by Kriss Erickson

Created on: June 09, 2008   Last Updated: August 07, 2008

Rose Petal Pudding (makes 20 servings)

Being practical-minded, I love finding many uses for the plants in my garden. With that in mind, I began making rose petal pudding from the roses I grow, over 20 years ago. This simple, recipe produces a delicate, sophisticated, light pink pudding with a distinct floral taste that is a spectacular ending to a special meal.

Ingredients:
Clean, dry, chemical free petals from 24 roses (use deep reds,
pinks and orange roses for good color)
1 3/4 cups water
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons gelatin
2 cups cream
1 teaspoon rose water (found in European or
specialty grocery stores)
Pink or red roses for garnish

Make rose syrup:

1. Rinse the rose petals in a colander, allowing the water to drain into the sink.
Set aside. Bring 1 3/4 cups water to boil, add 3/4 cup sugar. Boil three
minutes, until sugar is dissolved, stirring as needed.
2. Reduce heat to medium
and add rose petals. Cook 3 - 5 minutes, until rose petals are wilted.
3. Remove from heat.
4. Cover rose syrup mixture and set to cool on the counter,
to allow rose petals to infuse into the sugar syrup.
5. When the rose syrup has changed color (the color of the rose petals will mingle with the sugar
syrup, becoming dark red, which takes about an hour), strain the syrup into a
medium bowl, pressing down on rose petals with a wooden spoon to express as
much moisture as possible.
6. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons gelatin, stirring until gelatin is completely dissolved.
7. Chill rose syrup in the refrigerator until the gelatin just begins to set.
Check the syrup every 15 - 20 minutes.

Make rose petal pudding:

1. Beat 2 cups heavy cream to soft peaks in chilled bowl of
an electric stand mixer.
2. Remove partially set rose syrup from refrigerator. Stir in rose water.
3. Gradually add rose syrup to whipped cream, beating the cream as you drizzle the rose syrup into the cream.
4. Scrape into a serving bowl. Place in refrigerator for 2 or more hours, until set.
5. Garnish with pink or red roses and serve.

Using the petals from my beautiful rose plants helps me to share more of my garden with my friends. This
delicate pudding is also yet another practical use for a common garden plant.
Next time your roses are blooming, whip up a batch of rose petal pudding. It'll
be a hit at your summer garden parties.

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