Spring botanical desserts bring edible flowers, tender herbs, and fresh garden flavors into the mix ~ pretty, unexpected, and exactly right for the season.
Every spring I take my cues from the garden and start folding edible flowers and herbs into my baking. They bring instant beauty, but also those fresh, subtle flavors that make botanical desserts feel so special.
Common edible flowers
- Pansies
- Violas
- Violets
- Nasturtiums
- Calendula
- Roses
- Lavender
- Chamomile
- Borage
- Chive blossoms
- Marigolds
- Lilacs
- Dandelions
- Herb flowers like thyme, rosemary, mint, cilantro, and arugula
Sourcing note: Use edible flowers from your own unsprayed garden, farmers markets, or packages specifically labeled edible. Avoid florist flowers, nursery plants (unless specified edible), and anything from treated lawns or roadsides.
Botanical Dessert Recipes for Spring
Honeysuckle Ice Cream
Honeysuckle Ice Cream is an easy homemade ice cream infused with the delicate flavor of honeysuckle. Serve it alone, or with any of your favorite spring desserts.
How to Make Pansy Topped Shortbread Cookies
My favorite buttery rich shortbread cookies topped with colorful pressed flowers are surprisingly easy to pull off!
Lemon Curd and Lavender Tart — Must Love Herbs
Lemon curd pooled inside a lavender graham cracker crumb crust.
Grapefruit Blossom Pot de Creme
Grapefruit Blossom Pot de Crème is an easy, elegant dessert delicately infused with the essence of spring.
Strawberry Moon Milk — Must Love Herbs
Strawberries, oat milk, and dried edible botanicals to ease you into sleep.
Persian Love Cookies
Persian Love Cookies infused with cardamom and almonds for tea parties, weddings, showers, etc. If LOVE had a flavor, this would be it!
Cherry Blossom Cookies | Buttermilk by Sam
Soft crumbly cookies flavored with real sakura extract and topped with a lush, sakura buttercream.
Hibiscus Lemon Bars
These Hibiscus Lemon Bars are insanely good — imagine a perfect lemon bar infused with the bright berry flavor of hibiscus. Can you say vitamin C?
Lemon Lavender Scones
If you’ve never baked with lavender before, this is a lovely place to start—these lemon lavender scones are tender, bright, and beautifully simple.
Pistachio Rose Panna Cotta Tart
Pistachio Rose Panna Cotta Tart, a pistachio tart crust, rose panna cotta filling & rose jelly topping. A beautiful tart just perfect for a special occasion.
Orange Blossom Bundt Cake
Orange Blossom Bundt Cake made with orange infused sugar ~ a classic pound cake with sophisticated orange flavor. This is one unforgettable orange dessert!
Rose Ice Cream
This rose ice cream is a delicious treat that’s delicately flavored with rose water and vanilla. A simple recipe that can easily be made in your ice cream maker.
Lavender Buttercream Frosting
Delicate lavender buttercream made with culinary lavender and vanilla, naturally colored with berry juices.
Hibiscus Buttermilk Cake
Dried and ground hibiscus petals make a gorgeously tangy cake and frosting.
Rosewater Panna Cotta + Fresh Figs — Salma Sabdia
A simple elegant rosewater dessert infused with cardamom and adorned with sweet slices of fresh fig, almond and pistachio.
Violet Simple Syrup
An old-fashioned recipe for Violet Simple Syrup, (using cups vs.grams) perfect for cocktails like a violet infused French 75, the perfect Wedding Cocktail.
DIY: Easy Sugared Violas – Gardenista
Adding sugar to violas isn’t what makes them edible, but it sure makes them pretty.
Viola Tea Sandwiches
Easy little teatime snacks with a spring floral flair.
Wild violet lemonade
Violet lemonade is a stunning pink lemonade made with edible violets ~ it magically turns from blue to pink!
Strawberry Sakura Marshmallows – Sprinkle Bakes
Share: The trees outside my window are covered in pink blossoms. Soon the petals will release and float on the air like snowflakes, and then the show will be over. This spring spectacle is too…
Dandelion Bread With Honey Lemon Glaze
This dandelion bread with honey lemon glaze combines floral notes and sweet citrus in one delicious spring loaf. Made with wild dandelion petals and topped with a bright, tangy glaze, it’s a stunning way to celebrate the season.
Chamomile Gelato
Puglia chef Giorgia Goggi infuses gelato bases with fig leaves, lemon balm, and, in this case, fresh chamomile flowers.
An Easy Old-Fashioned Creamy Dessert: Honey Lilac Posset
“Be cheerful knight: thou shalt eat a posset tonight at my house.” William Shakespeare, Hamlet Dating back to the middle ages, the posset is making a comeback.
Rose Madeleines
Rose Madeleines with rose water glaze is a unique twist on the classic madeleine recipe. They are little soft, buttery cakes with irresistible sweet floral flavor and aroma.
Rose Latte (Hot or Iced)
This vanilla rose latte recipe is quick and easy to make with the loveliest light hint of floral flavor. So cozy and delicious!
Norah’s Marigold Butter — Christine Marie Bailey
My 8-year-old daughter made this, and it blew my mind. Absolutely amazing spread on a thick slice of toasted sourdough or homemade bread warm from the oven! Marigold petals have a citrusy/peppery flavor that goes perfectly with the creamy butter and earthy herbs.
Violet Lemon Poppy Seed Cake | Fare Isle | Kaity Farrell
A stunning edible flower cake! Delicious fluffy violet lemon poppy seed cake with Swiss buttercream and pressed spring violets.
strawberry pot de crème (no bake)
Strawberry pot de crème garnished with edible flowers ~ this perfect spring dessert is made quick and easy on the stove top!
Earl Grey Stained Glass Floral Cookies Vegan Gluten Free
Speckled with earl grey tea these shortbread cookies are the perfect treat for spring! A glass ‘window’ filled with edible flowers makes these a beautiful cookie for sharing or gifting.
Floral Wreath Cookies
Buttery sugar cookie wreaths dressed up for spring.
Lilac Sugar Shortbread
Lilac Sugar Shortbread is made with one of the most aromatic edible flowers, and makes a lovely variation on a classic buttery shortbread cookie for brunches, showers, and afternoon tea.
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