Golden Saffron Cake Recipes

ALMOND SAFFRON CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter or spray two 8-inch round cake pans. In a small saucepan over medium heat, warm milk and add the saffron and zest. Bring to a low simmer, and remove from heat; set aside. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl; set aside.
• Using an electric mixer at medium speed, beat together 1 cup butter and almond paste until creamy, about 3 minutes. Gradually add 1 cup confectioners' sugar, and beat until fluffy, scraping down the sides. Add eggs one at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Gradually add flour mixture alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Add saffron mixture, beating just until blended.
• Pour batter into prepared cake pans, and smooth tops. Bake until tester inserted in center comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Cool 5 minutes, and remove from pans. Serve warm, dusted with confectioners' sugar, or drizzled with orange juice mixed with 2 to 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar.

SAFFRON CAKES

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine yeast and granulated sugar and stir in 1 1/4 cups lukewarm water. Let mixture stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. In another small bowl combine boiling water and saffron.
• Into a bowl sift 1 1/2 cups flour and stir in yeast mixture and powdered milk, stirring to make a batter. Let batter rise, covered with plastic wrap, in a warm place 30 minutes.
• In bowl of a standing electric mixer stir together remaining 4 cups flour, superfine sugar, and salt and blend in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add batter, saffron mixture, and remaining 3/4 cup lukewarm water and with paddle attachment beat on low speed until smooth, soft, and sticky. Let dough rise, covered with plastic wrap, in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. and butter eighteen 1/2-cup muffin tins.
• Punch down dough and beat with paddle attachment on low speed 5 minutes. Add orange peel, raisins, and currants and beat until combined well. With a 1/4-cup measure scoop dough into muffin tins and let rise, covered with buttered wax paper and kitchen towels, in a warm place until dough is level with tops of tins, about 30 minutes.
• Bake cakes in middle of oven 20 minutes, or until golden, and cool on racks. Cakes may be made 1 day ahead and cooled before keeping in airtight containers.

GOLDEN SAFFRON CAKE

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Finely crush saffron and add to butter.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Stir in vanilla. Sift dry ingredients and add to butter mixture alternately with milk.
• Pour batter into two greased and floured 8 inch cake pans.
• Bake at 375 for 25 minutes.
• Remove from pans and cool before frosting.