, Yellow Marigold; Orange Marigold ; Pink Rose; Red Rose; Mix of Rose, Cornflower & Marigold Petals.
- 6 x 120ml hand packed airtight, re-sealable & recyclable bags placed in a cardboard postage box making an ideal gift. The petals are from our trusted suppliers and are packed by our SALSA accredited...
- Perfect for use in cakes, biscuits, savoury dishes, chocolate creations, smoothies, porridge and cocktails.
- 100% edible
- Size 4x4cm
- Perfect to decorate your cupcakes
- 100% edible
- Perfect to decorate your cake or cupcakes
- Shelf life of 12 months if stored in a cool dry place (+15oc -+20oc)
- Edible flowers for cake decoration consisting of 12 flowers with 4.5cm (1.77 in) diameter - Ideal for birthday cakes, cupcakes or even as a wedding decoration
- Strong colors in various shades of purple as well as cream and white - perfectly coordinated and optimal for uniform decoration of your baking creation
- Suitable for beginners and professionals - the flowers are very easy to apply and easy to shape
- Our Edible 'Over The Rainbow' - Yellow & Orange Marigold, Red and Pink Rose, Purple Mallow, Blue Cornflower Dried flower petals are from our trusted suppliers and are mixed and packed in our SALSA...
- Edible petals are often used for cake decoration or sprinkling of special dishes. Alternatively, try sprinkling on salads, soups or savoury dishes to add colour and texture.
- Add a sprinkle of petals to your gin and tonic or cocktails or use to make magical ice cubes with the petals inside - Top tip, boil your water first and let it go cold, then freeze to stop the ice...
- Pink Icing Flower Cake Decorations - Ideal for decorating cakes or cupcakes used individually or arranged in a pattern on a full sized cake.
- Edible - These flower decorations are completely edible and easy to use.
- Celebrations - ideal for Valentine's Day, Weddings, Mother's Day, Birthday, or any other celebration.
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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