Persian Love Cake
Persian love cake is a fragrant, moist and beautiful cake that will make you fall in love with the wonderful flavors of cardamom, saffron and rose water.
Ingredients
Cake:
- ½ cup almond flour - 48 grams
- ¾ cup all purpose flour - 90 grams
- ¼ tsp ground cardamom
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 1¼ tsp baking powder
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature - 56 grams
- ½ cup granulated sugar - 100 grams
- zest of 1 lemon
- 2 large eggs - at room temperature
- 1½ tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp rose water
- ½ tbsp brewed saffron (see notes)
- ½ cup plain yogurt (whole milk), at room temperature - 113 grams
Glaze:
- 1 cup confectioner's sugar - 120 grams
- ½ tsp rose water
- ¼ tsp orange extract - optional
- 4-6 tbsp heavy cream or milk
Garnish:
- Pistachio, roughly chopped
- Edible dried rose petals
Instructions
Make the Cake (6-inch):
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease and line a 6-inch cake pan.
- Whisk almond flour, all purpose flour, cardamom, salt and baking powder together in a bowl. Set aside.
- Add butter and sugar in a mixing bowl. With the paddle attachment, start beating on medium for about 2-3 minutes (scrape the bowl with a spatula half way through) until light and fluffy.
- Add the lemon zest and mix until combined.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition (about 30 seconds). Scrape the sides of bowl to make sure everything is combined.
- With the mixer running, slowly drizzle oil. Then add in rosewater, brewed saffron and yogurt. Mix until combined.
- Add in the dry ingredients and mix on low or fold with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven for about 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean and the top of the cake is lightly brown.
- Let the cake cool down completely.
Make the Glaze:
- Whisk confectioner's sugar, cream (or milk), rose water and orange extract (if using) together in a bowl until smooth. Pour over the cake and garnish with pistachios and rose petals.
Notes
How to brew saffron:
Add about 1/8 tsp of saffron in a mortar and ground it. Then add half a tablespoon of boiling water to it and let it sit for 15 minutes until it turns to a beautiful deep yellow/orange color.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!