Cake Yazdi

Cake Yazdi is the regional pastry of Yazd. Yazd is known for it's various pastries. It is similar but not equivalent to cupcakes. Their flavor comes from the rose water and cardamom that is added. It is normally served with tea or coffee.

Iran was the first country to harvest rose petals and extract it juices through distillation to make rose water around 2,500 years ago. In almost all Persian pastries, rose water is added for flavor and that is what makes these pastries so unique.

Recipe:

Flour - 2 cups

Sugar - 1 cup

Butter - 150 g

Eggs - 4

Milk - 1 cup (150g)

Vanilla - 1/2 tsp

Baking Soda - 1 tsp

Baking Powder - 1/2 tsp

Rose Water - desired amount

Pistachios (chopped) and Cardamom (ground) - for design

*yogurt can be used instead of milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1) Beat sugar and eggs until smooth

2) Place in bowl filled with warm water, leave until the mixture dissolves

3) Take bowl out of water and beat until sugar dissolves and mixture is cool

4) Add flour to the mixture and beat until incorporated

5) In a separate bowl, mix the baking soda, baking powder, vanilla, milk and rose water.

6) Add to original mixture and beat until incorporated.

7) In another separate bowl, beat butter until soft.

8) Add butter to mixture and mix

9) Pour batter into muffin tin or into cupcake baking cups

10) Chop up some pistachios and grind some cardamom - use these to design the cakes.

11) Place in oven for 45 minutes or until the tops begin to brown.