Dear readers, it sure has been a tough couple of months, hasn't it? We, like many of you all, have been hunkered down at home, just popping out for groceries and a little walk once in a while. It's been tough but necessary, and, now that we're getting more used to it, I'm finding that there is a space for a kind of meditation, a quiet place.
I've been baking a lot, it soothes me. This Lavender Infused White Chocolate Cake is so incredibly tasty as well as being a comforting food for times like these, a tender and rich butter cake infused with the floral fragrance of immunity boosting lavender and the soul pleasing sweet creaminess of white chocolate.
This was the first time I've baked with lavender and it's incredible! I've always known that lavender's delicate and distinctive scent was amazing, so relaxing and calming to the spirit. And we always have a bottle of lavender essential oil in our medicine cabinet, using the oil to relieve motion sickness for my little girl and to relieve itchiness from bug bites and eczema. And now I find that by eating phytonutrient containing lavender we can also boost our immunity! Lavender is truly the Queen of Essential Oils!
Regarding the amount of lavender to be used in the cake, for a hint of lavender start with 2 tsps. We used up to 2 tbsp of lavender in our cake because we really liked how the lavender infused the whole cake. The preference is up to you.
Tip: Be sure to buy food grade lavender.
Okay, confession time...the first thing that drew me to this recipe is that it is made with white chocolate, which is a particular favorite for my hubby. Well, me too. That luscious creaminess is just so sexy! Add that sexiness to the tender comfort of a butter cake and wow!
Dry is mixed into wet. Remember to mix it just enough and no more to keep the cake as tender as possible.
It's an easy and quick cake to whip up and then it's time for the oven. The only difference with a ordinary butter cake is needing to crush with flowers and melt the chocolate. And the last secret touch is a bit of ground almond which adds just a touch of nuttiness to the cake. (Tip: ground almonds is just regular almonds pulverized in your handy food chopper or you can also buy it premade labeled as almond flour or almond meal.)
I think that the best way to describe this cake is...simply gorgeous. Creamy buttery cake incredibly, amazingly infused to the last tender crumb with the heavenly fragrance of lavender. A slice of this cake with a cuppa of hot tea is comfort itself plus you'll receive all the health benefits of lavender.
Stay home and stay safe everyone!
Lavender Infused White Chocolate Cake
(adapted from recipe in Chocolate ) (makes 1 loaf cake)
Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 35 mins
(adapted from recipe in Chocolate ) (makes 1 loaf cake)
Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 35 mins
Ingredients:
- 5 oz white chocolate, 150g
- 2 tsp to 2 tbsp dried lavender (to your preference)
- 2 tbsp sugar, 25g
- 1 stick unsalted butter, softened, 113g
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup self raising flour, 125g
- 5 tbsp ground almonds, 35g
- 1 tbsp icing sugar
Roughly chop the chocolate , then melt the chocolate in a double boiler (also known as a bain marie.)
Crush the lavender lightly with pestle and mortar.
Beat lavender, butter and sugar in food mixer til smooth. Add eggs and mix in. Stir in the chocolate until completely incorporated. Add flour and almonds into bowl and fold in until just mixed and no more.
Scoop mixture into the pan. Bake for 35-40 mins or until golden brown and a knife stuck in comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Once cooled dust with icing sugar. Enjoy!
Comforting Home Bakes at The Hong Kong Cookery:
That looks so amazingly yummy! I bet it's smelling divine too! Thanks for the virtual treat! Now, I need an oven in my kitchen!
ReplyDeleteHi Dino and Family: It does smell pretty good...and get a oven already, you won't regret it!😜
DeleteI don't have self-rising flour, can I use all purpose flour?
ReplyDeleteHey veronica - yes you can sub with 1 cup APF, 1/2 tsp salt and 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, stir together and you've got homemade self raising flour. ~ellen
DeleteHi Ellen, what size baking cup do you use in your recipes? Would it be the US cup at 240 ml?
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm using the international metric cup size, 250ml. ~ellen
ReplyDelete