17 Brilliant Ways to Cook with Lavender

Jonathan Lovekin

Whether you’re using it as a garnish or a main ingredient, lavender lends a subtle floral flavor to sweet or savory dishes. Just remember that a little goes a long way!

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Mini Blueberry-Lavender Cornmeal Cream Tarts

Jonathan Lovekin

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Whether you’re using it as a garnish or a main ingredient, lavender lends a subtle floral flavor to sweet or savory dishes. Just remember that a little goes a long way!

Mini Blueberry-Lavender Cornmeal Cream Tarts

Buttery cornmeal crusts, rich lavender-vanilla whipped cream, juicy summer blueberries -- is your mouth watering, too? These elegant tarts are a surefire showstopper.

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Wyebrook Farm Fried Chicken

Mikkel Vang

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A sprinkling of fresh lavender is a beautiful and surprisingly delicious final flourish for buttermilk fried chicken.

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Concord Grape and Lavender Sorbet

Naho Kubota

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This four-ingredient icy treat is stunning in both color and flavor, thanks to sweet Concord grapes and fresh lavender leaves.

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Beet Salad with Honey-Lavender Dressing

Mikkel Vang

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Take vinaigrette to new heights by adding fresh lavender. It makes a delectable dressing for this colorful salad of beets, Swiss chard, pecans, and goat cheese.

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Spring Cupcakes with Sugared Flowers

Sang An

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One of our all-time prettiest (and tastiest!) desserts! Moist chocolate cupcakes are topped with lavender-spiked icing and sugared pansies and violas.

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Pepita and Lavender Brittle

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Brittle can be a showcase for so much more than peanuts! This version pairs crunchy pepitas (green hulled pumpkin seeds) with delicate lavender.

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Lavender-Infused Lemonade

Anna Williams

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Sunny lemonade gets a double dose of lavender -- dried lavender flavor the simple syrup, and fresh sprigs are used as a garnish. Bonus: it can be made up to a week in advance. Avoiding sugar? Try our raw honey variation!

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Lavender-Fleur de Sel Caramel Sauce

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Take homemade caramel from good to great by amping it up with dried lavender and fleur de sel (fancy salt!). It’s delicious over ice cream or cake and makes a lovely hostess gift.

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Mini Strawberry-Rhubarb Galettes

Jennifer Causey

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Take the classic combination of strawberries and rhubarb to the next level by flavoring them with homemade lavender sugar. Divide among puff pastry squares for the perfect individual desserts.

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Lavender Spritzer

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You only need three ingredients to make this elegant thirst-quencher: sugar, dried lavender blossoms, and sparkling water.

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Lavender-Grape Tart

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Team buttery, golden pastry with juicy grapes and aromatic lavender for a spectacular fall dessert.

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Three-Cheese Cake

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Orange segments tossed with lavender honey and dried lavender cut the richness of this luxurious cheesecake beautifully. Decorate with fresh lavender blossoms to really wow the crowd.

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Lavender Galaktoboureko (Custard-Filled Phyllo)

Sang An

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Our take on this classic Greek dessert calls for infusing the traditional semolina custard filling with lavender and honey before encasing it in delicate phyllo pastry.

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Honey Lavender Ice Cream

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Lavender is the perfect partner for rich, eggy ice cream. Serve with your favorite shortbread cookies.

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Wild Turkey with Lavender Masala

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Rub turkey with bacon fat and a mixture of dried lavender and garam masala for a bird unlike any you’ve had before. It’s great for a fall dinner party -- or a non-traditional Thanksgiving.

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Peach and Cornmeal Upside-Down Cake

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Don’t let pineapples have all the upside-down fun! Ripe peaches and fresh lavender give this topsy-turvy cornmeal cake tons of flavor.

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Chocolate Pecan Pie with Chocolate Crust

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Everyone will love this chocolaty riff on pecan pie. Make it extra special by garnishing with lavender before your guests dig in.

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17 Brilliant Ways to Cook with Lavender

1 of 17

Mini Blueberry-Lavender Cornmeal Cream Tarts

Mini Blueberry-Lavender Cornmeal Cream Tarts

1 of 17

2 of 17

Wyebrook Farm Fried Chicken

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Concord Grape and Lavender Sorbet

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Beet Salad with Honey-Lavender Dressing

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Spring Cupcakes with Sugared Flowers

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Pepita and Lavender Brittle

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Lavender-Infused Lemonade

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Lavender-Fleur de Sel Caramel Sauce

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Mini Strawberry-Rhubarb Galettes

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Lavender Spritzer

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Lavender-Grape Tart

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Three-Cheese Cake

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Lavender Galaktoboureko (Custard-Filled Phyllo)

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Honey Lavender Ice Cream

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Wild Turkey with Lavender Masala

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Peach and Cornmeal Upside-Down Cake

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Chocolate Pecan Pie with Chocolate Crust

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