If you’re not already wondering how to make lavender sugar, it might be time to start. Because it’s a treat in more ways than one.
This time of year, when the lavender is in bloom, we’re always looking for ways to enjoy and share this beautiful and famously fragrant flower.
Some of you may remember how much I love the lavender farm that is so thoughtfully situated just minutes from our lakehouse. The wonderful thing about this proximity is that I drive by all the time. And stop in. And gather lavender blooms and goodies.
But I also grow my own, of course. Around the orchard and elsewhere. Because you can’t really have too much lavender.
Regardless of the source, we love to find creative ways to incorporate lavender into things we use around the house everyday—sugars, scrubs, beverages, you name it.
Recently, as we were mixing it into some sugar, I thought, “Everyone should make lavender sugar. But does everyone know this? So easy, so great to have. I should be sharing this.”
So here we are. Let’s look at how to make lavender sugar, and talk about a few great ways to use it.
Choosing Your Lavender
You can use fresh lavender flowers and leaves in many types of cooking. And when working with dried lavender, you can use both the buds and stems as well.
Many of you gardeners may know that culinary lavender is related to mint. From a flavor perspective, it tends to work nicely in dishes that incorporate fennel, oregano, rosemary, thyme, sage, and/or savory.
(Sounds a bit like we’re kicking off a fresh batch of Herbs de Provence, doesn’t is?)
But when you’re looking at how to make lavender sugar, you’ll obviously be leaning in the sweet rather than savory direction.
The first thing you’ll want to consider is the type of lavender you use.
Although English lavender has a beautifully sweet fragrance and is often used in cooking, culinary lavender has a sweet, floral flavor with citrus-y notes. So it’s delicious in sugar.
How to Make Lavender Sugar
How to make lavender sugar, you ask? It literally could not be easier.
So easy, in fact, that you’ll probably want to make lots and always keep some on hand. You can make as much or as little as you like.
Keep in mind that dried lavender is more potent. So here’s a ratio you can start with:
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon fresh culinary lavender or 1 teaspoon dried
- 1 cup sugar
Steps
- Eyeball your lavender and toss it into the bowl of a food processor.
- Pulse it for a few seconds, until the lavender is chopped into fine, delicate pieces.
- Add you sugar and blend well, until the lavender is finely ground and thoroughly incorporated.
- Give it a taste. Too much lavender? Add more sugar until you’re happy—up to twice as much, I’d say.
Or, if you’re in the mood to skip the electronic kitchen helpers and work al fresco, like my daughter and I were when we whipped up the last batch, just grab your mortar and pestel and setup in the sunshine.
Not even in the mood for muddling? Simply toss the lavender into the sugar. Your finished product will look great. But ultimately, whether or not you can get away with this will depend on how you’re planning to use the lavender sugar. So let’s get into that…
How to Use Lavender Sugar
Okay, so we love the too-easy-for-words recipe. But now that you know how to make lavender sugar, what on earth are you going to do with it?
That’s the fun part. Some ideas:
Flavor Your Favorite Drink
Toss some lavender sugar into your favorite beverages to add a sweet, floral edge.
If you like to sweeten your iced tea (or hot tea), this will be your new go-to. It adds just the right bit of something special.
But since I prefer my tea unsweetened, my go-to is lemonade. Simply whip up a batch of homemade lemonade, but use lavender sugar instead of plain, and you’ll love the result. Since lemonade uses so much sugar, a significant amount of lavender gets incorporated into the drink. Wow factor.
But let’s not ignore cocktails in our beverage discussion. The options here are virtually endless, but here are a few ideas that are likely to get you mixing right away:
- The Lavender Collins from Fox-and-Briar
- The Lavender Bee’s Knees from Gastronom
- The Sparkling Lavender Cocktail from Cooking LSL
For most cocktails, you’ll need to up the lavender favor by making lavender syrup instead of sticking with the sugar. Click here for Spruce Eats’s tips on how to make lavender sugar into the syrup of your dreams.
Baked Goods
When making baked goods with lavender sugar, it’s important to be discerning. Because this tasty treat is not right in every recipe.
But when it is right, it’s soooo right.
The key is simply to ask, “Would this be delicious with a delicate hint of floral sweetness?” If the answer is yes, get out your lavender sugar. Some favorite options include:
- Cake
- Scones
- Muffins
- Cookies
- Waffles
And don’t forget to sprinkle it over fruit or mix into homemade whipping cream. Delish.
Sugar Scrub
You already made the sugar, so your scrub is basically done.
Before you jump into the bath, simply mix some of your lavender sugar with some coconut oil, add a few drops of lavender essential oil, and get ready for happy, exfoliated skin.
And allow me just a moment to segue from sugar into salts:
When you’re making your lavender sugar, why not just mix up some bath salts as well? It’s equally easy: just use sea salt instead of sugar, put it in a cute container, and done.
Gifts
You know that friend who always makes you handmade gifts? Now you can reciprocate.
Simply toss some of your lovely sugars, scrubs, or salts into a pretty glass container of your choosing, tie it up with some lavender buds, and off you go to make her day.
Other ideas? Please share them! We’d love to hear how you’re using this treat.
Categories: Live
