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    Home » All Recipes » Syrups, Sauces & Essentials

    Candied Rose Petals

    November 25, 2022 by Emily Leave a Comment

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Decorate your baked goods with these elegant Candied Rose Petals. All you need are rose petals, an egg white, sugar, and a bit of patience! These beautiful petals are a gorgeous garnish for cookies, cakes, pies, and so much more. 

    Drying crystallized rose petals
    Candied Rose Petals on a wire rack
    Jump to:
    • Edible decorative rose petals
    • Where to find edible rose petals
    • Ingredients and equipment needed
    • How to make candied rose petals
    • Tips and variations
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More garnish and decoration recipes
    • Candied Rose Petals

    Edible decorative rose petals

    It’s hard to believe rose petals are edible but it’s true! Naturally sweet and delicious, these flower petals are literally as sweet as candy when coated in egg white and sugar. Plus, you won’t find a better garnish for all kinds of desserts.

    Candied Rose Petals are yummy in salads, on charcuterie boards, and even in cocktails, but my favorite way to showcase them is on beautiful baked goods. They’re a great way to decorate shower and wedding cakes with whimsical and romantic charm and can even spruce up holiday cookies. You can’t go wrong with a few candied flower petals draped over your favorite dessert!

    If you’re looking for more ways to use rose petals in baked goods, check out my Brioche Doughnuts with Rose Pastry Creme and Vanilla Bean Rose Baked Doughnuts

    Close up of pink rose petals
    Organic Rose Petals

    Where to find edible rose petals

    Unfortunately, the roses at most grocery store florist counters are grown with a lot of chemicals and fertilizers that aren’t safe to eat. That said, the best place to find edible rose petals is from your own organic garden, but if that’s not an option, check with a reputable local or online nursery for organic roses.

    Ingredients and equipment needed

    You’ll need a paintbrush dedicated to food, a small bowl, wire racks, a bit of patience, and the following 3 main ingredients to make candied rose petals:

    • Rose petals - All varieties of rose petals are edible and delicious. Typically, if roses have a sweet, floral fragrance, they’ll likely taste great. 
    • Egg white - To coat the petals and give the sugar something to stick to. Use a room temperature egg white. 
    • Granulated sugar - As the petals sit out at room temperature, the egg white and sugar coating will crystalize and harden. The added sweetness doesn’t hurt either!
    Labeled ingredient shot for the candied rose petals recipe.

    How to make candied rose petals

    Step 1: Coat in egg white. Before getting started, wash and dry your petals thoroughly and place the sugar in a medium-size bowl. Using a paintbrush dedicated to food, gently paint each side of the petals with egg white. 

    Step 2: Coat in sugar. Next, place the petals in the bowl of sugar, making sure to coat both sides.  

    Egg white in a bowl with paintbrush for candied rose petals.
    Egg Whites in a Bowl
    Adding sugar to rose petals in a small shallow bowl.
    Granulated Sugar in a bowl

    Step 3: Leave to harden. Transfer the sugar-coated rose petals to a wire cooling rack, leaving space in between each. Place the rack in a cool, dry spot for at least 4 hours or overnight for the best results.

    Step 4: Use them ASAP. Use your candied rose petals ASAP, as they’ll soften the longer they’re stored.

    crystallized rose petals drying on a small wire rack.
    Sugared and Candied Rose Petals

    Tips and variations

    • Sugar free candied petals - You can make candied roses without refined sugar. Just replace the granulated sugar with date sugar, coconut sugar, or monk fruit crystals. 
    • Egg free candied petals - For an egg free variation, replace the egg white with aquafaba (the liquid or brine in a can of chickpeas). 
    • Dehydrated candied petals - If you happen to have a dehydrator or a “dehydrator” setting on your oven, you can place the petals on a baking sheet in the oven at 175°F for 2 ½ hours so they harden faster.
    rose cake with rose petals as garnish.
    Candied Rose Petals on a Single Layer Cake
    Cake topped with rose petals as a garnish.
    Candied Rose Petals as a Garnish

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How do you use candied rose petals?

    There are plenty of ways to use your petals! Chop them up and stir them directly into cake batters, bread doughs, teas, and jellies for added texture and flavor. Or, if you’re looking for a simple and sophisticated way to garnish your desserts, edible flowers are a stunning way to decorate tarts, cakes, and even doughnuts.

    How long do candied rose petals last?

    The petals are best used as soon as they harden, so ideally within the same 24 hours. You can keep them in an airtight container at room temperature, however, the petals will begin to wilt and soften the longer they’re stored.

    What other flower petals can you candy?

    In addition to rose petals, jasmine, violas, sage flowers, thyme flowers, and pansies are delicious when coated in egg white and sugar. If you use wildflowers, avoid picking them from roadways and places exposed to pollution or toxic chemicals. Not every flower petal is edible! Head over to my guide for making sugared flowers to learn more!

    Candied Rose Petals drying on a wire rack.
    Freshly Candied Rose Petals on a Wire Rack

    More garnish and decoration recipes

    • How To Make Sugared Flowers For Cakes, Cocktails, & Other Recipes!
    • How to make Candied Lemon Slices
    • How to make Sugared Berries
    • How to Make Candied Orange Slices

    As always, I love seeing your creations and hearing from you! If you make these candied rose petals, please leave a review or share your creation with me on social media! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and Pinterest - for more delicious recipes sent straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter!

    Candied Rose Petals

    Candied Rose Petals

    Decorate your baked goods with these elegant Candied Rose Petals. All you need are rose petals, an egg white, sugar, and a bit of patience! These beautiful petals are a gorgeous garnish for cookies, cakes, pies, and so much more.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Buttercream, Cake
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Dehydrating/Drying Time: 4 hours
    Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
    Servings: 8 Slices
    Calories: 26kcal
    Author: Emily Laurae

    Equipment

    • Cooling Racks
    • Bowls
    • Whisk
    • Paintbrush
    • Small Spoon

    Ingredients
     

    Candied Rose Petals

    • 1 cup Rose Petals , Washed and Dried, Organic
    • 1 Egg White
    • ¼ cup (50 g) Granulated Sugar

    Instructions

    Candied Rose Petals

    • Gently paint your washed and dried rose petals with the egg white using a paintbrush that is dedicated to food use!
      1 cup Rose Petals, 1 Egg White
    • Then, place the petal into a bowl of granulated sugar, making sure to coat both sides with sugar.
      ¼ cup Granulated Sugar
    • Then, place the coated rose petals apart on a wire cooling rack and place them in a cool, dry spot to harden for at least four hours, yet ideally overnight.
    • If you happen to have a "dehydrator" setting on your oven, place the petals in the oven at 175°F for 2.5 hours to speed up the process.

    Video

    Notes

    Frequently asked questions
    • How do you use candied rose petals? There are plenty of ways to use your petals! Chop them up and stir them directly into cake batters, bread doughs, teas, and jellies for added texture and flavor. Or, if you’re looking for a simple and sophisticated way to garnish your desserts, edible flowers are a stunning way to decorate tarts, cakes, and even doughnuts.
    • How long do candied rose petals last? The petals are best used as soon as they harden, so ideally within the same 24 hours. You can keep them in an airtight container at room temperature, however, the petals will begin to wilt and soften the longer they’re stored.
    • What other flower petals can you candy? In addition to rose petals, jasmine, violas, sage flowers, thyme flowers, and pansies are delicious when coated in egg white and sugar. If you use wild flowers, avoid picking them from roadways and places exposed to pollution or toxic chemicals. Not every flower petal is edible!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 26kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 6mg | Sugar: 6g | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg
    Enjoyed this recipe?Mention @emilylaurae or tag #emilylaurae!

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    About Emily

    Emily is the recipe developer, writer, and food photographer behind Emily Laurae. After finishing Pastry School and working as a chef in the restaurant industry, she created this blog to share those skills with home bakers and creators all over the world!

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