I have a surplus of edible flowers. I'd love to store them or use them up in recipes. Any recommendations?

I have mini pansies. I'm sprinkling them on all of my food right now, and it looks wonderful, but I'd love to preserve them for a bit longer if possible. All in all, it's a delightful problem.

Afsana Liza
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10 Comments

Emily S. May 25, 2017
I second the recommendation to candy them.

I'd arrange them on top of iced cupcakes. Beautiful weekend treat.
 
Nancy May 22, 2017
Lots of flower-petal jams and jellies out there (rose hip, hibiscus etc)...not sure how well pansies would work, but maybe yes
On salads.
In lemonade or cocktails.
There's a fine lemon cake recipe using a profusion of pansy flowers as the garnish. See vegetarian times magazine.
 
Nancy May 22, 2017
PS Forgot to say you could uae the flowers to garnish most any cake. The lemon cake is only a (pretty) example.
 
Afsana L. May 24, 2017
Thanks, Nancy!
 
creamtea May 22, 2017
Also just remembered Alice Medrich provided an article on how to crystallize edible flowers on this site: https://food52.com/blog/16945-how-to-make-crystallized-flowers
 
Afsana L. May 23, 2017
Thank you!
 
creamtea May 22, 2017
I used to grow Johnny Jump-ups. They are beautiful on a chilled melon (cantaloupe or honeydew) soup. I make a pureed cantaloupe and (homemade) almond-milk soup with a little honey and lime juice; I once served them with the little pansies floated on top. They were beautiful.
 
Shuna L. May 22, 2017
Candy them, and make a powder using a spice grinder.
 
702551 May 22, 2017
Ice cubes?
 
Afsana L. May 22, 2017
Oooh yes! Brilliant! Thank you :)
 
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