How to Make Chez Panisse’s Sugared Rose Petals

Transform your favorite dessert into a delicately beautiful masterpiece with these candied petals

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Edible flowers—they’re more than just pretty cocktail adornments. Chez Panisse demonstrates how to add flowers to your food with a treat that’s as easy on the eyes as it is on the palate. Don’t let their delicate aesthetic fool you: these sugared rose petals are actually super easy to make. Just mix egg white, salt, and sugar in a medium-sized bowl and whisk until frothy. Paint the rose petals with a thin coat of the mixture, carefully avoiding dousing (and wilting) the petals. After baking and icing your dessert, decorate with the petals in an artful pattern of your choosing. Voila! You’ve got the ultimate elegant cake topping.