Food Recipes Desserts Cake Persian Love Cake 4.0 (2) 11 Reviews “This enchanting cake reminds me of a Persian garden in the late spring, adorned with the floral scent of rose water and citrus, and decorated with bright green pistachios,” says cookbook author and blogger Yasmin Khan. By Yasmin Khan Updated on August 2, 2023 Tested by Food & Wine Test Kitchen Tested by Food & Wine Test Kitchen Recipes published by Food & Wine are rigorously tested by the culinary professionals at the Dotdash Meredith Food Studios in order to empower home cooks to enjoy being in the kitchen and preparing meals they will love. Our expert culinary team tests and retests each recipe using equipment and ingredients found in home kitchens to ensure that every recipe is delicious and works for cooks at home every single time. Meet the Food & Wine Test Kitchen Rate PRINT Share Trending Videos Close this video player You can make this cake within an hour—but, with the pretty combination of pistachios, rose petals, and bright white icing on top, you’ll look like you’ve been working all day. Photo: Matt Russell Total Time: 1 hr Yield: 1 8-inch cake “If it is not devoured in one sitting, the oil in the ground almond base ensures a moist, densely textured cake that will keep well for a couple of days, covered in foil. A sprinkling of dried rose petals looks ever so pretty for special occasions, but don’t worry if you can’t get hold of any. It’s still a cake to win hearts.” Ingredients Cake 1 3/4 sticks unsalted butter 2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons superfine sugar 4 large eggs 12 cardamom pods 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, sifted 2 3/4 cups almond flour Zest of 1 lemon plus 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 1 1/2 tablespoons rose water 1 teaspoon baking powder Pinch of fine sea salt Icing 1 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice Chopped pistachios and dried rose petals (optional), for garnish Directions Make the cake Preheat the oven to 320°F and grease an 8-inch spring form pan and line it with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl and using a hand mixer, beat the butter and 2/3 cup of the sugar until fluffy. Then beat in the eggs 1 at a time until incorporated. In a mortar and using a pestle, crack the cardamom pods to release the seeds. Discard the pods and grind the seeds to a fine powder. Beat them to the cake batter, along with the flour, almond flour, lemon zest, 3 tablespoons of the lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of the rose water, baking powder and salt until smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until the cake is set and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Transfer the pan to a baking rack and let cool slightly. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1/2 tablespoon of rose water to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Poke holes all over the cake and pour the warm syrup over the cake. Let the cake cool completely, then remove from the pan and transfer to a cake platter. Make the icing Whisk the confectioners’ sugar, lemon juice and 2 teaspoons of cold water until smooth. Spoon the icing over the cake and garnish with pistachios and rose petals, if using; serve. Rate It Print