Cosmos flowers aren’t just a treat for the eyes—they’re actually completely edible! While you can technically eat the whole plant, most gardeners stick to the colorful petals. Here’s how to take these beauties from your garden beds straight to your dinner plate.
Where can you get edible Cosmos?
Sure, you could buy them, but nothing beats the flavor of a freshly picked bloom. I highly recommend sowing a little patch of edible flowers right on your kitchen windowsill for easy access. If you’re a backyard gardener, wait until after the last frost to move your starter plants outside, as these guys definitely aren’t winter-hardy. No matter how you grow them, keep these tips in mind:
- Only eat untreated, organic flowers (no pesticides!).
- Leave the closed buds alone so they can bloom later.
- Skip any flowers that are heavily wilted or past their prime.
When is the best time to harvest?
Once the first flowers pop open, you can harvest them regularly all the way through fall. In fact, the more you snip, the more the plant is encouraged to grow new blooms! For the best flavor, head out in the morning right after the dew has dried. They’ll taste much more aromatic then than if you pick them in the evening heat.
How do you prep Cosmos for eating?
Give the flowers a quick rinse under cool running water. Avoid soaking them in a bowl, or you’ll wash away all that sweet nectar! Gently pat them dry with a paper towel. Once they’re clean, simply pluck off the outer petals to use in your recipes.
How to use Cosmos flowers in the kitchen
The easiest way to use them is as a garnish. Just tuck two or three blooms onto a serving platter alongside some fruit or veggies for an instant “wow” factor. But don’t stop there! Here are a few of my favorite ways to use them:
- Tossed into a fresh summer salad
- Mixed into homemade herb and flower butter
- Steeped into a floral simple syrup for cocktails
- Frozen inside ice cubes for fancy drinks
