How to Make Edible Flower Ice Cubes

Brighten up your beverages with beautiful ice cubes made with edible flowers

Too pretty to eat ... but you totally can! Edible flowers for your ice cubes and drinks.

First things first: Start with edible flowers. There are a variety of edible flowers, but make sure you know yours are –or better yet, but from a knowledgeable source. Sometimes they're available in the herb section of your local grocery store. Otherwise, you can order them (like I did) from online shops like Gourmet Sweet Botanicals. I used a blend of micro flowers along with some micro orchids.

Some helpful tips:

• It’s best to use bigger ice cube molds because the cubes will melt slower in the drinks.
• Silicone ice cube trays make it possible to dislodge cubes without breaking them.
• To achieve clearer cubes, start with distilled water. Bring water to a boil and boil for 2-3 minutes, then allow water to cool completely before freezing to prevent imperfections.

Place the flowers face down in the tray. Fill cubes about ¼ of the way full, so the flowers are just covered. Freeze until solid. Add water until tray is half full (about ¼ cube more). Return to freezer and freeze until solid.

Repeat this process twice more until cubes are completely full and frozen. (Optional step: if you'd like a second layer of flowers, add them after the third addition of water.)

Once the cubes are completely solid, dislodge from tray and use in drinks. Keep in mind the flowers will infuse a slight floral taste, so take that into consideration when choosing the drinks. (Water and lemonade are great non-alcoholic options.)

Although slightly time consuming, these are super fun and a beautiful way to brighten up your drinks!

If you don’t have time to make ice cubes, another great way to incorporate edible flowers into your summer drinks is just by using them as a simple garnish. Again, be mindful of what type of cocktail you choose. It should be something that will compliment the floral notes. Citrus would be a great choice, or any cocktails that call for floral liqueurs such as elderflower, lillet rose or crème de violet.

What about you? How do you like to incorporate flowers into your drinks or cooking? Let us know in the comments below.