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Persian Love Cake Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 345 reviews

Persian Love Cake is a fragrant and moist cake infused with exotic flavors like rose water, saffron, and cardamom. This delightful dessert features a rich blend of almond flour, semolina, and all-purpose flour, combined with creamy yogurt and a luscious honey-orange syrup that soaks into the cake, offering a complex and romantic flavor profile perfect for special occasions or an elegant tea-time treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake Batter

  • 6 tbsp ghee (or butter, melted)
  • 6 tbsp olive oil (light)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 5 large eggs
  • 1 cup thick Greek-style yogurt (reduced fat)
  • 2 tbsp rose water
  • 2 tsp ground green cardamom
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup semolina flour (Bob’s Red Mill brand recommended)
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 3 tbsp sliced almonds

Honey Syrup

  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup orange juice
  • 2 tbsp rose water
  • 1/2 tsp ground saffron
  • 2 tbsp slivered pistachios

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the cake.
  2. Cream Ghee, Oil, and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, combine the melted ghee and olive oil. Add the sugar and whisk together until the mixture becomes creamy and smooth, which ensures even sweetness distribution.
  3. Add Eggs: Add the eggs one at a time to the creamed mixture, whisking well after each addition to create a fluffy batter.
  4. Add Yogurt: Stir in the thick Greek yogurt thoroughly, creating a light and airy texture in the batter.
  5. Incorporate Flavors: Add rose water and ground green cardamom to infuse the batter with the cake’s signature Middle Eastern floral and spice notes. Stir well to combine.
  6. Add Flours: Sift the almond flour, all-purpose flour, and semolina flour separately, then gently whisk each sifted flour into the wet mixture to avoid lumps and maintain tenderness.
  7. Add Baking Powder and Salt: Sprinkle baking powder evenly over the batter along with a pinch of salt, and incorporate thoroughly to help the cake rise and balance flavors.
  8. Prepare Pan: Grease a 10-inch springform cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
  9. Transfer Batter and Add Almonds: Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan, then tap the pan gently on the counter to even out the batter’s surface. Scatter the sliced almonds evenly on top.
  10. Bake Cake: Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the cake is golden on top and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  11. Make Honey Syrup: While the cake bakes, combine honey and orange juice in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook for about 5 minutes to thicken slightly.
  12. Add Syrup Flavorings: Remove the syrup from heat and stir in rose water and ground saffron for an aromatic touch, then add slivered pistachios to infuse texture and color.
  13. Poke Cake Holes: Once the cake is out of the oven and still warm, use a thin skewer or sharp utensil to poke fine holes all over the surface. This step allows the syrup to penetrate deeply.
  14. Pour Syrup Over Cake: Slowly pour the warm honey syrup over the warm cake, allowing it to soak in completely. For best results, let the cake absorb the syrup for several hours or overnight.
  15. Optional Decoration: Decorate the cake with fresh or dried edible rose petals and additional slivered nuts if desired. Serve with rose water cream for an exquisite finish.

Notes

  • Use high-quality, fresh ingredients such as real rose water and authentic saffron for the best aroma and flavor.
  • The cake improves in flavor and moisture after resting overnight to allow the syrup to fully absorb.
  • If semolina flour is unavailable, it can be substituted with fine cornmeal, but the texture will differ slightly.
  • This cake is best served at room temperature or slightly chilled.
  • For a dairy-free version, substitute yogurt with coconut or almond yogurt and use vegan butter or ghee alternatives.

Keywords: Persian Love Cake, rose water cake, saffron cake, cardamom, almond flour cake, Middle Eastern dessert, honey syrup cake

Find it online: https://heutigemahlzeiten.com/persian-love-cake-recipe/