Lavender Recipes, Tips & Summer Inspiration
- Astrid van Essen
- Apr 22
- 3 min read
Why Everyone’s Buzzing About the Purple Bloom
If you’ve been sensing a bit of a lavender takeover lately, you’re not imagining it. From stylish kitchen shelves to picnic baskets – and even Starbucks selling lavender lattes – it’s clear that lavender is having a moment. And honestly? We’re here for it.
Not only does food-grade lavender bring a delicate floral flavour to sweet and savoury dishes, it’s also absolutely packed with charm – both for your taste buds and the local pollinators. With summer just around the corner, this fragrant bloom is bursting into season, and the good news is: there’s plenty to go around for you AND the bees.
Whether you grow it, forage it, or buy it dried and organic, lavender is one of the easiest ways to elevate your recipes and add a soft botanical note to your homemade creations.
Why Lavender Is Buzzing Right Now
Lavender ticks all the boxes: it’s beautiful, fragrant, versatile, and sustainable. It pairs effortlessly with citrus, honey, vanilla, and even dark chocolate – and its calming scent adds a bit of slow-living magic to whatever you’re stirring up.
From herbal blends to baked treats, it’s the floral twist everyone wants in their kitchen this year. Ready to give it a go?
5 Easy Recipes Using Food-Grade Lavender
Here are five beginner-friendly lavender recipes to try this summer – they make lovely gifts, market stall favourites, or just a little treat for yourself.
1. DIY Lavender Marshmallows
Perfect for summer toasting or floating in a cup of chamomile tea.
You’ll need:
2 tbsp dried food-grade lavender
1 cup water
Gelatine, sugar, and vanilla extract (standard marshmallow recipe)
How to: Simmer lavender in half the water, then strain and use this infused water in place of plain water in your marshmallow mix. Fluffy, fragrant, and totally toastable.
2. Lavender Hot Chocolate Mix
A floral cocoa in a jar that makes a gorgeous gift or cosy nightcap.
You’ll need:
1 cup cocoa powder
1 cup milk powder
½ cup icing sugar
1 tbsp dried lavender buds (ground)
Pinch of salt
How to: Mix all ingredients and pop into a jar. Add a label with instructions: “Stir 2 tbsp into hot milk for a dreamy lavender hot choc.”
3. Lavender Salt
A herby-floral twist that’s just right on roast potatoes or sprinkled on dark chocolate.
You’ll need:
¼ cup sea salt flakes
1 tsp dried lavender buds
How to: Pulse together briefly in a spice grinder or crush by hand with a mortar and pestle. Store in an airtight jar and sprinkle to your heart’s content.
4. Lavender Lemon Loaf
Zingy, fragrant, and divine with a cup of tea.
You’ll need:
Your favourite lemon loaf recipe
1 tbsp dried lavender buds (infused in the milk or butter)
How to: Steep lavender in warm milk or butter for 10 minutes, strain, and use in your bake. Optional: add a lavender glaze with icing sugar and a dash of infused water on top.
5. Lavender Sugar
A kitchen essential to sprinkle over scones, biscuits, or fruity desserts.
You’ll need:
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tbsp dried lavender buds
How to: Pulse in a food processor until the sugar is lightly fragrant and tinted. Store in a sealed jar. It keeps for months and smells heavenly every time you open it.
Tips for Using Food-Grade Lavender
Always use culinary-grade or organic dried lavender (Lavandula angustifolia is best).
A little goes a long way – start small, taste, and build.
Store it in an airtight jar, away from sunlight, to preserve its delicate oils.
Bee-Friendly and Beautiful
Planting lavender in your garden or on your windowsill is one of the best things you can do for local bees and pollinators. And when it comes to cooking, baking, or crafting with lavender, it’s an easy way to bring a little summer romance into your everyday.
Looking for a pretty, practical way to plant it? We love the minimalist concrete pots from botanicalblueprint.com – perfect for showcasing your lavender while keeping things calm and considered indoors or out.
So go on – treat yourself (and the bees). Lavender season is in full bloom, and it’s never been so delicious.
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