Want to make your meals more magical?
Recipes using edible flowers can turn simple meals into something unforgettable.
With just a few petals, you can add colour, flavour, and a touch of nature to everything from salads to desserts.
In this post, you’ll discover 15 easy-to-find edible flowers (all common in UK gardens and hedgerows) plus simple, delicious ideas for using them in your cooking.
Then we’ll cover some extra-easy recipes using edible flowers, including flower syrup, flower ice cubes, crystallised flowers for cakes and flower butter.
A Quick Reminder About Safety
Before you dive in, here are a few golden rules for eating flowers:
- Only eat flowers you’re 100% sure are edible.
- Never use flowers from roadsides, florists, or sprayed plants.
- Wash gently and check for bugs.
- Eat in small amounts first—some flowers are strong, and everyone reacts differently.
15 Recipes Using Edible Flowers
1. Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus)
Flavour: Peppery, like watercress
Recipe idea: Nasturtium and goat’s cheese tart
Add whole blooms to savoury tarts, mix petals into pasta, or stuff the flowers with soft cheese.Use the leaves too—they’re just as tasty!
2. Violas and Pansies (Viola spp.)
Flavour: Mild and sweet
Recipe idea: Pressed pansy shortbread
Perfect for decorating biscuits, cupcakes, and even butter pats. Freeze in ice cubes for pretty drinks or gently press into icing on cakes.
3. Chive Flowers (Allium schoenoprasum)
Flavour: Light onion
Recipe idea: Spring onion and chive blossom omelette
Break the blossoms into tiny florets and scatter over egg dishes, potato salad, or soft cheeses. Adds flavour and flair.
4. Borage (Borago officinalis)
Flavour: Cool cucumber
Recipe idea: Borage lemonade with cucumber slices
Float the blue flowers in chilled drinks or toss into a green salad. You can also candy them for cake toppings.
5. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Flavour: Peppery, slightly bitter
Recipe idea: Golden calendula rice
Use the petals like saffron to colour rice or polenta. Also great sprinkled on roasted vegetables or soups.
6. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Flavour: Floral, slightly bitter
Recipe idea: Lavender and honey ice cream
Use sparingly—it’s strong! Steep in cream for desserts or blend into sugar to bake into shortbread.
7. Rose (Rosa spp.)
Flavour: Depends on the scent—fragrant = flavourful
Recipe idea: Rose petal and raspberry jam
Use petals in jams, jellies, or syrups. Infuse water or milk for desserts. Always remove the bitter white base of the petal.
8. Elderflower (Sambucus nigra)
Flavour: Sweet and floral
Recipe idea: Elderflower fritters
Dip flower heads in light batter and fry until crisp. Or steep in sugar syrup for homemade cordial. Only use the flowers, not leaves or stems.
9. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Flavour: Sweet when young
Recipe idea: Dandelion flower muffins
Young petals are great in baked goods. You can also make a syrup that tastes a bit like honey. Avoid older flowers—they get bitter.
10. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
Flavour: Apple-like, gentle
Recipe idea: Chamomile milk pudding
Use fresh or dried blooms for infusions. They shine in teas, creams, custards, or panna cotta. Soothing and aromatic.
11. Mint Flowers (Mentha spp.)
Flavour: Like mint leaves, but softer
Recipe idea: Mint flower chocolate mousse
Use flowers as a pretty garnish or steep in cream before whipping. Try apple mint or chocolate mint for dessert flair.
12. Thyme Flowers (Thymus vulgaris)
Flavour: Strong, like thyme leaves
Recipe idea: Roast veg with thyme blossoms
Sprinkle over dishes just before serving for a pop of flavour and colour. Pairs well with savoury bakes, grilled meat, or root veg.
13. Basil Flowers (Ocimum basilicum)
Flavour: Like basil, slightly floral
Recipe idea: Tomato bruschetta with basil blossoms
Use them to top pasta, pesto, or pizza. Especially good with tomatoes, mozzarella, or roasted aubergine.
14. Courgette Flowers (Cucurbita pepo)
Flavour: Mild, slightly sweet
Recipe idea: Stuffed courgette flowers with ricotta
These are a classic! Fill with herby soft cheese, coat in batter, and fry. Also delicious baked with olive oil.
15. Primrose (Primula vulgaris)
Flavour: Mild and sweet
Recipe idea: Primrose syrup drizzled on pancakes
Great for springtime treats. Try crystallising them with egg white and sugar, or steeping petals in syrup for drinks and puddings.
Simple Recipes Using Edible Flowers
Edible Flower Syrup
Great for cocktails, iced tea, or pancakes.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup edible petals (e.g., rose, elderflower, lavender)
Instructions:
Simmer water and sugar. Once dissolved, add petals and steep (off the heat) for 20 minutes. Strain and store in a clean bottle.
See this flower syrup recipe for more inspo
Flower Ice Cubes
Perfect for summer parties.
Instructions:
Place clean, fresh petals in an ice cube tray. Fill halfway with boiled-cooled water. Freeze. Add more water to fill. Freeze again. Done!
Professional tips on how to make the best flower ice cubes can be found here
Crystallised Flowers
A beautiful way to decorate cakes.
Instructions:
Gently brush edible flowers with whisked egg white. Sprinkle with caster sugar. Leave to dry overnight on parchment paper.
Click here to read more info about making crystallised flowers
Petal Butter
Flavoured butter to spread on toast or melt over veg.
Instructions:
Mash softened butter with a pinch of salt and fresh petals (try calendula or thyme flowers). Roll into a log, chill, and slice as needed.
Click here for a herbal compound butter recipe with gorgeous pictures
How to Store Edible Flowers
- Fresh use: Store in a sealed container in the fridge for 1–2 days.
- Drying: Hang in bunches or use a dehydrator.
- Freezing: Freeze whole blooms or petals in ice cubes or on baking paper before storing in bags.
Final Tips
- Taste first—some petals are stronger than others.
- Start small in recipes and build up to suit your flavour.
- Use flowers to decorate even simple meals. Kids love it too!
- Be gentle when washing and drying flowers—they bruise easily.
More Flower Power
Want more ideas?
Check out our guide: List of Edible Flowers with Pictures: 27 Gorgeous Flowers That Will Surprise You
Or take your herbal kitchen skills further with our 90-Day Family Herbalist Course.
I hope this Recipes Using Edible Flowers post helped you feel more confident using edible flowers in your cooking 🌸✨
Do you have a favourite edible flower? Let me know in the comments!
