Traditionally, gold is considered an adornment to be admired; not eaten. However, there has recently been a resurgence in opulent indulgence with edible gold now back in fashion. Most notably paired with desserts and chocolate, adding this non-toxic metal to your deserts is on trend.
Edible gold typically costs about $145 USD per gram, which is actually far more expensive than most jewelry-grade gold. The usage of edible gold has varied over the years. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, gold on desserts was haute with an opulent edge. Today, chefs are skewing toward a more refined perspective.
Still, there are outspoken examples of edible extravagance today:
The Most Expensive Cupcake ($1,007 USD)
This classic cupcake features all of the traditional ingredients you’d expect, with exception to the edible gold sheet. Sold at Bloomsbury’s to the mega-rich in Dubai, the Golden Phoenix Cupcake consists of Italian cocoa, Ugandan vanilla beans and 23-karat gold.
The Most Expensive Doughnut ($1,682 USD)
Krispy Kreme debuted this dessert at their Selfridges, Oxford Street store. It features 500-year-old Courvoisier de L’Esprit Cognac draped over a swirly madness of raspberry and passion fruit syrup topped with 2002 Dom Perignon. Of course, it also includes an edible 24-karat gold leaf with handmade gold-dusted Belgian white chocolate “diamonds”.
The Most Expensive Ice Cream ($25,000 USD)
The Frrrozen [sic] Haute Chocolate ice cream sundae uses 28 types of cocoa and includes an 18-karat gold bracelet with 1-carat of white diamonds that comes with it. It’s made with Italian truffles, Iranian saffron and edible 23-karat gold flakes and sells for $817 a scoop.
The Most Expensive Pudding ($34,000 USD)
Created by The Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel in Windermere, Cumbria, this chocolate pudding includes 2-carat white diamonds in the recipe, along with gold leaf adornment.
Enjoy these lavish desserts slowly, relishing each and every bite that very few will ever take.
