Ever since I rounded up edible flower desserts last year, I’ve been eager to try edible flower donuts. It’s not a new idea, but I spent a few hours in the studio experimenting with two challenges I’m always working on: styling flowers and photographing food. I set myself a small styling challenge and had a lot of fun trying fresh compositions instead of my usual shots. I couldn’t resist sharing a few too many photos — and these would make a lovely treat for Mother’s Day.
The most important rule when working with edible flowers is to make sure they really are edible. There are many guides that list safe varieties, but you must also confirm that the flowers you buy haven’t been treated with pesticides or other chemicals unsuitable for consumption. High-end grocery stores often sell edible flowers in the produce section, and you can also find them at farmers markets or from organic flower vendors. If the flowers aren’t clearly labeled “edible,” ask the seller about how they were grown and treated so you can be confident they’re safe to eat.
I mainly used carnations for these donuts, and I used only the petals. For the decorative flower centers — more for looks than for eating, unless you want to bite into a whole bloom — I gently removed all the petals from a carnation at once, leaving no green bits attached, and placed that petal cluster into the donut hole. Petals don’t hold a flower shape once detached from the stem, but the donut hole supports them so they appear like a full flower nestled in the center.
For the sprinkled-flower look, I pulled off the tips of the petals and scattered them over the icing for a delicate confetti effect. These donuts were store-bought — I simply used flowers to dress them up quickly and easily.
For Mother’s Day, present them breakfast-in-bed style or tuck them into petite bakery boxes for a thoughtful, sweet gift.
All photos by Studio DIY
Thanks for indulging my little styling experiment. My kind of challenges usually involve sugar and flowers, which I hope you enjoy as much as I do. If you’re inspired, try the same idea on pancakes, waffles, or even croissants for a floral twist.
If you’d like coordinated printables for a Mother’s Day breakfast-in-bed, check the original source for printables and additional floral project ideas.