Lilac Sugar

LILAC SUGAR

5/6/2023

Lilac Sugar

Spring is the season of new beginnings, and what better way to welcome it than with a sweet treat that embodies the essence of the season? Lilac Sugar and Lilac Simple Syrup are delightful ingredients that bring a unique floral flavor to so many things! Lilac Sugar and Lilac Simple Syrup are not only delicious and so easy to make, but the soft purple color adds a pop of color to any dish, and the delicate flavor of lilac adds a touch of old-fashioned sophistication to your springtime entertaining. Lilac Sugar and Lilac Simple Syrup capture the essence of spring in every bite. With its unique flavor and charming appearance, both are the perfect addition to your spring baking and beverage repertoire.

With the promise of warm spring days, lilac is the first hint that spring has arrived - and my favorite scent of late spring! We have planted dozens of lilac bushes around our yard over the years, just so that we can enjoy that wonderful fragrance for as many days as possible. What's even better is preserving that wonderful smell by infusing it into sugar. Springtime in a jar!

Minnesota Lilacs...growing in Ohio

WHAT KIND OF LILACS SHOULD I USE FOR LILAC SUGAR?

Lilacs typically bloom in late April to mid-May, but there may be early season lilacs that bloom earlier where you live.
Did you know that lilacs come in seven colors - ranging from white to deep, dark purple? I typically use lavandar or dark purple blooms for the best color, but they all work for this recipe.
When referring to edible lilacs, we are talking only about the flowers!
Make sure that your fresh lilacs have not be exposed to any chemicals or pesticides.

Lilac Sugar

HOW DO I MAKE LILAC SUGAR?

In early spring, choose vibrant lilac blooms that have just opened and that aren't yet turning brown. A few unopened buds are no problem. You will get the best flavor from sprigs that have just bloomed.
It is important to NOT WASH the lilac flowers or petals.
Simply give your lilacs a good shake to be sure there aren’t any small bugs clinging on to any of the blossoms, then carefully remove individual blossoms from the stems.
Give the individual flower petals a slight tug, and they should slide right off, detaching from the little green sepal at its base.
Now the easy part - simply layer the lilac petals with white sugar in a glass mason jar.
Cover and gently shake the closed jar.
Place in a dark, dry place, remembering to gently shake the jar every day for a week to mix the sugar and prevent lumps (the sugar pulls moisture from the lilac blossoms, and you don't want a solid mass of sugar).
After the lilac petals are dry (it takes about a week), you can sift the preserved and candied flower petals out of the sugar using a fine-mesh strainer, or leave them in for more color and flavor.
Store Lilac Sugar in a cool dark place.

Minnesota Lilacs growing in Ohio...a memory from home

HOW TO USE LILAC SUGAR:

You can use Lilac Sugar anywhere you’d use granulated sugar or sparkling sugar to add a summery light lilac flavor. For most beverage, baking or dessert recipes, simply replace the granulated sugar with lilac infused sugar, or sprinkle on top for a delicate sugar topping:

Shortbread Cookies
Sugar Cookies (especially for tea parties or garden teas)
Tea Cakes & Petit Fours
Rosettes
Springtime cakes, cupcakes, pound cakes or bundt cakes (especially good in vanilla and coconut cakes)
Blueberry Muffins
Buttercream Frosting (especially vanilla, vanilla bean and blackberry)
Pancakes and Crepes
Vanilla Pudding
Sprinkle on Fresh Spring or Summer Berries
Add a touch of springtime charm by using Lilac Sugar to sweeten your morning tea or coffee
Perfect to make Lilac Sugar Facial Scrubs!

Lilac Sugar

HOW TO MAKE LILAC SIMPLE SYRUP:

To use in beverages, you can easily make Lilac Simple Syrup and enjoy in:

Lilac Sparkling Water
Fresh Lemonade
Sweet Tea
Spring and Summer Cocktails

You can also make Lilac Ice Cubes by adding Lilac Simple Syrup to water (1:1 ratio) and adding a sprig of fresh lilac flowers before freezing. So fun for garden teas and bridal showers!

Lilac Sugar

LILAC SUGAR & LILAC SIMPLE SYRUP

Lilac Sugar and Lilac Simple Syrup are delightful ingredients that capture the essence of spring in every bite. With its unique flavor and charming appearance, both are the perfect addition to your spring baking and beverage repertoire.

Lilac Sugar

INGREDIENTS:

LILAC SUGAR:
1 cup fresh lilac petals
2 cups granulated or sparkling sugar

LILAC SIMPLE SYRUP:
4 cups lilac florets
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups water

HOW I MAKE THESE:

PREPARE LILACS: Choose vibrant lilac blooms that have just opened and that aren't yet turning brown - a few unopened buds are no problem.
It is important to NOT WASH the lilac flowers or petals.
Give your lilac blooms a good shake to be sure there isn’t any dirt or small bugs clinging on to any of the blossoms.
Give the individual flower petals a slight tug, and they should easily slide right off, detaching from the little green stem at its base. Make sure to only save the purple floret as the tiny green stems can make the Lilac Sugar or Lilac Simple Syrup bitter.
TO PREPARE LILAC SUGAR: In a glass mason jar, simply layer the lilac petals with sugar. Start by placing a couple of tablespoons of sugar in the bottom of a jar. Layer about a heaping tablespoon of lilac blossoms on top of the sugar.
Repeat the layers, ending with sugar as the top layer.
Cover and gently shake the closed jar.
Place in a dark, dry place, remembering to gently shake the jar every day for a week to mix the sugar and prevent lumps (the sugar pulls moisture from the lilac blossoms, and you don't want a solid mass of sugar).
After the lilac petals are dry (it takes about a week), you can sift the preserved and candied flower petals out of the sugar using a fine-mesh strainer, or leave them in for more color and flavor.
Store Lilac Sugar in a cool dark place.
TO PREPARE LILAC SIMPLE SYRUP: In a small heavy saucepan, stir together fresh lilac florets, sugar and water. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water over medium heat. Bring to a boil while stirring until all of the sugar has dissolved. Add the lilac florets, stir gently, and cover. Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, keep it covered, and wait.
As it cools and rests, the lilacs will add their sweet flavor to the syrup. The time it takes to steep will depend on the variety of lilacs and how intense you want the flavor. Since it is a delicate flower, it usually takes 3 to 8 hours to fully infuse flavor and color.
Pour the syrup into a fine-mesh strainer resting on a large bowl. Allow it to sit for a few minutes and shake it occasionally so more of the syrup filters through the flowers and drips into the bowl.
After straining, pour the finished lilac syrup into a glass container with a tight-sealing lid. Refrigerate in a well-sealed jar or airtight container for about two weeks. Check for spoilage before using – if it is cloudy at all, don’t use. Lilac simple syrup can be stored longer in an airtight container in the freezer, or for individual servings, you can also pour in ice cube trays and freeze. Frozen Lilac Simply Syrup will be good for up to six months.

YIELD: 2 cups Lilac Sugar (or 2 cups Lilac Simple Syrup)

HOW TO USE LILAC SUGAR:
You can use Lilac Sugar anywhere you’d use granulated sugar or sparkling sugar to add a summery light lilac flavor. For most beverage, baking or dessert recipes, simply replace the granulated sugar with lilac infused sugar, or sprinkle on top for a delicate sugar topping:

Shortbread Cookies
Sugar Cookies (especially for tea parties or garden teas)
Tea Cakes & Petit Fours
Rosettes
Springtime cakes, cupcakes, pound cakes or bundt cakes (especially good in vanilla and coconut cakes)
Blueberry Muffins
Buttercream Frosting (especially vanilla, vanilla bean and blackberry)
Pancakes and Crepes
Vanilla Pudding
Sprinkle on Fresh Spring or Summer Berries
Add a touch of springtime charm by using Lilac Sugar to sweeten your morning tea or coffee
Perfect to make Lilac Sugar Facial Scrubs!

HOW TO USE LILAC SIMPLE SYRUP:
You can use Lilac Simply Syrup in your favorite beverages to add a summery light lilac flavor:

Lilac Sparkling Water
Fresh Lemonade
Sweet Tea
Spring and Summer Cocktails
You can also make Lilac Ice Cubes by adding Lilac Simple Syrup to water (1:1 ratio) and adding a sprig of fresh lilac flowers before freezing. So fun for garden teas and bridal showers!

RECIPE NOTES:

In early spring, choose vibrant lilac blooms that have just opened and that aren't yet turning brown. A few unopened buds are no problem. You will get the best flavor from sprigs that have just bloomed.
It is important to NOT WASH the lilac flowers or petals.
Simply give your lilacs a good shake to be sure there aren’t any small bugs clinging on to any of the blossoms, then carefully remove individual blossoms from the stems.
Give the individual flower petals a slight tug, and they should slide right off, detaching from the little green stem at its base. Make sure to only save the purple floret as the tiny green stems can make the Lilac Sugar or Lilac Simple Syrup bitter.
Taste test your Lilac Simple Syrup regularly. After three hours, it will develop a soft flavor; if you let it steep for eight hours, it will be perfect. The syrup should have a floral intensity that will become balanced once it's added to drinks, neither overpowering nor disappearing against the other ingredients.

Original recipe created by Snowflakes & Coffeecakes May 2023.

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