How To Make Lilac Sugar ~ A Sparkling Taste Of Spring

Lilac sugar is an amazing infusion of fresh petals and sugar. The wonderful aroma and flavour permeates the sugar and leaves behind the fresh taste of spring lilacs. Learn how to make lilac sugar, a wonderful pantry addition and tasteful gift to share.

Are Lilacs Edible?

Lilacs are wonderful edible flowers.

Traditionally lilacs have been used as a medicinal plant in Europe for the treatment of inflammation.

Here is a scientific article in the US National Library Of Medicine, National Institutes Of Health detailing a study on the phytochemical extracts in lilacs.

Lilacs blooms have also been used through the ages in many edible flower recipes, such as these edible flower cookies, lilac jelly, and lilac simple syrup.

Lilacs are most flavourful and aromatic when the buds are open. When choosing your flowers for your lilac recipes, choose the blossoms that are two thirds open, as they will last longer.

The window to use lilacs is narrow, as these wonderful blossoms are only around for several weeks, and in full bloom for even a shorter period of time.

So make a note of how you would like to use them, and grab them when they are fresh.

Lilac Sugar

This lovely Lilac sugar is a fresh blossom infused sugar, which is made when the blossoms are in season, and then used throughout the rest of the year. This sparkling sweet treat has a wonderful flavour and adds a special touch to baking goods and other foods.

Lilac Sugar Uses

You can use this mixture in your tea or hot chocolate, or sprinkle it on cookies or cakes.

Wherever you would use sugar, you can use your lilac sugar. It adds a special touch to a simple spoonful of sugar.

When the lilac infuses into the sugar, it makes the sugar crystallize, and it becomes quite sparkly like snow in springtime. I loved working with this sugar!

Be creative with how you use it, and enjoy the simple touch of spring.

It will last up to a year in storage. Store in a closed mason jar for best shelf life.

How Long Does Lilac Sugar Last?

Lilac sugar can store for up to a year in a clean mason jar.

Some people sterilize the sugar after infusion by baking on a sheet in the oven at 200° F for 5 to 10 minutes. If the sugar dehydrates and becomes clumpy, you can whip it in a food processor to remove the clumps.

What Does Lilac Sugar Taste Like?

Lilac sugar has a sweet floral flavour, and adds a special touch to whatever it is added to.

It will add that nostalgic element of comfort for those that have grown up with the sweet smell of lilacs in spring.

Preparation For Making Lilac Sugar

Harvest The Lilacs

Harvest the blossoms when the flowers are mostly open. The individual open blossoms are the most aromatic and will provide the best flavour.

Make sure that the area where you harvest is safe from herbicides and pesticides. Organic lilacs are the best options for any lilac recipes.

Do not use store bought lilac bouquets for your edible recipes unless you know that they have been safely grown.

Pull Off The Individual Blooms

Pull the individual blooms from the stems, making sure that you do not also pull off the green parts, which are hard and woody. We want only the fleshy petals for this recipe.

I picked a mason jar full of blossoms, and used approximately half of that in this recipe.

Lilac Sugar Recipe

Ingredients:

• Lilac blossoms, separated from the stem~ approximately 1 cup

• Sugar~ approximately 1.25 cups

Directions:

• I loosely measured the ingredients, and added a little extra sugar in the end.

• Layer the sugar and petals in the mason jar.

• Start with a layer of sugar, then add a layer of petals.

• Continue layering until you have used up your ingredients. I added a little extra sugar to the mix because I had too many petals on top and I wanted to cover them.

• Make sure that there is some room at the top of the jar to be able to shake daily to keep the sugar from clumping.

• Cover the mixture and keep in a cool dark place for a week.

• Shake the mixture daily.

• At the end of a week, your sugar will be ready.

A few things to note about the process:

• The sugar becomes very moist as the lilac infuses, and tends to harden and crystallize.

• Shaking will help prevent the sugar from clumping, or you can use a fork to break down the sugar bits. You can also put the sugar through a food processor to make a finer consistency.

• The sugar can develop a bit of an odour as the blooms infuse. I ended up pouring the sugar onto a tray to dry out which worked well. When the sugar dried the odor dissipated.

• I also made a second batch without covering with a lid. I used a dishtowel to cover the container. This reduced the strong odor.

• The outcome was the same with both batches, and both are equally delicious.

• The lilac petals will turn brown as they dry, and this is a natural part of this process.

• You can sift the petals out of the sugar if you so choose, or you can leave them in place.

This delicious lilac sugar will last for a year. Enjoy and be creative with this delicious sweet treat!

Have you tried to make lilac sugar? Be sure to leave a comment below and share your experience!

Other Posts You May Like:

See the Web Story on Lilac Sugar!

PIN IT FOR LATER!