Description
This Irresistible Rose Water Baklava Cake combines the rich flavors of traditional baklava with the soft, tender crumb of a spiced cake. Infused with rose water, cardamom, and orange zest, and layered with ground pistachios and almonds, this cake is soaked in a fragrant syrup for a moist, flavorful dessert that’s perfect for special occasions or anytime you want to impress with Middle Eastern-inspired flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup Plain Whole Milk Yogurt (or Greek yogurt for a denser cake)
- 2 tablespoons Rose Water (or orange blossom water)
- 1 pinch Saffron Threads (optional for flavor)
- 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter (or coconut oil for dairy-free)
- 3 large Eggs (or flax eggs for vegan option)
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups All-Purpose Flour (or gluten-free flour blend)
- 1 cup Blanched Almond Flour (or all-purpose flour)
- 1 cup Ground Pistachios (or walnuts)
- 1 tablespoon Baking Powder (check freshness)
- 1 teaspoon Finely Ground Cardamom (or ground cinnamon)
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt (to balance sweetness)
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar (reduce for less sweetness)
- 1 tablespoon Orange Zest (for bright flavor)
For Garnish and Syrup
- 1 cup Coarse Ground Pistachios, Dried Rose Petals, and/or Coconut Flakes (for garnish)
- Syrup ingredients (not specified — typically sugar, water, lemon juice, and optionally rose water or honey)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Thoroughly grease a 9 × 13-inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking and allow for easy removal.
- Mix Yogurt and Flavorings: In a mixing bowl, combine the plain whole milk yogurt, rose water, and steeped saffron threads if using, stirring gently until well blended to infuse the yogurt with floral flavors.
- Whisk Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, blanched almond flour, ground pistachios, baking powder, ground cardamom, and kosher salt to evenly distribute the leavening agent and spices.
- Cream Sugar, Zest, and Butter: In a third mixing bowl, beat the granulated sugar and orange zest together. Add the unsalted butter and cream the mixture until it becomes pale and fluffy, creating a light base for the batter.
- Add Eggs: Incorporate eggs one at a time into the creamed mixture, mixing on low speed after each addition to ensure an even, stable batter.
- Fold in Yogurt Mixture: Gently fold the yogurt mixture into the creamed mixture, being careful to keep the batter light and airy.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Gradually fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients in three additions, mixing just until smooth to avoid overworking the batter.
- Bake the Cake: Spread the batter evenly in your prepared pan. Bake for approximately 45 minutes or until the cake turns golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Prepare Syrup: While the cake bakes, combine syrup ingredients in a saucepan (usually sugar, water, lemon juice, and optionally rose water). Simmer the mixture until it reduces to a thickened syrup consistency.
- Syrup the Cake: After baking, allow the cake to cool slightly, then poke holes evenly across its surface using a skewer or fork. Brush the warm syrup generously over the cake and let it soak for 3–4 hours to absorb maximum flavor and moisture.
- Garnish and Serve: Cut the cake into squares or diamond shapes, brush the edges with any remaining syrup, and garnish with coarse ground pistachios, dried rose petals, and/or coconut flakes before serving.
Notes
- For a vegan version, substitute eggs with flax eggs and use coconut oil instead of butter.
- The syrup ingredients are not specified; a typical simple syrup with sugar, water, lemon juice, and optionally rose water or honey works best.
- Adjust sugar quantity according to your preferred level of sweetness.
- Allow ample time for the syrup to soak in to achieve the characteristic moistness of baklava-inspired desserts.
- Saffron is optional but adds a luxurious aroma and subtle flavor if used.
- Garnishing with dried rose petals adds a beautiful visual appeal and enhances the floral notes.
