Strawberry Roses

Perhaps you've seen this photo floating around the internet of strawberry "roses":

Aren't they beautiful? Like something Martha Stewart could do in 10 seconds and probably impossible to do yourself? Well, I decided to challenge myself and let you know the reality behind the photo. And believe it or not, you can totally make these!


Quite simply, you'll need:

1. Lollipop sticks
2. Strawberries (if you want to make 5, buy a pack of 25)
3. A really sharp, small knife

The first thing I recommend is getting your strawberries cold. Think back-of-the-fridge cold. The closer to room temperature, the easier it is for them to become mushy and therefore, impossible to cut.

Once they're practically frozen, use your knife to cut a small hole near the stem. This will make it easier for you to poke the lollipop stick through.

Start by making four small slits around the base of the strawberry. Gently pull them away from the center so as to replicate petals.

Now you can either cut directly behind those petals to get a layered look...

But I recommend cutting in between the spaces and slightly bending the tips so they take on more of a petal-shape.

If you're lucky, you'll cut perfect "roses" with every strawberry. If you're not Martha Stewart, you'll probably make 1 good strawberry rose for every 5 attempts (so it's best to start this project hungry, since you can eat your mistakes!). Two things you should try to avoid include:

#1. Cutting too close to the base and therefore, having the petals fall off.

#2. Pushing the lollipop stick all the way through the strawberry OR cutting too close to it.

With enough practice, your strawberry roses will look good enough to smell and admire. Be patient, have a steady hand, and remember to keep them cold to keep their shape and not get mushy!

TOTAL COSTS: About $5 for a "bouquet" (depending on how many you eat)
$2.99/lb. of strawberries at Vons
$1.99 for Wilton lollipop sticks at Michaels

TOTAL AMOUNT OF TIME: Depends on how many you make
It only take a couple minutes to make one but if you rush it, you'll ruin it so take your time!

EASY-PEASY SCALE (1 super easy - 5 very difficult): 4 out of 5
It wasn't as hard as I had anticipated but as I said, only 1 out of every 5 came out well.