Home Garden

How to Make Sure Fresh Flowers Are Safe Before Putting Them on a Cake

Flowers, like herbs or vegetables, can be used in cooking and baking to add flavor and color. They can also be used to decorate sweets such as wedding cakes or cupcakes. If you are going to add flowers to a cake, it is imperative that you take the proper safety precautions. Many flowers are poisonous and cause illness if ingested. Additionally, flowers must be grown and prepared without chemicals to ensure safety.

Things You'll Need

  • Flower reference guide
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Identify the flowers you would like to decorate the cake with. Use a flower reference guide to determine the breed if you are unfamiliar with flowers.

    • 2

      Determine if the flower is edible. Check a comprehensive list such as the one on NC State or Colorado State University's website. If you don't see your flower in these lists, do not eat it.

    • 3

      Wash all of the flowers carefully under a stream of running water. This will dislodge any dirt, insects or debris that may be caught in the petals.

    • 4

      Use flowers sparingly to decorate the cake. Most people are unaccustomed to eating flowers and may experience indigestion if they consume too much.