Who says flowers are just for pretty tablescapes? From cocktails to lattes to weekend waffles, floral syrups are the easiest way to add a luxe, botanical twist to your favorite sips and bites. Plant stylist and author Carolyn Dunster—aka the queen of edible blooms—shares her go-to recipe for transforming fresh petals into a sweet, fragrant syrup that’s as gorgeous as it is good for you.
✨ Bonus: Many edible flowers come with skin-loving, wellness-boosting benefits, too.
Ready to sip in style? Here’s how to make it.
🌸 Flowers, but Make Them Functional
For plant stylist and author Carolyn Dunster, flowers aren’t just pretty—they’re a way of life. Known for her books Cut & Dry and Urban Flowers, Carolyn has long championed the art of growing, styling, and enjoying blooms beyond the vase. But it wasn’t until she wrote her third book, A Floral Feast, that she truly fell in love with cooking them.
After tasting countless petals and exploring how different cultures have infused flowers into their meals for centuries, Carolyn discovered a delicious truth: edible blooms don’t just elevate your plate—they nourish your body, uplift your mood, and bring a little joy into everyday rituals.
“If we start growing varieties with high nutritional value on a larger scale,” Carolyn shares, “flowers could move beyond decoration and become essential to how we eat and care for ourselves. Plus, the act of growing and tending to plants? It’s a form of self-care in itself.”
✨ Floral Syrups = Nature’s Sweetest Secret
Think of floral syrups as the perfume of the kitchen—only instead of spritzing, you’re sipping. “They’re a way of bottling the essence of a flower,” Carolyn explains, “and turning its scent into flavor.”
Instead of extracting essential oils like perfumers do, you gently soak fresh petals in warm water, then add sugar to preserve that dreamy fragrance. Once bottled, your syrup will last up to a year—aka four seasons of petal-powered lattes, cocktails, and desserts.
🌞 Pro tip: For the most vibrant flavor and aroma, harvest your flowers at their peak—ideally when they’ve soaked up plenty of sun.
🌸 DIY Floral Syrup Recipe
Because every dreamy sip deserves a botanical upgrade…
Ready to turn fresh blooms into a fragrant, sweet elixir? Here’s how to bottle the beauty of flowers in just a few simple steps.
What You’ll Need:
Choose highly fragrant flowers for the best flavor payoff. Here’s a quick guide for how much to use per cup of water:
- Elderflower – 10 elderflower heads
- Violet – 3 cups sweet violet flowers
- Lilac – 2 cups lilac florets
- Rose – 2 cups rose petals
- Lavender – 3 tablespoons lavender flowers
How to Make It:
- Make the base syrup
In a saucepan, combine equal parts water and sugar (start with 1 cup of each). Simmer gently until the sugar dissolves and the mixture slightly thickens. - Infuse with flowers
Remove from heat, add your chosen blooms, and gently stir to coat. Let the mixture cool completely, then cover and let it steep overnight. - Strain + store
Pour your syrup into sterilized bottles or jars. For a clean look, strain out the petals—or leave a few in for a gorgeous visual touch. Label, seal, and store in a cool, dark place.
✨ Once opened, keep it refrigerated.
🌸 Your Bloom Moment Starts Now
Ready to drizzle, sip, and swirl? Whether it’s in a cocktail, over pancakes, or stirred into a latte, your homemade floral syrup is proof that everyday rituals deserve a little beauty.
✨ Tag @BeautyLeeBar when you try it—because we love a good bloom moment.
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