Baklava cake with honey mascarpone icing
<p>I have always loved the delicate flavours and textures in baklava, so was excited to incorporate these elements into a cake. The honey mascarpone icing is the perfect accompaniment. </p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Serves:</span> </strong>12</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients: </span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li>200g butter, softened</li>
<li>200g caster sugar</li>
<li>4 organic eggs</li>
<li>1 tsp vanilla extract</li>
<li>100g plain flour</li>
<li>100g ground almonds</li>
<li>100g finely chopped walnuts</li>
</ul>
<p><em>For the honey mascarpone icing</em></p>
<ul>
<li>200g mascarpone</li>
<li>½ tsp vanilla extract</li>
<li>15ml honey </li>
</ul>
<p><em>For the decorations</em></p>
<ul>
<li>20g finely chopped pistachios</li>
<li>Handful dried rose petals</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method: </span></strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Preheat the oven to 170C fan bake. Line a 22cm cake tin with baking paper.</li>
<li>In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until pale, light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, along with the vanilla. Gradually fold in the flour and ground almonds and mix until just combined. Finally fold through the finely chopped walnuts.</li>
<li>Pour the batter into the cake tin and spread out to the edges.</li>
<li>Bake for approximately 40 minutes. The cake is ready when it is golden in colour, springy to the touch, and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.</li>
<li>Allow the cake to cool for around 10 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack.</li>
<li>Meanwhile, make the honey mascarpone icing. Combine all ingredients until well incorporated and smooth.</li>
<li>Once the cake is fully cool, apply a generous layer of the icing and decorate with a scattering of pistachios and rose petals. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days.</li>
</ol>
<p><em>Written by Jordan Ronel. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_parent"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz.</span></strong></a> Image credit: Emma Boyd/Stuff.co.nz</em></p>
