Easy Persian Love Cake Recipe – Quick, Delicious, and Customizable

On a sunny afternoon, I found myself mesmerized by the scent of rosewater and cardamom drifting from my grandmother’s kitchen, inspiring me to recreate Persian Love Cake. From Eminent Recipes, I’ve always loved sharing quick, easy, and family-friendly dishes that feel both comforting and special. This Persian Love Cake recipe blends tradition and simplicity, perfect for busy weeknights or celebrations, and can be customized to gluten-free, vegan, or chocolate variations your family will adore.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

If you’ve ever wanted to experience the magic of Persian desserts at home, this Persian Love Cake recipe is a must-try. Inspired by chefs like Yasmin Khan, Ottolenghi, and Nigella, this Persian Love Cake blends fragrant rosewater, ground cardamom, and almond flour into a moist, tender cake that’s perfect for celebrations or casual family gatherings. Gluten-free and vegan adaptations make it versatile, while options like chocolate Persian Love Cake or Bundt-style presentations add elegance. Quick, easy, and family-friendly, this Persian Love Cake recipe captures the authentic flavors of Persian cuisine with minimal effort, making it ideal for busy weeknights or special occasions. Whether you’re exploring the origin of Persian Love Cake, trying Nigella’s or Yasmin Khan’s Persian Love Cake recipe, or curious about dried rose petals and traditional spices, this recipe delivers a fragrant, balanced dessert that everyone will love. With its customizable toppings, from pistachios to edible flowers, Persian Love Cake is more than a dessert—it’s a centerpiece that brings warmth, beauty, and authentic Persian flavors to your table.

Ingredients for This Recipe

The ingredients in this Persian Love Cake recipe are carefully chosen to create a fragrant, moist, and flavorful dessert that showcases the authentic flavors of Persian cuisine. Almond flour forms the base, giving the cake a tender, nutty texture, while all-purpose or gluten-free flour adds structure. Ground cardamom, rosewater, and orange zest infuse the cake with the signature aromatic notes of Persian Love Cake. Eggs and yogurt provide moisture and richness, and unsalted butter (or vegan butter) enhances the softness. The glaze, made with rosewater, powdered sugar, and orange juice, adds a delicate sweetness, while dried rose petals and chopped pistachios provide visual appeal and a satisfying crunch. Gluten-free and vegan variations make this Persian Love Cake accessible to everyone, and optional adaptations like chocolate or Bundt-style cakes allow you to customize it for family-friendly or special occasions. Every ingredient contributes to a balanced, aromatic dessert that’s quick, easy, and unforgettable.

🛒 Ingredients (for one 9-inch round cake):

For the Cake:
2 cups almond flour
½ cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
1 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
1 tsp ground cardamom
½ cup unsalted butter, softened (or vegan butter)
¾ cup sugar
3 large eggs (or flax eggs for vegan version)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp rosewater
1 tsp orange zest
½ cup plain yogurt (or non-dairy yogurt for vegan)

For the Glaze & Topping:
2–3 tbsp rosewater
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsp orange juice
Dried rose petals
Chopped pistachios

How to Make This Recipe

Creating Persian Love Cake is a delightful experience that combines traditional Persian flavors with easy, family-friendly baking. The aromatic ingredients like rosewater, cardamom, and orange zest infuse the cake with a fragrant, authentic taste that makes Persian Love Cake stand out. Almond flour and eggs give the cake a moist, tender crumb, while yogurt and butter ensure richness. Gluten-free Persian Love Cake versions are simple to make by swapping flour, and vegan adaptations using flax eggs and non-dairy butter keep it accessible. The glaze of rosewater, powdered sugar, and orange juice enhances the delicate flavor, while dried rose petals and pistachios provide a beautiful finish. Whether you want a chocolate Persian Love Cake, a Bundt-style Persian Love Cake, or a classic Yasmin Khan Persian Love Cake recipe, these steps guide you to a perfect dessert every time. This Persian Love Cake is ideal for special occasions, celebrations, or even cozy weeknight desserts.

🛒 Steps:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) and grease a 9-inch round pan.

Step 2: In a medium bowl, combine almond flour, all-purpose or gluten-free flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cardamom.

Step 3: In a large bowl, cream softened butter (or vegan butter) and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs (or flax eggs), then mix in vanilla extract, rosewater, and orange zest.

Step 4: Gradually fold in dry ingredients alternately with yogurt (or non-dairy yogurt) until smooth.

Step 5: Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely.

Step 6: For the glaze, whisk powdered sugar, rosewater, and orange juice until smooth. Adjust consistency to drizzle over cake.

Step 7: Drizzle glaze over cooled Persian Love Cake and sprinkle with dried rose petals and chopped pistachios. Serve and enjoy.

Expert Cooking Tips

The secret to a perfect Persian Love Cake lies in understanding the ingredients and how they interact. Almond flour gives the cake a tender, moist texture, while all-purpose or gluten-free flour provides structure. Rosewater and orange zest infuse the cake with the signature aromatic flavors of Persian Love Cake. Eggs and yogurt add richness and moisture, and butter (or vegan butter) enhances softness. Using dried rose petals and chopped pistachios as toppings adds both texture and visual appeal. For gluten-free Persian Love Cake, swapping flour types works beautifully, and vegan Persian Love Cake can be made with flax eggs and non-dairy yogurt. Whether you are making a Bundt-style Persian Love Cake, a chocolate Persian Love Cake, or following a Yasmin Khan Persian Love Cake recipe, these expert tips ensure your dessert turns out fragrant, moist, and flavorful every time. Perfect for special occasions, celebrations, or cozy family nights, Persian Love Cake delivers authentic Persian flavors with ease.

💡 Expert Tips:

Ensure almond flour is finely ground for a smooth Persian Love Cake texture

Room temperature eggs and butter help create a tender, moist Persian Love Cake

Use fresh rosewater and high-quality cardamom to intensify the authentic Persian Love Cake flavor

For gluten-free Persian Love Cake, replace all-purpose flour with additional almond flour or a gluten-free blend

Vegan Persian Love Cake works well with flax eggs and non-dairy yogurt without losing richness

Allow Persian Love Cake to cool completely before glazing to prevent a runny finish

For a Bundt-style Persian Love Cake, grease and flour the pan thoroughly for easy release

Optional: Add chocolate chips or cocoa to create a chocolate Persian Love Cake variation

Top with dried rose petals and chopped pistachios to make your Persian Love Cake visually stunning

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Persian Love Cake is more than just a dessert—it’s a celebration of authentic Persian flavors, from fragrant rosewater and cardamom to tender almond flour and zesty orange. Whether you follow Yasmin Khan’s Persian Love Cake recipe, try Nigella or Ottolenghi’s versions, or experiment with gluten-free, vegan, chocolate, or Bundt-style Persian Love Cake, this recipe delivers a moist, aromatic, and visually stunning cake. Perfect for special occasions, family gatherings, or cozy weeknight treats, Persian Love Cake brings warmth, elegance, and tradition to your table.

Customizable and family-friendly, this Persian Love Cake is quick to prepare and adaptable to your dietary needs, making it a versatile dessert that everyone will love. Sprinkle with chopped pistachios, drizzle with rosewater glaze, or add dried rose petals for an extra touch of beauty and flavor. Trying this Persian Love Cake recipe allows you to enjoy the rich history and delicate flavors of Persian baking from the comfort of your kitchen.

Persian Love Cake

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• Author: Savannah
• Total Time: ~1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 8–10 servings 1x
• Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

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Description

A fragrant and moist almond cake infused with rosewater, cardamom, and orange zest, often topped with a rose petal glaze and crushed pistachios. Perfect for special occasions, Persian Love Cake blends traditional Persian flavors with a light, elegant texture. Gluten-free and vegan variations are possible, making it versatile for any celebration.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

🛒 Ingredients (for one 9-inch round cake):

For the Cake:

• 2 cups almond flour

• ½ cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)

• 1 ½ tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp baking soda

• ¼ tsp salt

• 1 tsp ground cardamom

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (or vegan butter)

• ¾ cup sugar

• 3 large eggs (or flax eggs for vegan version)

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 tsp rosewater

• 1 tsp orange zest

• ½ cup plain yogurt (or non-dairy yogurt for vegan)

For the Glaze & Topping:

• 2–3 tbsp rosewater

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 2 tbsp orange juice

• Dried rose petals

• Chopped pistachios

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Instructions

📝 Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare Cake
Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease and line a 9-inch round cake pan.

In a medium bowl, mix almond flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cardamom.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time (or flax eggs), then stir in vanilla, rosewater, and orange zest.

Gradually fold in dry ingredients alternately with yogurt until smooth.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 30–35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely.

Step 2: Make Glaze
Whisk powdered sugar, rosewater, and orange juice until smooth. Adjust consistency to drizzle-able.

Step 3: Decorate Cake
Drizzle glaze over cooled cake. Sprinkle with dried rose petals and chopped pistachios. Serve at room temperature.

Notes

• Gluten-Free Version: Use only almond flour or certified gluten-free flour.
• Vegan Version: Replace eggs with flax eggs and butter/yogurt with non-dairy alternatives.
• Make Ahead: Cake can be baked a day ahead; add glaze and toppings before serving.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30–35 minutes
• Category: Dessert / Celebration Cake
• Method: Baked / Glazed / Decorated
• Cuisine: Persian / Middle Eastern