Cooking with Lavender

Cooking with fresh and dried lavender dates back to the Middle Ages and is popular not only in Provence, France but all over the world.  At True Nature Homestead we grow 3 varieties of high-altitude, non GMO, organic lavender which we combine into the culinary lavender blend available for purchase here on our website.  When cooking with lavender you'll want to use sweeter, culinary varieties like the ones that we grow here in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.  

Here are some delicious, easy ideas to get you started with using lavender in your cooking at home:

LAVENDER SUGAR

Add a half dozen lavender flower spikes to several cups of granulated sugar and seal for a week to make delicious lavender sugar to sweeten hot or iced teas.

LAVENDER MILK

Add a 1/4 cup of chopped lavender flowers to 2 cups of warmed milk.   Steep the mixture for an hour or two, and then strain our the lavender.   This base can also be used to make homemade ice-cream.

LAVENDER SYRUP

Combine 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup sweet dessert wine and 2 tbls. of orange juice.  Heat the mixture to boil, reduce to a simmer and then cook for 5 minutes.   Add 3 tablespoons of chopped lavender flowers and remove from the heat.   Steep mixture for 1 to 2 hours, and then strain out the lavender.   Pour this fragrant syrup over freshly cut fruit and garnish with fresh mint leaves. 

FLORAL SPREAD

Steep 4 teaspoons of chopped lavender flowers in a cup of warmed honey with a tablespoon of lemon or lime juice for an hour.   Reheat and strain out the lavender.  Drizzle onto fresh toast with butter or cream cheese.

Try adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of finely chopped lavender to your favorite sugar cookie recipe!!  Enjoy!

Tap here to learn more about how to add a Touch of Lavender to Your Day!