Ingredients:
For the Cake:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (maida)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup butter (melted)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon rose essence or rose water
- 1 large egg
- A pinch of salt
For the Rose Milk Syrup:
- 1 cup full-fat milk
- 1/4 cup sugar (or as per sweetness preference)
- 1-2 teaspoons rose water or rose essence
- A few drops of pink food coloring (optional)
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Cake:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a baking pan (around 8 inches).
- In a bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, beat the egg and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add the melted butter and milk to the egg-sugar mixture and mix well.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until combined.
- Add cardamom powder (optional) and rose essence (or rose water) and mix well.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool completely before soaking it in the rose milk syrup.
2. Prepare the Rose Milk Syrup:
- In a saucepan, heat the milk and sugar, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Once the milk comes to a slight boil, reduce the heat and add the rose water or rose essence.
- You can also add a few drops of pink food coloring to give the cake a beautiful pink hue (optional).
- Allow the syrup to cool.
3. Soak the Cake:
- Once the cake is cooled, poke small holes in the cake using a fork or skewer to allow the syrup to soak in better.
- Gradually pour the rose milk syrup evenly over the cake, making sure it's fully soaked. Let it absorb for a few hours or overnight for the best flavor.
4. Garnish and Serve:
- Once the cake has absorbed the syrup, garnish it with some rose petals or crushed pistachios for extra flavor and color.
- Cut into pieces and enjoy the delicious, moist Rose Milk Cake!
It’s a perfect dessert for a festive occasion or as a refreshing treat on a warm day. Let me know if you need more details or variations for this recipe!