I have an Australian cake sister named Jen who loves to bake cakes just as much as I do. We met while she was working at one of my favorite cafes here in Paris and our very first conversation was all about baking. We discussed buttery bundt cakes versus coconut encrusted lamingtons and the magic of melt-in-your-mouth meringue. We were destined to make sweet buttercream together.
Jen and I decided to host an afternoon tea party as the perfect excuse for a cake collaboration. We sent out invitations to a few of our favorite Parisiennes and started planning our cakey creation. We both were inspired by April Carter's White Rose Cake from her beautiful book Decorated. It had all sorts of fantastic features like ombré frosting and crystalized rose petals making it perfect for a romantic rose-infused afternoon in the city of lights.
For our version we agreed it would be fun to color the sponge itself a shade of pink for a prettier slice against the ombré buttercream. While she brushed each cake round with fragrant rose syrup I made sure our butter and sugar was whipped to perfection for the vanilla frosting. Crystallizing rose petals was my favorite part of this cake. I spent the evening before our party brushing egg whites onto dainty rose petals, then rolling them around in caster sugar. After seeing the magical effects I wanted to crystalize everything. Luckily Jen was there to reign in my extravagance and suggested we add white chocolate stuffed raspberries instead.
After all the obligatory cake snaps we sliced into it and served alongside a choice of jasmine green tea or classic English earl grey with a splash of milk and sugar. Although I think a glass of pink champagne would have been equally lovely. The cake was delicately floral and held up nicely next to the sugary vanilla buttercream. Its no secret that I adore anything Ispahan related so I really enjoyed the raspberry and rose flavor combination here. Everyone agreed that our cake collaboration was a sweet success. Jen has since moved back home to Australia but she did promise me that we would whisk together again soon. Either next to the palm fringed beaches of Sydney or the twinkling lights of Paris.
Vive La Vie en Rose!
