Persian Love Cake | Desi~licious RD

Traditional Persian love cake — a lovers’ dream. The fusion of rose scent and cardamom creates an irresistibly fragrant cake that’s perfect for any occasion. Super moist, fluffy and made entirely from scratch. With barely 20 minutes of prep, you get ALL the taste – minus the sweat! This is the only Persian Love Cake recipe you’ll ever need.

Let me begin by declaring that this is my favourite cake recipe! The Middle Eastern rose-cardamom scent is heavenly and makes my taste buds dance…truly. Plus, this Persian love cake recipe is simple to pull off, takes only 20 minutes of prep time and results in a delicately soft and moist cake. It’s the perfect sweet delight to mark any celebration and loved by adults and kids alike. This cake perfectly matches my Desi (South Asian) Chicken Dhansak or Basa Fish recipes and is a match made in heaven with this Falooda recipe.

What Is Persian Love Cake?

I’ve come across a few variations of the Persian love cake. Typically, the cake is flavoured with rose water, lemon, saffron, cardamom, orange blossom water and pistachios. Some recipes include flour, semolina and almond meal to create a nutty base. Once baked, you can add rose water or saffron glaze – topped with edible rose petals and crushed pistachios.

Every bite has something unique to offer. You’ll be smitten.

How to Make Persian Love Cake – Step By Step

You’ll notice there are no complicated steps in creating this Persian love cake.

Rose Cake

Here are the steps:

1. Cream the butter, sugar, eggs and yogurt for 1-2 minutes at medium speed. I use the whisk attachment on my mixer (images 1-2) to incorporate air. I have noticed that my cake is fluffier when using a whisk versus the paddle attachment.
2. Add the cardamom, vanilla, rose water and whisk for 30 seconds or so at low speed (images 3 and 4).
3. Now incorporate the flour, almond meal and baking soda and mix for 1 minute (image 5). Start at low speed and build up to medium, then high speed. Halfway through, wipe down the sides with a spatula and mix for another minute or until all the ingredients are well combined.
4. Butter and line a 6-inch cake pan with parchment paper and pour the batter (image 6). Using a spatula, flatten the top gently (image 7).
5. Send the cake in the oven (middle shelf) at 325°F for 60 minutes. Test to see if it’s done by inserting a skewer or fork – it should come out clean.
6. Once done, remove from the cake pan, and slice the top to get an even cake (image 8).

Glaze And Decoration

The steps for icing and decorating your cake are even simpler. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Combine powdered sugar, rose water and milk and mix well (images 1-2).
2. Pour gently (bit by bit) over the cake to ensure it’s completely coated with the glaze (images 3 and 4).
3. Sprinkle with dried rose petals and pistachios (optional) – images 5-6.

Top Tips For Making Persian Love Cake

• For best results, ensure that the butter and eggs are at room temperature.
• Use the whisk attachment versus the paddle to incorporate air. This helps to make the cake soft and fluffy.
• Use fresh cardamom pods and use pestle and mortar to crush. This offers so much more flavour than using store-bought powdered cardamom.
• The position of the rack in the oven is key; make sure you bake the cake on the middle/low shelf. This results in a soft and golden cake – that’s baked to perfection.
• Do not open the oven door whilst the Persian cake is baking. 
• Once cooked, remove from the cake pan immediately. Because the pan is hot, the cake will continue to cook – even though it’s out of the oven. You want to prevent it from overcooking and drying out.
• Allow the cake to cool completely before pouring the glaze.
• Store your Persian love cake in an airtight container.  It will keep at room temperature for a couple of days or longer if stored in the refrigerator.

More Baking Recipes You Might Like:

• Vegan Chocolate Cake
• Quick and Easy Blueberry Muffins
  
• Spiced Pumpkin Date Cupcakes
• Banana-Date Oatmeal Cookies

What’s your favourite dessert? I’d love to hear how you celebrate special occasions? Have you tried my Persian Love cake recipe before? Comment below!

If you try this blueberry vegan cheesecake recipe, I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment, rate it, or share a photo and hashtag with #desiliciousrd on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Can’t wait to see your photos. 

Persian Love Cake

Vegetarian

4.67 from 3 votes

Print Pin

Traditional Persian love cake — a lovers' dream. The fusion of rose scent and cardamom creates an irresistibly fragrant cake that's perfect for any occasion. Super moist, fluffy and made entirely from scratch. With barely 20 minutes of prep, you get ALL the taste - minus the sweat! This is the only Persian Love Cake recipe you'll ever need.

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time1 hr

Total Time1 hr 20 mins

Course: Dessert

Servings: 8 slices

Author: Shahzadi Devje

Ingredients

Cake

• ▢ 1/2 cup butter unsalted, room temperature
• ▢ 3/4 cup sugar granulated
• ▢ 2 eggs medium, room temperature
• ▢ 1/4 cup yogurt 3% fat, room temperature
• ▢ 1 tsp cardamom ground, from fresh pods
• ▢ 1/2 tsp vanilla extract pure
• ▢ 1 tbsp rose water
• ▢ 1 cup flour all purpose
• ▢ 1/2 cup almond meal
• ▢ 1 tsp baking powder

Glaze & Decoration

• ▢ 1 cup powdered sugar
• ▢ 1½ tbsp milk
• ▢ ½ tsp rose water

Instructions

Cake

• Preheat the oven at 325°F
• Using the whisk attachment of a stand mixer, cream the butter, sugar, eggs and yogurt for 1-2 minutes, on medium speed. You could use an electric hand whisk for this part, too.
• Add the cardamom, vanilla, rose water and whisk for 30 seconds on low speed
• Incorporate the flour, almond meal and baking powder and continue to whisk for 1 minute; start at low speed and build up to medium then high speed. Halfway through the whisking, wipe down the sides with a spatula, and continue to mix for another minute or until the ingredients are well combined
• Butter and line a 6-inch cake pan with parchment paper and pour the cake batter into the pan. Using a spatula, flatten the top
• Send the cake in the oven (middle/low shelf) at 325°F for 60 minutes. Test to see if it's done by inserting a skewer or fork - it should come out clean
• Once done, remove from the cake pan immediately to prevent further cooking. Allow the cake to cool before slicing the top to achieve a flat surface

Glaze & Decoration

• Mix together powdered sugar, rose water and milk
• Pour the glaze carefully over the cake
• Sprinkle with dried rose petals and chopped pistachios (optional)

Notes

• For best results, ensure all the ingredients are at room temperature
• Use the whisk attachment versus the paddle to incorporate air. This helps to make the cake soft and fluffy
• Use fresh cardamom pods and use pestle and mortar. This offers so much more flavor than using store-bought powdered cardamom
• The position of the rack in the oven is key; make sure you bake the cake on the middle/low shelf. This results in a soft, and golden cake - that's baked to perfection
• Do not open the oven door regularly whilst it's baking. Once is ok if you need to check
• Once cooked, remove from the cake pan immediately. Because the pan is hot, the cake will continue to cook - even though it's out of the oven. You want to prevent it from overcooking and drying out
• Allow the cake to cool completely before pouring the glaze
• Store your Persian love cake in an airtight container.  It will keep at room temperature for a couple of days, or longer if stored in the refrigerator

Nutrition Facts

Persian Love Cake

Amount Per Serving

Calories 353 Calories from Fat 144

% Daily Value*

Fat 16g25%

Saturated Fat 8g40%

Cholesterol 72mg24%

Sodium 123mg5%

Potassium 111mg3%

Carbohydrates 48g16%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 34g38%

Protein 5g10%

Vitamin A 420IU8%

Calcium 67mg7%

Iron 1.3mg7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Please note the nutritional analysis values are estimates and suggestions. This nutrition facts table does not know your life - your body, including your hunger and satiety cues, change daily. It's okay to eat more or less. Say no to food guilt and instead embrace mindful eating.

Shahzadi Devje

Shahzadi is an award-winning registered dietitian (RD) regulated by the College of Dietitians of Ontario and certified diabetes educator (CDE), approved by the Canadian Diabetes Educator Certification Board. A YouTuber and notorious foodie, she’s dedicated to helping you end your cooking wars, transform your health, and be the best version of yourself! Shahzadi is an on-air nutrition expert for CTV Your Morning and a regular contributor for Global News and other national media outlets.