I was recently asked to put together a spring blog post for Fort Worth Texas Magazine’s online blog and as I was digging through recipes, my Vegan Cheesecake topped with edible flowers seemed like an obvious one I had to share! My husband Don, has a food intolerance to dairy and gluten, so this is a recipe we keep handy when he gets a sweet tooth! I will be the first to admit, that it’s not easy finding good-tasting vegan recipes, but this one certainly doesn’t disappoint!

You might be thinking that eating flowers sounds like something only hippies would do, and you might be right. However, flowers actually have a lot of nutritional value because they contain antioxidants and Vitamin A, C, D and E. See? Turns out flowers aren’t just for looking at!  Before you go picking flowers on the roadside, there are a few precautions to take before tapping into the “flower power.”

As a safety measure, only eat flowers you have grown yourself or you know are safe to consume. You can check edible flower guides just to be sure. Don’t eat flowers that were purchased at the store or flowers that grow alongside the road or public places, because these might have chemicals or pesticides sprayed on them.

In general, you should only eat the petals of flowers, so make sure to remove the pistils and stamens beforehand.

The best way to store edible flowers, is to wrap them in a moist paper towel and place them in the fridge. They stay fresh for about 10 days this way.

Not all flowers are edible, but here are some popular ones you can try:

  • Squash blossoms
  • Marigolds
  • Carnations
  • Any flowering herbs
  • Blossoms from garlic, chives, leeks etc.
  • Bee balm (minty flavor)
  • Borage (taste like cucumber!)
  • Chrysanthemum (comes in variety of colors, a little bitter)
  • Citrus blossoms (from oranges, lemons, grapefruit, etc.)
  • Dandelions
  • Dill
  • Hibiscus
  • Lavender (great for sweet and savory dishes)
  • Nasturtium (sweet flavor, most popular edible flower)
  • Rose
  • Pansy
  • Sunflower
  • Violets

Head on over to Fort Worth Texas Magazine’s Bon Appetit Blog to get the full recipe for this vegan cheesecake! It makes the perfect dessert for Mother’s Day or even a bridal or baby shower. You will be sure to impress guests with the beautiful (and edible!) flowers on top that add an elegant twist to a classic dessert (that also happens to be vegan friendly!)