There are fresh-flower people and there are edible bouquet people, and then there are those of us who’d happily accept either treat (and might be hard-pressed to decide between the two). This super-easy DIY, inspired by the increasingly popular dried-flower trend, delivers the best of both worlds—in a presentation that’s perfect for Mother’s Day gift-giving.
All you need are a dozen or so store-bought macarons, a stash of lollipop sticks, and edible wafer paper printed with pansies (or whatever comparable bloom the recipient prefers), plus a few other incidental ingredients. Arranged with real greenery in a pretty planter, these pansy pops make a charming substitute for fresh flowers, and earn bonus points for cleverness and creativity.
Ready to get making? Read on.

You will need:
- 10–12 store-bought macarons
- 4 oz. melted candy wafers
- 10–12 ten-inch lollipop sticks
- 10–12 edible wafer-paper pansies
- Corn syrup
- Small art brush
- Small planter with plastic liner
- Floral foam
- Cellophane tape
- Nontoxic greenery and herbs, rinsed and air-dried
- Decorative stones, rinsed with hot water and air-dried

Step 1: Use a small knife to separate the two halves of the sandwiched macaron shells. Do this carefully, because macaron shells are fragile.


Step 2: If the macaron filling is soft, press a lollipop stick flat into its center. If the filling is too firm and resists the stick, place a small spoonful of melted candy wafers on top of the filling. Press the lollipop stick into the melted candy and give it a half-turn. Top with the remaining macaron shell.

Step 3: Place the macaron pops on a baking sheet and allow them to stand at room temperature until set, about 10 minutes.

Step 4: When the macarons have hardened in place, dip the art brush into the corn syrup and dab a small amount of syrup onto one side of a macaron pop.

Step 5: Place an edible wafer-paper pansy on top of the macaron, centering it over the dot of corn syrup. Hold the edible flower in position using gentle pressure for one minute. Place on the baking sheet to dry.

Step 6: Repeat with remaining macarons and flowers.

Step 7: Gather the flower pops, planter, foam, cellophane tape, herbs, and stones.

Step 8: Cut blocks of floral foam to fit a lined planter and position them inside.

Step 9: If you’ve chosen paper lollipop sticks, seal the bottom half of each one with cellophane tape to make the sticks waterproof.

Step 10: Insert the macaron pops into the floral foam, arranging them as desired.

Step 11: Insert greenery and herbs into the foam around the pops. If you’re using fresh cuttings, add water to the floral foam to keep the herbs and greenery alive and perky-looking until it’s time to present the arrangement.

Step 12: Add decorative pebbles to cover any exposed floral foam.


Step 13: If you’re making the bouquet in advance, cover each macaron pop with a cellophane wrapper and tie with pretty ribbon to keep the cookies fresh.
All photographs by Heather Baird.
35 comments
DeUno from DeUno said 3 years ago
Such a good idea! Lovely present for mum! Thank you for sharing!
TropicalGarden from TropicalGarden said 3 years ago
So lovely! Thanks for sharing:)
Kashuen Collectibles from Kashuen said 3 years ago
I would love to receive something like that. Thanks for sharing.
Tony Lee from TAleatherworks said 3 years ago
Wow, I have to say it is an awesome idea!!!
Georgia from JewelMeShop said 3 years ago
Thanks for sharing this awesome idea!
Tim and Brigita Cornwell from jacobswoodentoys said 3 years ago
Very pretty! Thanks for sharing.
R.M Garrett from ArtisticAcrylics said 3 years ago
This is a very cute and imaginative DIY gift idea! Thank you for sharing!!
adoreneko from AdoreNeko said 3 years ago
These will be fun to make with mini cookie sandwiches. Going to try this out with shorter sticks too. Thanks so much for the inspiration and instructions!
Gilda delos Santos from Didingcrafts said 3 years ago
Beautiful gift idea . . . thanks for sharing. . . I'll try this on Mother's day. . .
Nicole from KarmaCodeOne said 3 years ago
PreTTy darn Cute !
Sujata from TreasuredMemoryLane said 3 years ago
What a beautiful, fun and creative idea! Thank you for sharing.
unflappableproducts from unflappableproducts said 3 years ago
Who would have thought! So clever and beautiful!
Lukasz Janski from JakMilo said 3 years ago
Such a fun ❤️ I love it :-)
Renee from RandMhandmade said 3 years ago
Beautiful...thank you for sharing!!
renee and gerardo from GTDesigns said 3 years ago
Pretty meets delicious meets nature meets Mom! Fabulous creation!!! TFS!!
One Stop Steampunk Shoppe from OneStopSteamShoppe said 3 years ago
Very creative! : )
Sonja from LapCatYarnCo said 3 years ago
So pretty! I love this!
Alessandra from mapano said 3 years ago
Lovely idea beautifully described!
Flair Nouri from FlairPaintings said 3 years ago
Very nice and creative!!!
Barbara Gable from CrazyLovely said 3 years ago
My mom would looove this!
Jennifer Tyson from LadyInPurpleBoutique said 3 years ago
What a neat idea! I think my aunts would love these. Thanks so much for sharing!
elle and belle Forster from elleandbellejewelry said 3 years ago
So cute, Heather! Great idea!
ClassicMemories from ClassicMemories said 3 years ago
Very cute.
foofoogal54 from GracefulVtgClothing said 3 years ago
How cute are those. Happy Mothers Day to all the Moms out there in Etsyland!
Ana-Luisa de Cavilla Scrutton from RunningHareArtDesign said 3 years ago
Wonderfully creative, and user friendly instructions..love the pansies... Happy making to all www.runninghare.gb.com
Rachel Bingaman from BingArt said 3 years ago
What a lovely gift idea! Thanks for sharing!
Katrina Dzerkale from Dominna said 3 years ago
This is so clever and adorable !
Shelly Livengood said 3 years ago
What an awesome present. Would love one
emaxtees from EmaxTees said 3 years ago
Your idea is amazing!!!
Svetlana Nosacheva from Svetolia said 3 years ago
Wow! Great idea! Very beautiful!
Svetlana Nosacheva from Svetolia said 3 years ago
Miracles in the sieve! Full fly away! Just awesome!
Cristiane Lell from CrissysCraftyCandies said 3 years ago
Adorable and delicious ideia,thanks for sharing 😉😉😉😉😉
Bobbie from nowvintage said 350 days ago
Wonderful!!
Kimberly Nolen from wingsofhopecrafts said 344 days ago
So cute, great gift for Mother's Day.
Joanne Dohr from Dogdohr said 341 days ago
Great idea, I'd use edible stones!