Persian Love Cake | Rose Water, Cardamom
Legend has it that once upon a time in Iran, a young Persian girl baked a cake scented with rose water and cardamom, hoping its perfume alone would make a Prince fall in love with her. Romantic, elegant, and perfect with tea, this cake is made to be shared and savored.
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Legend has it that once upon a time in Iran, a young Persian girl baked a cake scented with rose water and cardamom, hoping its perfume alone would make a Prince fall in love with her. I have always loved that story. Whether it’s true or simply a beautiful legend, it gives the Persian Love Cake its air of romance, mystery, and quiet magic.
Delicately fragranced with floral rose water and warm cardamom, this Persian Love Cake is a gentle celebration of love and tradition. Soft, moist, and subtly spiced, it is the kind of cake meant to be enjoyed slowly, preferably with a cup of tea, shared with someone you love. To me, it feels like a love letter in cake form, simple, elegant, and deeply comforting.
Looking for some inspiration?… For more Persian Recipes, click HERE! ; for more Ramadan Recipes, click HERE! ; for more Recipes with Pistachios, click HERE! ; for more Recipes with Rose Water, click HERE! ; for more Recipes with Cardamom, click HERE! ; for more Cake Recipes, click HERE! ; and for more Muffin Recipes, click HERE!
~Recipe made in February 2026~
Persian Love Cake | Rose Water, Cardamom
Ingredients
PERSIAN LOVE CAKE
- 3 oz (85 g) butter (Melted)
- 3 oz (85 g) olive oil
- 7.05 oz (200 g) granulated sugar
- 5 Large eggs (At Room Temperature)
- 8 oz (225 g) Greek yogurt
- 2 Tbsp (30 g) rose water
- 2 tsp (4 g) ground cardamom
- 3.35 oz (95 g) almond flour
- 3.35 oz (95 g) all-purpose flour
- 2.85 oz (80 g) semolina flour
- 2 tsp (8 g) baking powder
- 1/16 tsp (0.38 g) sea salt
- 3 Tbsp (30 g) sliced almonds
PERSIAN LOVE SYRUP
- 5.29 oz (150 g) honey
- 2.85 oz (80 g) orange juice
- 1 Tbsp (15 g) Rose Water
- 1/2 tsp (0.05 g) saffron threads
- 2 Tbsp (15 g) raw pistachios (Slivered)
- edible dried rose petals (For Garnish)
Instructions
- Line / prepare a 9-inch (22 cm) round baking dish like you would usually do, set aside. NOTE: For this recipe, I used my large round mold from bonCOOK placed on top of a medium perforated baking sheet.
- Preheat oven to 350℉/180℃.
PERSIAN LOVE CAKE PREPARATION
- Place butter in a small sauce pan and heat on low until melted. Set aside to cool down.3 oz butter
- In a mixing bowl, combine the olive oil and the cooled melted butter together. Add the granulated sugar and whisk it all together until creamy.3 oz olive oil, 7.05 oz granulated sugar
- Add the eggs and whisk until just combined.5 Large eggs
- Add the Greek yogurt and whisk until combined.8 oz Greek yogurt
- Stir in the rose water and ground cardamom.2 Tbsp rose water, 2 tsp ground cardamom
- Fold the almond flour, all purpose flour, semolina flour, baking powder and sea salt into the batter.NOTE: Do not over-mix.Pour the batter into your prepared pan. Tap the bottom of the cake pan on the kitchen counter to even out the cake batter. Scatter the almond slices on top.3.35 oz almond flour, 3.35 oz all-purpose flour, 2.85 oz semolina flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/16 tsp sea salt, 3 Tbsp sliced almonds
BAKE!
- Bake for 30 minutes at 350℉/180℃. (Every oven heats differently, monitor your cake from 25 minutes). It is ready when the toothpick inserted comes out clean or with little to no crumbs.
PERSIAN LOVE SYRUP PREPARATION
- While the cake is in the oven, make the syrup: In a small sauce pan, over medium heat, combine the honey together with orange juice and bring it to a boil.Lower the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for about 5 minutes.5.29 oz honey, 2.85 oz orange juice
- Stir in the rose water and saffron threads into the syrup. Turn off the heat and add the pistachios. Let it cool down completely.NOTE: Remember for optimal moisture is to follow the rule of opposites: pour cold syrup over a hot cake to help the cake absorb the syrup.1 Tbsp Rose Water, 1/2 tsp saffron threads, 2 Tbsp raw pistachios
ASSEMBLY
- Once your Persian Love Cake is out of the oven, using a thin wooden skewer or a sharp pointed kitchen utensil poke fine holes all over the cake.Pour the cooled-down syrup over the hot cake and let the syrup soak in for several hours or best overnight.Decorate with dried edible rose petals. Enjoy & Bon Appétit!NOTE: This cake is best enjoyed within 3 days stored at room temperature covered.edible dried rose petals
YouTube Video
Nutrition
Find it online:
Original Recipe “Persian Love Cake” by Roxana from the Blog The Delicious Crescent
La légende raconte qu’autrefois, en Iran, une jeune Persane aurait imaginé un gâteau parfumé à l’eau de rose et à la cardamome dans l’espoir que son seul parfum fasse tomber un Prince amoureux. J’ai toujours aimé cette histoire. Qu’elle soit vraie ou simplement née de l’imaginaire, elle enveloppe ce gâteau d’une aura de romantisme, de mystère et de douce magie.


Un vrai bonheur pour les papilles
Bises
Merci beaucoup c’est vraiment un voyage au pays du conte des Mille et Une Nuit. Bisous, ~Nessa
il est très tentant ton gâteau!!! bisous
Il est vraiment très parfumé, un beau voyage pour les papilles. Grosses Bises, ~Nessa
Il est magnifique ton gâteau et les couleurs lui donnent beaucoup d’élégance.
Bonne fin de journée et gros bisous
Ton message me fait si plaisir. C’est vraiment un gâteau fait avec Amour. Grosses Bises, ~Nessa