Rose Geranium Raspberry Liqueur Recipes

VICTORIAN ROSE GERANIUM CAKE

Steps:

• Infuse the butter for the cake: Rub 6 rose geranium leaves to release the oils. Wrap the leaves around the butter. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Infuse the sugar for the frosting: Rub 4 rose geranium leaves, then combine with 1 1/2 cups sugar in an airtight container and let stand at room temperature overnight.
• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Rub the remaining 10 to 12 leaves and arrange in the pan. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the milk, 3/4 cup water and the vanilla. Unwrap the butter and remove the leaves. Beat the butter and 1 3/4 cups sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in the egg whites, two at a time. Add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Pour the batter into the pan; bake until golden, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool 10 minutes; invert the cake onto a rack and remove the leaves.
• Make the frosting: Remove the leaves from the sugar. Put the sugar, egg whites, cream of tartar, salt and 1/3 cup cold water in a large heatproof bowl and beat with a mixer, 1 minute. Place the bowl over a pot of barely simmering water. Beat until the mixture holds stiff peaks, about 7 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the food coloring and beat until spreadable, about 2 minutes. Spread the frosting over the cake.

HOMEMADE RASPBERRY LIQUEUR RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Split the raspberries equally between two quart-sized jars. Add 1/2 cup of sugar to each. Shake to coat the berries and allow to macerate for 30 minutes.
• Pour half the vodka into each jar (about 1 1/2 cups per jar). Seal and shake well to dissolve the sugar. Check every 30 minutes and shake again until you're sure the sugar is completely dissolved.
• Store the jars in a cool, dark place for two weeks, shaking every day or two.
• Using a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth, strain the raspberries from the liqueur. To remove more sediment, empty and rinse the cheesecloth and strain two or three more times.
• Funnel the raspberry liqueur into two 16-ounce (or four 8-ounce) bottles. Seal and store with other liquors in a cool place out of direct sunlight.

RASPBERRY LIQUEUR

Steps:

• Macerate the raspberries: In a large nonreactive bowl, mash the raspberries and sugar together. I like to use a potato masher for this, but a large fork will also get the job done. Let the mixture sit on the counter for an hour loosely covered with a tea towel. The sugar will dissolve.
• Add the remaining ingredients: Stir in the vodka and carefully transfer the mixture into an airtight container that can be shaken, like a large, lidded mason jar or screw-top liquor bottle. If using, cut the vanilla bean pod in half lengthwise, and add it to the mixture. Seal the jar tightly and store it in a cool, dark place. Steep the raspberry mixture: Every two to three days, gently shake the jar to stir the mixture, which should steep for a total of four weeks.
• Strain the liqueur: After four weeks, strain the mixture. Set a fine mesh strainer lined with several layers of cheesecloth or use a nut milk bag set over a non-reactive bowl or large measuring cup. Pour the mixture through the cheese cloth or milk bag. You may need to strain it more than once, until the liqueur is clear and free of any seeds or pulp. Pour the strained liqueur into a clean airtight container, like a glass swing top bottle or mason jar.
• Serve or store the liqueur: It can be served straight away to mix in cocktails or with club soda. You can also store it in a cool, dark place for up to two weeks. It will become mellower, especially if you used a high-proof vodka.

RASPBERRY ROSE GRANITA

Steps:

• Combine the water and sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
• In a blender, purée the raspberries with the sugar solution and remaining ingredients until smooth. Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight.
• Chill a 9-by-11-inch baking dish in the freezer. Blend the purée with an immersion blender for 30 seconds and scrape into the chilled baking dish and place back in the freezer. Set the timer for 30 minutes. Using a fork, scrape the ice crystals from the outside of the baking dish toward the center. Return to the freezer and set the timer for another 30 minutes. Continue to scrape the mixture with a fork every 30 minutes until you have a uniform frozen mixture. It should not be frozen solid. If you forget to scrape and the mixture does freeze like an ice cube, cut into chunks and use a food processor fitted with the steel blade to break it up. Transfer to a container and freeze. Allow to soften for 15 minutes in the refrigerator before serving.

ROSE LIQUEUR

Steps:

• In a quart jar, add petals, 1 cup sugar, and vodka.
• Seal jar tightly, and place in a dry, dark place for about 2 weeks.
• After two weeks, strain the liquid using a double layer of cheese cloth. Gently squeeze the petals, getting as much juice as possible.
• In a fresh quart jar, add the second cup of sugar, glycerin, coloring, water to top and the strained liquid. Seal and store again in a dark place until sugar is dissolved.
• Once the sugar has all dissolved, bottle the resulting liqueur in a fresh bottle and let age for roughly 3 months.

ROSE GERANIUM SYRUP

Steps:

• Place water and sugar in a deep saucepan; stir until dissolved.
• Boil 5 minutes without stirring.
• Remove from heat, add rose geranium leaves, cover, and steep 10 minutes.
• Strain syrup into a clean pan and boil for 30 seconds.
• Remove From heat.
• Add a few drops of red coloring and pour into sterilized jars.