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Candied violets are one of my favorite spring traditions. They make beautiful decorations for baked goods like cookies or cupcakes; or use them to elevate a fruit salad or strawberry yogurt parfait. They are a fun, simple way to celebrate spring! Here’s how to make your own.
Harvesting flowers for candied violets
Start with fresh, clean flowers. I harvest mine from a spot in the garden free of herbicides and pesticides. My pets don’t have access to that part of the yard, either. Morning is the best time of day for harvesting, but make sure the dew has dried before you pick your flowers. Damp flowers may mold.
Leave a long stem so it’s easier to work with each flower.
How to make candied violets
Violet flowers begin wilting soon after harvest. It’s best to set up your workstation inside before you go out to pick your flowers. You only need an egg white and some sugar for this project.
Ingredients
- 1 egg white
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 24 fresh violet flowers
How to make them
- Brush a violet across the top of the egg white. You can also use a small paint brush to apply the eggwhite to each petal. Be sure to use a clean brush reserved just for culinary purposes!
- Hold the violet by its stem over the bowl of sugar. Sprinkle sugar over the violet to coat the petals.
- Place the violet on a tray lined with baking parchment and continue with the next flower until they are all covered in sugar.
- Leave the violets to dry overnight.
- Trim off the stems and store the violets in an airtight container. Use within a week for the brightest color.
Tips for making candied violets
If you prefer a vegan option, I’ve heard that flax seeds soaked in water to make a gel can stand in for the egg white. (Haven’t tried it yet, though!)
Use your candied violets within a week or two for the best color and freshness.
If exposed to air, your candied violets may absorb moisture and become soft. Keep them in an airtight container to keep them from going soft and getting moldy.
Other violets recipes
Here are a few other ways you can use violets every spring.
- Enjoy a violet oxymel
- Learn how to make beautiful blue violet flower tea.
Learn more about foraging for wild edibles
If you’ve ever wondered what edible wild plants (like violets!) might be in your own backyard, the Herbal Academy’s Foraging Course (#affiliate) is the perfect introduction for learning to identify and use common wild herbs and edible plants. The course includes 24 plants and 48 recipes to help you create a foundation for learning the traditional art of foraging.
Or, if you’d like a more in-depth journey into the world of botany and foraging, the Botany and Wildcrafting course (#affiliate) builds on the lessons taught in the Foraging Course.
Candied violets video tutorial
If you are more of a visual learner, you might enjoy this video of the process.
