Growing up, Valentine’s Day was a non-event; it seemed a trivial, meaningless day fuelled by greedy company execs that mass produce measly boxed chocolates rather than individuals celebrating true love.
Recently though, I have begun to appreciate the tradition created by St. Valentine – not because I crave a box of chocolates or a single rose, rather I have just started to adore the idea. A day to celebrate love… to rejoice, acknowledge your blessings and be grateful for all the special people you have in your life. And I think we could all use a little more of this relishment in our day to day lives.
Nothing screams ‘I care for you’ more than a home-baked cake. Baking is an act of love, a joyful moment and expression of creativity. And since it’s assumed that most will be consuming chocolate for Valentine’s… I have opted in favour of something slightly different and created a simple cake that highlights the delicate flavour of rose for the upcoming day.
Crystallized White Rose Cake is adapted from my new favourite baking bible, Decorated. The cake itself is incredibly light, moist and springy – due to the high proportion of egg white in the batter. Its crumb and texture is soft whilst still feeling dense and rich at the same time, with a good balance of sweet and floral fragrance from the rose and vanilla extracts.
Crystallized White Rose Cake is beautiful. I envision it as a perfect centerpiece for your Valentine’s Day table or as a gift for your special someone. It frosts up like a dream, and will look impressive no matter how you decide to decorate it. I decorated the cake with diaphanous Colombian imported roses which I crystallized with a simple mixture of egg white and sugar.
A home-baked cake, in my opinion, will far exceed any Valentine’s gift that can be purchased and I have a feeling, your special someone will feel the same. So! Without further ado, let’s get thee to the recipe. Bonne Saint-Valentin!
- 250 g / 9 oz. unsalted butter, room temperature
- 500 g / 18 oz. caster sugar
- 2 whole eggs and 6 egg whites, lightly beaten at room temperature
- 450 g / 16 oz. plain flour
- 5 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- 360 ml / 12 fl. oz. whole milk, at room temperature
- 2 tsp. rose extract
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 560 g / 19.5 oz. unsalted butter, at room temperature / for the buttercream
- 900 g / 2 lb. icing sugar
- 225 ml / 7.5 fl. oz. double cream
- 4 tsp. rose extract
- Pink food colouring
- Pink and white crystallized rose petals for decoration
- Pre-heat the oven to 170 C / 335 F. Grease and line three 18 cm / 7 inch cake tins with baking parchment. Using a stand mixer or electric hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar in a bowl until light, pale and fluffy, roughly 4 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs to the mixture a little at a time, until well incorporated.
- Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Add half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat until just combined. Add half of the milk and the rose and vanilla extract, continuing to beat, and then add the remaining flour and milk.
- Divide the mixture evenly between the prepared cake tins. Bake in the oven for 40 – 50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool in their tins slightly before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, level any domed tops.
- While the cakes are cooling, make the rose buttercream. Using a stand mixer or electric hand mixer, beat the butter until pale and creamy, roughly 4 to 5 minutes. Add the icing sugar and cream and continue to beat until smooth. Add the rose extract to taste.
- For assembly, fix the bottom layer of cake to a stand or board with a small amount of buttercream. Spread the top with a generous amount of the buttercream, roughly 3 tablespoons. Add the second layer and repeat, and again with the final layer. Cover the cake with a thin layer of buttercream to crumb coat then chill for 30 minutes to set firm.
- Split the remaining buttercream into thirds. Dye one third deep pink, one third light pink and leave the last third white. Spread the white buttercream over the top and sides of the cake then with a clean spatula, spread the deep pink around the bottom third of the cake then spread the pale pink buttercream between the white and deep pink buttercream. Clean your spatula and smooth the cake, removing any excess buttercream as you go. Decorate with crystallised rose petals (these are easily made by lightly brushing the rose petals with egg white then sprinkling with caster sugar).
138 Comments
[…] Crystallized White Rose Cake. Just looking at it is […]
Hello.
Thanks for the beautiful recipe. One question please: when shall we add the double cream?
The cream is for the icing, as per the recipe.
This cake is just beautiful, I love the ombre buttercream and crystallized roses!
I love the idea of crystallizing roses. I will definitely have to give that technique a try. Thanks for the tip!
This is so pretty! The floral aroma is coming right through my computer screen. 🙂
This is just so gorgeous. Rose flavored cakes are my most favorite of course after cardamom. Love that delicate frosting you decked it up with!
Can I marry this? Please?
This is so beautiful I might cry
Saw this and was blown away! What a spectacular creation.
Oh my goodness…. this is so stunningly beautiful I almost wouldn’t want to eat it.
Wow. I love this! And those flowers on top along with the gradual change in icing color make this one of the most beautiful, artistic cakes I’ve seen! I’m all about a day devoted to love, too. And I LOVE this cake!
This cake is too beautiful to eat! I am so wanting this cake right now. Stunning Thalia!
No Valentine’s day celebrations for me, but this is the kind of cake that makes me want to. Absolutely lovely!
one of the most beautiful cakes i have ever seen…. i’ve fallen for it! if only my prince charming could bake 🙂
Hi Thalia, I simply love reading your posts. The photos and writing are always so inspiring as is every recipe! I see Food52 has featured you again yesterday for this post so it looks like congratulations is in order as well (and rightly so!). All the best x
Beautiful. Just, beautiful!
Absolutely stunning. I’ve never seen anything like it and your photos are gorgeous!
Omg one of the most beautiful cakes I have ever seen before, and with three layer double +, and those roses wat a beautiful touch looks like, dew on leaves on fall day, j
[…] been baked, never has there ever been one so perfectly suited for Valentine’s Day as this Crystalized White Rose Cake. Many cakes have tried to be the chosen dessert for this holiday. Some have come close, like the […]
Oh my gosh, this is simply gorgeous! And I saw it was featured on POPSUGAR, too – so awesome!
[…] Put those Valentine’s roses to good use by crystallizing them for this cake. (Butter and Brioche.) […]
[…] Put those Valentine’s roses to good use by crystallizing them for this cake. (Butter and Brioche.) […]
[…] been baked, never has there ever been one so perfectly suited for Valentine’s Day as this Crystalized White Rose Cake . Many cakes have tried to be the chosen dessert for this holiday. Some have come close, like the […]
[…] been baked, never has there ever been one so perfectly suited for Valentine’s Day as this Crystalized White Rose Cake. Many cakes have tried to be the chosen dessert for this holiday. Some have come close, like the […]
Wow this is stunning. I like the creative nontraditional dessert idea, yet it’s super romantic. I’ve never been a huge Vday sort of girl, but the thought of celebrating love (and the fascinatingly dark history) does make it the most intriguing holiday
This looks wonderful, I love your photos, so full of light. Definitely one to bookmark.
What a lovely cake! 🙂 I know what you mean, Valentines day for me growing up wasn’t so much about ‘love’ as it was about getting my hands on some discounted chocolates on Feb 15 ! haha Lovely cake though- I’m not sure what I love more…..the lovely ombre effect the frosting has, or the crystalized roses (so pretty!)
I just told you on my blog but I need to tell you again…. You are the Queen of the Cakes!!!
This cake is gorgeous Thalia!
Thalia, I couldn’t agree more. Gifting a home-baked cake to a loved one is a beautiful and thoughtful act. This cake is lovely, and I’m sure its recipient is most appreciative.
This really is gorgeous. I’ll have to make those candied roses sometime. Amazing. 🙂
WOW. I’m speechless. This is a piece of art! The icing is absolutely gorgeous and those roses?! I could easily see this at someones wedding. Beautiful job, Thalia!
Thalia, you have outdone yourself this time! I don’t know how you get such gorgeously frosted cakes with perfect layers like that, I tried making a 3-layer cake for my son’s birthday, and let’s just say that when it came time to frosting the cake…there was DRAMA!
I love the ombre frosting, and how perfectly fluffy it looks. And of course the gorgeous roses 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
This cake is so beautiful and stunning!
Thalia, this cake is absolutely breathtaking. Your photos have some to a whole new level (and I love the editing you did). Beyond that, I think this is a truly magnificent way to celebrate those we love. You are right. Nothing shows how much you love someone than a wonderful homemade cake. I’ve pinned this so many times!
I appreciate the idea of a home made and sincere expression of love. Happy Wednesday 🙂
What an absolute stunner of a cake!! Gorgeous!!!
Beautiful! Perfect way to show someone you care!
totally agree with your sentiments. it’s about love, and showing it through the food you make for the people you love. this cake is beautiful. i love the ombre, and the crystallized roses are such a romantic touch.
Beautiful cake, love how you iced it. I completely agree that baking is an act of love and much better than any box of chocolates 🙂
I love the subtle flavor of rose. This cake looks beautiful and most definitely would be perfect for celebrating a day devoted to love.
Love how you decorated your cake. Gorgeous!
I love everything about this cake! So romantic and delicate! Beautiful photographs….
I love everything about this cake! So romantic and delicate! Beautiful photographs…
This looks sooo beautiful! Perfect for Valentine’s Day! 😀
THALIA! My goodness! Your photos for this white rose cake are GORGEOUS! Actually ALL your photos are gorgeous but these ones are INCREDIBLE! Thanks so much for inspiring us with your skills and for sharing this wonderful recipe. Totally diggin’ it!!
This cake definitely says “Love”! What a beautiful cake and your photographs are gorgeous.
put fresh roses on my most recent cake and it was the BEST idea!!! doesn’t look as gorgi as this, but I say it’s close 😉
Baking is definitely an act of love and those crystallized roses are so pretty. Beautiful cake.
It is most certainly one of the more over-commercialized ‘holidays’. Homemade gifts, especially the edible variety are always so much more appealing and genuine. Lovely cake!
This cake is stunning. Absolutely stunning! Anything with roses is lovely, and I bet it tastes spectacular! Love your pics! Oh, I was wondering what app/plug-in do you use for your Instagram feed at the bottom of your site?
This cake is stunning, Thalia! And I just adore your photos. Cannot. Stop. Staring!! <3
Just gorgeous! I pinned this recipe. I’m always happy to pop over here.
I admit that I’m a little cynical about the commercial aspect of Valentine’s day. But I love your attitude about it, it makes me want to re-think my own. And this cake is gorgeous, Thalia. Gorgeous! You are one talented baker…
Looks absolutely stunning, Thalia! Wow!
That is one seriously gorgeous cake Thalia! I could so do with a slice right now.
wow, what a stunning work of art Thalia, great job!!!
yup, home baking is more than enough to show some love……
never seen or taste any crystallized rose petal before, lucky you my friend…
I’m not usually one to celebrate Valentine’s Day either…but with a cake like this, how could I NOT.
This is a lovely cake and a great way to say “you’re special”.
Gorgeous cake Thalia. I never cared about Valentines Day, unless you count my slightly crazy teenage years. I do think it’s good to celebrate love though, especially if it’s with cake… But cake is good any day of the year, no? 🙂
Looks soooo beautiful! I am not a huge fan of valentines day – but the way you talk about it makes it much nicer!
Your cakes need to be in the windows of a fancy bakery in France! These white rose on top is absolutely gorgeous!! LOVE!
This is looking totally divine Thalia.. love the colors
Wow, this cake is stunning! And the crystallised flowers top the cake of perfectly!
Jess xo
http://www.eatingwithalice.com
This cake is beautiful, perfect for Valentine’s Day or any day! I must check that baking book out, sounds like something I’m gonna like 🙂
OMG this may be the most beautiful cake I have EVER seen… too bad my bridal shower is in 2 weeks I would be ordering this from our wedding baker…hmm maybe there’s still time, I mean you DID provide all of the instructions… this is seriously gorgeous! AMAZING
I agree, Thalia, a home baked dessert for Valentine’s day is winner in my book too! delicious pictures and gorgeous looking cake, as always! thanks for sharing!
The ombre icing on your cake is visually stunning! I am so with you on chocolate being over rated for Valentines Day. Vanilla needs to be shown some more love and respect!
A lovely sentiment about Valentine’s Day. And an absolutely stunningly gorgeous cake. I cannot get over how beautiful those roses are!
This cake is SO PRETTY! I would feel very happy indeed if someone baked this for me on Valentine’s Day 😀
This cake is seriously beautiful!! I’m so impressed…. Absolutely love those roses!
So in love with everything about this cake! It’s absolutely stunning! Still trying to pick my jaw off the ground – pure perfection lady 🙂
My heart skipped a beat when I saw that 3rd image on Pinterest. Love.
Thank you my dear x
THIS CAKE!! So so so gorgeous! WAUW. I can’t stop staring..
You inspire me. <3
I never thought I could fall in love with a cake, but today I did! Absolutely stunning. I’m so happy to have found your blog. 🙂
Omg those roses though, they look SO realistic and beautiful!! Very impressive!! Pinned 🙂
I completely agree with you…baking for someone says I love you like nothing else. This cake would make anyone feel extra special — it’s stunning and I can imagine how perfectly moist and delicious it is. Gorgeous cake, Thalia! 🙂
Absolutely stunning cake! Perfection.
the prettiest cake i ever did see.
You have so much talent when it comes to baking, Thalia. This cake is simply stunning!
This is exactly how I feel about baking . . “Baking is an act of love, a joyful moment and expression of creativity.” so beautifully written and I love this cake!!! gorgeous!!!
really, really gorgeous!
Thalia, This cake is BEYOND words gorgeous! Seriously breathtaking. Is it bad I want to make this cake, but not share!? Actually it is so pretty, I’m not sure I would even want to eat it… 🙂
You really are an amazing cake decorator. This is stunning!
I love your positive take on Valentine’s Day…it really is a day to celebrate love and not get caught up in the materialism of the whole thing. I’m completely dumbfounded by this cake and am always up for springy texture! You certainly do bake with love, my dear!
This is truly stunning! I love what you do with food!
Stunning! like the rose glass from Beauty and the beast
I didn’t see it that way before.. but now I do! Thanks Belinda xo
Just stunning. And that ombre frosting! My goodness.
This is just beautiful. And I’m sure delicious too!
This is seriously one gorgeous cake, Thaila! I am pretty much freaking out over how amazing those roses look. Seriously stunning and SO perfect for V-day!
How beautiful and romantic! Love the way you incorporated roses into your lovely recipes.
Wow, Thalia! You’ve created another cake that is almost too pretty to eat but I bet it tastes even better than it looks…if that’s even possible. Pinning!
Stunning! Too pretty to eat.
WOW, Thalia! This is stunning again! An ombre cake with roses, what can I say? Absolutely genius! ♥
I love the idea of giving a rose cake for Valentine’s. It’s a stunner. Beautiful work. x
What a stunning cake.. I am not talented enough at baking to make this so I shall sit back and admire from a distance. I do however, like the idea of celebrating a day of love. Thanks for sharing x
This cake is absolutely gorgeous and is perfect for the upcoming Valentine’s Day!
This cake is truly gorgeous!
What a beautiful cake! The ombre of frosting along with ombre in the roses are soothing for the eyes to look at.
I grew up with Valentine’s Day being a ‘thing’ and now I live in Australia and my husband tells me it’s an American holiday to get people to spend money. Maybe I’ll make this cake and I’ll get a present anyway. 🙂
This is stunning…as per usual! Hope you enjoy your valentines day xx.
Gosh.. this is so pretty!! love love love the ombre icing.. and those crystallised roses.. simply beautiful!
That icing-stunning!
This is beyond gorgeous!!!! LOVE.
These are perfectly elegant looking!
What a beautiful post and a beautiful cake. Happy Valentine’s Day to you!
Such a gorgeous cake and these photos are STUNNING and makes me want to grab a slice right now!!
What a stunning cake, Thalia! I love the roses on top and pretty layers. Almost too pretty to eat…almost! 🙂
This is magnificent! I love that you, also, treasure the Valentines in your life.
What a stunning dessert!!
That cake is absolutely beautiful! What a wonderful Valentine’s gift that would be!
Thalia! I’m absolutely speechless. This cake is stunning. I would have hated to cut into it!
Absolutely stunning cake and photography!
Absolutely gorgeous, stunning cake! I love the roses…so romantic; It’s almost too beautiful to eat!
Wow, what a stunning cake. I love the gradient frosting and those crystallized roses are beautiful!
This is gorgeous! And you’re right, nothing says care more than some homemade baked goods. Love, love, love!
Thank you honey. xo
Oh my!!! This is SO so beautiful.
I wasn’t a big fan of the V day for the longest time, but I guess nowadays I don’t mind all the roses, chocolates, and beautiful cakes like this one.
Oh, sooooooooo pretty Thalia!
Irresistibly gorgeous – stunning, in fact!
Absolutely lovely!!! Almost too pretty to eat. Your photography is also beautiful.
WOW this is INSANELY gorgeous!!!!!
J’adore vos sentiments!
This cake is so beautiful
Thalia, this is beyond beautiful! So romantic 🙂
Today I discovered your blog. It’s just amazing what you are creating. Now I continue to study every single post of you. And sure I will try some recipes the next days…
This cake is so flippin gorgeous!!! Love the ombre and the roses!!! Just love it!!!
This is an absolutely stunning cake. The gradually changing frosting is wonderful!
This is SO gorgeous, Thalia! Super jelly of whoever gets to eat a piece of this!
How purty! I love the pink icing that matches the rose coloring. Absolutely stunning!
WOW….Thalia , who`s a clever girl then ? That cake looks bloody amazing. An absolute killer for me as im on a new year holiday diet but its got my name all over it.
Cheers from the UK
Alan ( cumbriafoodie )
So pretty and delicate. The cake is almost too pretty to eat Thalia!!
I adore your pictures and the roses on the cake. Simply perfection!
//Valérie
http://www.globalspicedblog.tumblr.com
So beautiful x
thank you my dear x