Edible Flower Ice Cubes Are The Perfect Way To Brighten Spring Drinks
While flowers for spring may not be groundbreaking (at least if you ask Miranda Priestly in "The Devil Wears Prada"), edible flowers in drinks might be. Using flowers in food and drinks goes back as far as ancient Greece, Rome, and China, but to create bright, springy, aesthetically-pleasing beverages in the modern day, try making edible flower ice cubes. Once they're frozen, these flowers will look like they're suspended in ice — and when stacked in a cup, they'll create gorgeous pops of color that you can mix and match.
These cubes are ideal for when you're entertaining a crowd or just want to get in the spirit of the season with some eye candy in your springtime beverage — and they pair perfectly with special occasions like bridal or baby showers, Easter, and Mother's Day. Flower extract and powder can be used to enliven your cocktails, but in this case, we're going to use the flowers whole. Once the cubes are done, you can add them to alcoholic beverages, tea, or lemonade, although their colors will pop the most in water and other clear drinks.
Edible flowers and distilled water are all you need
When you're prepping your ice cubes, you don't want to just go pick any old flower. You can buy seeds to grow edible versions in your garden yourself or buy full flowers online, at farmer's markets, or at health food stores. Check for roses, marigolds, violets, and geraniums, as these are some of the more strategic options for ice cubes. Bigger petals may also look prettier in the end result.
When making the cubes, lay the flowers face down in the tray first so they don't float, then add the water on top. Ideally, you'll want to use distilled water to keep bubbles and cloudiness to a minimum — and for even more transparent ice cubes, boil your water and let it cool down first. It's also essential to use a silicone tray so you can easily pop your cubes out without scratching them (after all, aesthetically pleasing results are kind of the point here).
And if you want to jazz these up even more? Try infusing them with a little sweet syrup by pouring it in with the water before freezing. Simple syrup works but you could also use a flower-flavored one to stick with the theme. For extra springy vibes, add in a dash of fresh herbs like mint or lavender.