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Candied Pansies

7 years ago

I adore pansies and violas. I get them when I first see them in the spring and fill as many boxes and planters as I can with them.

But unfortunately come June, they start to fade. They definitely don't like midwestern summers.

I replant all those boxes and planters with summer annuals (usually old fashioned begonias) but before I do, I harvest the pansies and violas and candy them. To use as decoration on cakes and cupcakes in the winter. They bring a breath of spring in the dreary winter when they top a cupcake or square of cake.

They're quite easy to do -- take an egg white and mix with a smidge of water and then whip it a bit. Paint the egg white on both sides of the pansies and violas and then cover in sugar. Put the sugar coated pansy on a wax paper or parchment paper lined tray and dry overnight. Next morning put them in a tin, using wax paper or parchment paper between layers. They'll keep a long time!

Featured Answer

bragu_DSM 5

7 years ago

I knew a couple pansies in grade school ... I don't suppose they'd like to be candied ... ^_^

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Comments (14)

petalique
7 years ago
Very pretty, Martha.

My gardens are full of violets — purple, white and freckled. Would those work?

Do you refrigerate the tin of candied blooms?
writersblock (9b/10a)
7 years ago
Violets are even better because they have more flavor.

Very pretty, Martha!
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I just found out about this. Sounds like fun. Most people are buying up pansies right now and these should work great. I guess you have to copy and past the link. http://www.trafficeast.com/archives/01_01/features/trafficjam.html
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User
Original Author
7 years ago
You can definitely candy violets petalique. I store mine in tins, each layer separated with parchment paper.
Sooz
7 years ago
Oh, pansies! Violas! Johnny Jump Ups! Heart's Ease! Love 'm, whatever they're called!

Thanks for the instructions!
Islay Corbel
7 years ago
So pretty. Too late for my pansies sob! I didn't think to preserve them.
petalique
7 years ago
Thanks. One site I looked at about five years ago focused on that particular variety of purple violet and I wasn’t sure that I had that exact type or if I could candy and eat violet such as freckles. And pansies I guess I could do those as well. Did you ever try borage flower? Such a beautiful color. Wonder what candied chicory would look like.
User thanked petalique
Nancy 6b
7 years ago
I had read about candied pansies, and love the look. I had no idea they would keep that long! And never occurred to me about those wild violets that are taking over my yard! Seems like I should get some use out of those, and they would be pretty!
User thanked Nancy 6b
User
Original Author
7 years ago
I also candy mint leaves but do those as needed for teas and such and I've even candied lavender blooms -- so pretty! Those, too, I don't save. Oh, and you can candy rose petals as well. Actually you could candy any flower that is edible providing it isn't too big (thinking day Lillies).
bragu_DSM 5
7 years ago
you could have a multi-course meal with day Lillies... imagine a taste-test contest rather than a purdy-leaf contest...
User thanked bragu_DSM 5
graywings123
7 years ago
I love the idea of doing this. But, keeping them in a tin? Won't the egg whites go bad after a few days?
writersblock (9b/10a)
7 years ago
You can also do them with just a sugar syrup, graywings. I'd be happier keeping those long-term.

Several different ways to do this:

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Candied-Violets
graywings123
7 years ago
Thanks, writersblock!
User
Original Author
7 years ago
graywings -- I've been doing this for 30 or more years and I don't have a problem with the egg white. If you were a little "skittish" -- you might try the powdered one.

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