Are dried flowers safe for cakes?

Cakes and dried flowers are two of life’s beautiful pleasures. But do they work together? Find out whether dried flower cake toppers are a possibility in this handy guide.

Whether you’re an avid baker or enjoy whipping up a cake for a bit of fun in your spare time, there are many ways to take your delicious baked treat to the next tier.

Candles, fondant icing, figures and chocolates to name a few. But what about dried flowers?

Read on to uncover all.

Can you use dried flowers on cakes?

If you use dried blooms correctly and safely, dried edible flowers can be a lovely addition to baking and cooking as a hobby or for a special occasion.

Their unique look, versatility, and long-lasting qualities make them popular in baking, cocktail making, salad dressing, and even garnishing meat dishes.

But before you start decorating, it’s essential to know which ones to pick. For instance, some dried flowers are edible, some are safe to put on your cake but not to eat, while others are highly toxic.

Edible dried flowers for cakes

Hibiscus
Honeysuckle
Lavender
Lilac
Roses
Pansies
Sunflowers
Violets
Tulip petals
Primrose
Fuchsia

Tips for creating dried flowers cake decorations

Dried flowers are a fun and creative way to add a boho or elegant touch to any cake design. Depending on how you want your cake to look, dried flowers can be positioned and picked to fit.

We advise you to keep the following things in mind when using dried flowers in baking:

Always research how the flowers are grown before buying them. Some florists, wholesalers, or garden centres might use bleach, pesticides, preserving sprays, or dyes. And without a doubt, this needs to be avoided near food.

Consider pollen allergies. While dried flowers only contain trace amounts, you may want to do your homework before causing any discomfort to your keen tasters.

Consult a physician before eating them if you’re pregnant.
Check for small insects.
Keep the flowers refrigerated or kept in an airtight container to prevent mould.
Where possible, buy dried flowers labelled edible and organic or culinary.

How to dry flowers for cake decorating

Keen to get going? There are three methods you can use to dry flowers for caking decorating:

Air drying – the easiest way to dry flowers is to leave them to dry naturally, either by hanging them in a dry and warm place or placed on a cloth.
Oven drying – turn the oven to its lowest heat setting and line a tray with wax or parchment paper. Lay out the flowers evenly and place them in the oven with the door open a crack to allow moisture to evaporate. This drying method can take eight to twelve hours to dry completely.
Pressing – Another way to preserve edible flowers is to press them. And it's easy to do this at home by placing the flowers between sheets of paper and flattening them with something heavy like a pile of books or notepads. This drying and pressing process can take two to four weeks.

How to decorate a cake with dried flowers

When it comes to decorating a cake with dried flowers, the possibilities are endless. Here are a few simple and creative ways you can use them in your next bake:

To create a confetti-style look, pull the petals off the flowers, scatter them at the top of the cake and let them drop anywhere.
A cupcake can be taken to a whole new level with just one flower. Their beauty speaks for itself.
Combine fruit and flowers, for example, raspberries or strawberries. They both complement each other perfectly.
Use a large statement flower as a cake topper or centrepiece.
Keep things light and elegant by using just one type of delicate flower on a light-coloured icing.
Use the petals to make pretty patterns.
Cover your tiered cake in pressed flowers for a gorgeous, chic, boho style.

Buy the best-dried flower cake toppers