Scented Geranium Pound Cake Recipes

SCENTED ROSE OR GERANIUM CAKE

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.

VICTORIAN ROSE GERANIUM CAKE

Steps:

• Infuse the butter for the cake: Rub 6 rose geranium leaves to release the oils. Wrap the leaves around the butter. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Infuse the sugar for the frosting: Rub 4 rose geranium leaves, then combine with 1 1/2 cups sugar in an airtight container and let stand at room temperature overnight.
• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Rub the remaining 10 to 12 leaves and arrange in the pan. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the milk, 3/4 cup water and the vanilla. Unwrap the butter and remove the leaves. Beat the butter and 1 3/4 cups sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in the egg whites, two at a time. Add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Pour the batter into the pan; bake until golden, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool 10 minutes; invert the cake onto a rack and remove the leaves.
• Make the frosting: Remove the leaves from the sugar. Put the sugar, egg whites, cream of tartar, salt and 1/3 cup cold water in a large heatproof bowl and beat with a mixer, 1 minute. Place the bowl over a pot of barely simmering water. Beat until the mixture holds stiff peaks, about 7 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the food coloring and beat until spreadable, about 2 minutes. Spread the frosting over the cake.

LEMON GERANIUM CAKE

Steps:

• Place leaves and flour in an airtight container for two hours, pressing the leaves and stirring occasionally.
• Remove leaves and arrange on the base of a greased cake tin.
• Place the rest of the ingredients into a large bowl and beat all together for two minutes, until mixture is smooth - do not over beat.
• Place batter in cake tin on top of leaves and bake at 350 degrees for twenty to twenty-five minutes or until cake begins to come away From the tin sides.
• Remove From the tin - the leaves may be removed or left on the base.
• Split the cake in half and fill with seedless jam.

ROSE-SCENTED SUGAR

Steps:

• Using a mortar and pestle, a spice grinder, or a food processor, blend together sugar, rose petals, and essential oil until mostly pulverized. Sugar can be stored in a sealed container at room temperature up to 2 weeks.