Ingredients
Method
For the cake
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (gas mark 4). Line a 28 x 18 cm shallow baking dish with baking paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks with half the sugar using an electric hand whisk until thick and pale. Add the rose syrup, which will change the color and flavor of the mixture.
- Stir in the milk, then sift in the self-raising flour, baking powder, and ground cardamom. Fold gently until just combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites with the remaining sugar until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the whipped egg whites into the yolk mixture, being careful not to deflate the air.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden and springy to the touch.
For the rose milk
- In a jug, combine the evaporated milk, full-fat milk, double cream, condensed milk, rose syrup, and ground cardamom. Stir well to combine.
- Once the cake has cooled slightly, poke holes all over it using a skewer. Slowly pour most of the rose milk mixture over the cake, saving some for serving later. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
For the topping and serving
- Whip the double cream and rose syrup together until soft peaks form. Spread this whipped cream over the soaked cake.
- Top with chopped pistachios, dried rose petals, and a pinch of ground cardamom.
- Cut the cake into squares and serve with the remaining rose milk.
Notes
- The cake needs to chill for several hours, ideally overnight, to fully absorb the milk mixture.
- For best results, use full-fat milk and double cream to ensure a rich texture in both the cake and milk soak.