Easy Lilac Flower Infused Honey Recipe
Spring has finally arrived here in North Dakota, which means the most fragrant flower of spring will soon be blooming. There is no other spring flower that makes a yard smell as beautiful as the lilac. I have an entire row planted behind our house, and they are always a welcome sight after a long, cold winter.
My kids know that when the lilacs start blooming, we will have bouquets on the table and all kinds of homemade drinks and baked goods made with lilac petals. Their favorite is lilac lemonade, and mine is honestly just about anything made with fresh lilac flowers.
Today, I’m sharing how to make lilac flower-infused honey, which I love to use in hot tea, iced tea, and drizzled over scones or biscuits.
Because lilacs bloom for such a short time, we try to enjoy them while they last. If you enjoy recipes with a light floral flavor, this easy lilac honey recipe is a beautiful way to save a little bit of spring in a jar.
What Is Lilac Flower Infused Honey?
Lilac flower-infused honey is simply honey that has been flavored with fresh lilac blossoms. The process is similar to steeping tea. As the lilac flowers sit in the honey, they slowly add a soft floral aroma and flavor.
There are many infused honey products on the market, but they often come with a higher price tag.
For that reason, learning how to make your own lilac-infused honey is an easy and cost-effective way to enjoy some infused honey without the cost associated with gourmet flavored honeys.
You can use lilac honey just like plain honey. It is wonderful on biscuits, toast, in tea, or paired with cheese on a spring charcuterie board.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Lilac Honey Recipe
Why this is a great recipe to try with fresh Lilacs
Ingredients You Need
The ingredients are simple, which is what makes this an easy recipe. You can have this done in 10 minutes or less if your Lilac petals are already removed from the stems.
Fresh Lilac Flowers
Make sure you are using edible lilac petals from a common lilac bush or another lilac variety you know is safe to use. If you are not sure which lilac you have, it is best to identify it before harvesting.
For the best flavor, use fresh lilac blossoms that are fully open and fragrant. I like to pick them early in the morning before the heat of the day starts to affect them.
Avoid petals that are wilted or starting to brown. Those flowers are past their prime, and much of their fragrance is already gone.
Once you pick the flowers, rinse them gently under clean water if needed. Then remove the petals from the green stems. For this recipe, you want only the petals.
Honey
Local honey is usually the best choice if you want really good flavor. Most of my honey comes from a local honey farmer, and it is some of the best I have ever tasted. If you are in North Dakota, I like honey from Stromme Honey, located in Kloten, N.D.
For the best lilac flavor, use a light, mild honey. Strong dark honey or wildflower honey can sometimes cover up the delicate lilac flower flavor. Since lilac has such a soft floral taste, a lighter honey gives the best results.
How to Safely Harvest Lilac Flowers for Recipes
Whenever you are harvesting edible flowers, make sure they come from an area that has not been sprayed with pesticides, insecticides, or other chemicals. If you are not sure, it is best not to harvest them. Better safe than ingesting chemicals.
Try to pick lilac flowers away from roadsides so they are not covered in dust.
Only harvest what you need. Lilac blossoms fade quickly, so I like to pick only what I plan to use within 24 hours. If needed, you can store the petals in the fridge until the next day.
Before bringing them into the kitchen, give the blossoms a gentle shake to remove any bugs. Also, try not to pick too much greenery, since you will be removing most of it anyway.
The Best Honey to Use for Infusing
The best honey for infusing is a mild raw honey or another light honey with a clean flavor. That way, the taste of the lilac flowers can shine through.
I often buy filtered fresh honey from a local honey company because it has such a pure flavor. However, if you are using raw, unfiltered honey, keep in mind that it may be thicker. As a result, it can take a little longer for the lilac flavor to infuse.
Clover honey is another good option. In fact, it might be fun to make a few small jars using different kinds of honey just to see which one you like best.
Wildflower honey may work too, but it already has stronger floral notes. Because of that, the lilac flavor can get lost more easily.
How to Make Lilac Flower-Infused Honey
This is an easy recipe! Once you make it, you may just start making all types of infused honey.
Step 1: Harvest and Prep the Lilac Blossoms
First, find and identify your lilac bush. I usually head out with a sharp pair of pruning shears and a clean basket to collect blossoms.
If you are traveling a distance to pick lilacs, bring a jug of water, a bucket, and some paper towels. I place damp paper towels in the bucket with a little water and set the stems inside to help prevent wilting on the drive home. That little trick keeps the flowers fresher and helps stop water from splashing all over the car.
Once you get home, check the blossoms for insects and lightly tap them to remove anything hiding in the petals.
Sometimes I rinse the blossoms, and other times I do not. It really depends on when I pick them. I like to harvest early in the morning when the flowers are fresh, and there seem to be fewer bugs.
After that, remove the flower petals from the stems. They should pull off pretty easily.
If the petals are wet from rinsing or covered in dew, let them dry before adding them to the honey. I usually give them a quick spin in a salad spinner and then spread them on a towel-lined sheet pan to help them dry faster.
Step 2: Fill a Clean Jar With Lilac Flowers
Next, grab a clean, sterile jar or container for infusing. Loosely pack the dry lilac petals into the jar, but do not smash them down. Leave a little room at the top since the petals will float once the honey is added.
Step 3: Pour the Honey Over the Flowers
Slowly pour the room-temperature honey over the lilac flowers. Pouring slowly helps the air escape and allows the honey to settle around the petals.
If needed, use a butter knife or spoon to gently move the petals around and release any trapped air bubbles.
Most importantly, make sure the lilac petals are fully covered with honey.
Step 4: Let the Honey Infuse
Once the jar is filled, seal it with an airtight lid and store it in a cool place out of direct sunlight.
Let the lilacs infuse in the honey for 3 to 6 weeks, or even longer if you prefer a stronger flavor. Check it now and then to see how the flavor is developing. Sometimes it may be ready sooner.
I have let lilac-infused honey sit for as long as 6 months. Over time, the petals will shrivel, darken, and turn brown, which is normal.
Step 5: Strain or Leave the Blossoms In
Since the petals fade and become discolored, many people choose to strain them out. This gives the honey a smoother look and texture.
Personally, the petals do not bother me, so I often leave them in. Leaving the blossoms in gives the honey a rustic look that I really like.
That said, fresh flowers can add moisture to the jar.
Because of that, I prefer to keep the petals fully submerged and strain them out if I want longer storage. If anything ever looks off, smells odd, or seems questionable, it is best to throw it out.
Disclaimer:
There is some discussion about bacteria growing in infused honey due to the potential moisture introduced by the petals. But I have never seen any mold or had any issues as long as the petals stay submerged in the honey.
The high sugar content prohibits bacterial growth; it’s the main reason why commercial companies use high fructose corn syrup in shelf-stable products. Also, honey has been used as a natural preservative for years.
How Long Should Lilac Honey Infuse?
How long you let lilac flowers infuse in the honey will depend on the flavor you want.
If you want a stronger lilac flavor, let the petals infuse longer, around 6 weeks or more. I like to taste it every week or so until it reaches the flavor I want.
You can also double-infuse the honey for an even stronger floral flavor. To do that, strain out the old petals and pour the honey over a fresh batch of lilac flowers.
Still, if you want a lighter flavor, start tasting it after a day or two and decide from there.
What Does Lilac Honey Taste Like?
Lilac honey has a mild, delicate floral flavor with a soft lilac aroma. It is light, sweet, and spring-like without being overpowering.
The final flavor can vary depending on a few things:
- How long you infuse the honey for
- How fresh the flowers are
- What type of honey your using
Some Ways to Use Lilac-Infused Honey
There are so many easy ways to use lilac-infused honey. I love drizzling it over fresh goat cheese and crackers, and it is also delicious on sourdough toast.
- Stir it into tea
- Drizzle it over toast or English muffins
- Spoon it over warm biscuits
- Add it to yogurt
- Use it in homemade lemonade
- Drizzle it over pancakes or waffles
- Add it to simple desserts
- Use it on a spring charcuterie board
- Pair it with goat cheese or other soft cheeses
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
If you are looking for more ways to use lilac flowers in the kitchen, there are plenty of other recipes to try. Lilac simple syrup is lovely in drinks and lemonade. You can also make lilac mead, lilac wine, or even use candied lilac flowers as a garnish. Those are all beautiful ways to enjoy the floral flavor of spring.
How to Store Lilac Honey
As long as you use a clean jar and keep the moisture low, lilac honey should store well. For the best quality, follow these simple steps:
- Store it in a clean, sterilized jar with a tight lid
- Keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight
- Make sure the flowers are dry before adding them
- Watch for signs of spoilage if too much moisture gets into the jar
- Strain out the flowers for longer storage if you prefer
Over time, the honey may start to crystallize. That is normal and does not mean it has gone bad.
Tips for the Best Lilac Honey
If you want the best floral flavor, follow the tips below.
Tips
- Use fragrant, freshly picked Lilacs
- Make sure to use only the Lilac petals
- Make sure the flowers are dry before adding them
- Use a mild honey so the Lilac flavor stands out
- Taste the honey as it infuses
- Strain it for a smoother texture if you prefer
Easy Lilac Flower Infused Honey Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Pint jar clean and sterilized
- 1 Lid for pint jar sterilized
Ingredients
- 2 cups Pure Honey Mild flavor
- 1/2-1 cup Fresh Lilac Petals washed & dried
Instructions
- Pick, wash, and remove Lilac petals from stems. You want no greenery. Allow the petals to dry, spinning in a salad spinner will help dry them out faster.
- Once Lilac petals are dry, fill your pint jar half way with petals. Gently push the petals down.
- Slowly pour the honey over the petals. This allows the air bubbles to escape.Use a butter knife to gently stir the honey and petals to remove excess air bubbles. The Lilac petals will float, this is normal.
- Seal the jar with a lid. Label and date. Allow the Lilac-infused honey to sit at room temperature to infuse for 1-6 days. The Lilac petals will discolor, which is normal. You can choose to strain out the petals or leave them.Store away from sunlight and in a cool area. Keeps up to 6 months when stored properly. May crystallize.
Notes
