Updated 05/06/2021
I made this cake as a 9 inch round cake and frosted it with whipped cream. An easy dessert cake best for Mothers day or take along summer bbq dessert. Fleshy in season peaches will be great in here. If you don’t get raspberries where you live, try any local berries which are sweet and tart.
Orginal Post 04/21/2014
The idea of this rosewater cake came into being about three years back when I first baked a layered cake with raspberries stuffed in between the layers and covered in floral frosting. I was a novice baker, just wanted to use a newly owned oven in the apartment and experiment. If I remember correctly, I baked it for our second or third valentine’s day and it was a hit. We instantly loved this combination and it was so fascinating to see how a strong floral extract from east and tart berries from the west, from different parts of the world can compliment each other so well and create pure, delicious magic inside the oven. I did not bake it again for many years for no reasons whatsoever.
A couple of weeks back he asked for a buttery cake, while hunting down the bakery gear, I got hold of a small bottle of rosewater at the back of the pantry and this straightforward cake recipe was born.This is such an easy recipe with simple ingredients. If not berries, peaches work great here as well.
I always find the floral notes in food a bit tricky to work with because it’s difficult to decipher how much of it could be just right. And the flavors change equations inside the oven as well so just a plain tasting or sniffing the batter would not help that much. I would recommend to use a tested rose-water brand while baking this cake. Do not pick up a new brand because then you will not be figure out how much is too much or too little.In my first attempt, the rosewater got a little strong so I reduced the quantity in the second.
This cake is neither too dense or too spongy, it has a good structure, its not too sweet and I was surprised at how robust the crumb and the inside of it came out. Floral flavors make one of the most exotic and special gifts and I am pretty sure that my mom would have loved this cake over a bunch of roses only if she lived close by. The cake will travel very well if you want to bake and drive it down to your mom’s house on mother’s day. It makes a great work or school lunchbox option.
You could fold the raspberries with the batter or add on top, I just think that they look prettier on top unless you plan to frost it. Enjoy as a tea cake or frost with whipped cream or serve with a side of whipped cream, raspberry compote and some extra berries.
Rosewater Raspberry Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cup all purpose flour
- 1.25 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup plain full fat greek yogurt (or thick/hung curd)
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tbsp rosewater (or 1 tsp rose essensce)
- 1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature
- 100 gms fresh raspberries or any fruit you like tossed with 1 tbsp dry flour
- Whipped Cream for frosting
Instructions
- Line the sides and bottom of 9 inch cake pan with parchment. Preheat oven to 350F.
- In a medium bowl sift the flour, baking powder and salt.
- In stand mixer bowl or another large bowl using a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar for 2 minutes untill light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time and mix till incorporated and pale and fluffy.
- Next add the rosewater and mix again for 30 seconds.
- Once the wet ingredients are ready, add the flour mix in 3 parts alternating with milk, finishing with flour. Mix or stir on low speed until just combined.
- Fold the raspberries gently (so that they dont break).
- Transfer the batter to the cake pan. Smoothen the top.
- Bake for 30-36 minutes until a skewer comes out clean. Mine was ready at 34 minute mark. Take out of the oven and let cool in the pan 10 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and completely cool down.
- Frost with whipped cream or enjoy as it is with tea. This keep well for 3 days in a fridge. Wam up a bit if you are eating as a tea cake. For the whipped cakes, bring to room temperature before serving.
A heavenly combination! A perfect tea time treat.
Cheers,
Rosa
Rosewater and Rasperry! Really intrigued to see how this flavor combo would have turned out. What you said is so true – knowing how much rosewater to use without overpowering the cake is crucial and that will be know only through trail & error. Beautiful photography Tanvi, as always!
Siri
You will love them together Siri. Trust me. And thank you 🙂
Absolutely wonderful, with a subtle but entirely effective decoration. Absolutely gorgeous.
Thank you
beautiful!!!!!
Thank you!
I love love using rosewater and orange blossom water in cakes! Their aroma is so lovely.
Yes, suddenly a simple cake turns exotic with those floral notes.
Oh man, that’s a pretty cake!
I agree with Tanvi —–simple cake morphed into exotic. And it looks flat out intriguing!