Victorian Rose Geranium Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter and line the bases of three 23cm cake tins. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then add the almond extract and lemon zest. Use a fork to whisk the yogurt with the eggs. With the mixer on a low speed, add the flour, ground almonds and 1/2 tsp salt to the butter and sugar, alternating with the yogurt and eggs.
• Divide the batter between the tins and bake for 35-40 mins or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool in the tins for 5 mins, then turn out onto a wire rack, remove the parchment and leave to cool.
• Beat the mascarpone to loosen it. Whip the cream until it holds its shape. Combine the cream, mascarpone and lemon juice, then carefully add the icing sugar and flower water to taste.
• Assemble the cake just before serving. Toss the berries with the caster sugar. Spread the flattest cake with half the cream, then add half the fruit. Top with a second cake, spread with the rest of the cream and top with the rest of the fruit. Finish with the last cake, sift over icing sugar, then decorate with rose geranium petals and rose geranium leaves (as long as they're small).

Steps:

• Rose Geranium Flavored Sugar: Gently wash 24 small rose-scented geranium leaves (or lemon-, mint-, apple-, or nutmeg-scented leaves) or 1 cup rose petals in water. Drain; place on paper towels and let stand, uncovered, to dry completely. In a clean 1-quart glass jar or bottle, layer the geranium leaves or rose petals with 1 cup sugar or extra-fine granulated sugar. Cover the jar or bottle tightly with a lid. Let stand at room temperature for at least 24 hours or up to 1 week to absorb oils from geranium leaves or rose petals.
• Generously butter and lightly flour a 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Arrange geranium flowers or other edible flower petals in a single layer on bottom of prepared pan; set aside. In a medium bowl, combine flour, lemon peel, and salt; set aside.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• In a very large mixing bowl, beat eggs, egg yolks, and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for about 6 minutes or until very thick and pale yellow, scraping bowl frequently.
• Gently fold one-third of the flour mixture into the egg mixture. Repeat with remaining flour mixture. Gradually pour one-third of the melted butter over batter, gently folding to combine. Repeat with the remaining butter.
• Carefully pour the batter into the prepared pan over the flowers. Bake for about 30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean and the top is a light golden brown.
• Cool cake in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Loosen side of cake from pan by running a knife around edge of cake. Invert cake onto a large serving platter and cool completely.
• To serve, lightly sprinkle top of cake with Rose Geranium Flavored Sugar. Garnish with bouquet of fresh geranium flowers, if you like. Serve with whipped cream, if you like.