• yield Makes two 9-by-4 1/2-by-2 3/4-inch cakes

Ingredients

  • 12 to 16 unsprayed scented geranium leaves, wiped clean

  • 1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

  • 1 pound sugar

  • 1 pound all-purpose flour

  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

  • 1 pound large eggs, separated

  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

  • Vegetable-oil cooking spray

Directions

  1. Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 325 degrees with rack in center. Spray two 9-by-4 1/2-by-2 3/4-inch loaf pans with cooking spray; line with parchment. Arrange geranium leaves, with tops facing down, along bottom and around sides of pan. Set aside.

  2. Step 2

    In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Sift together flour and baking powder. With the mixer set on low, add yolks one at a time to butter-and-sugar mixture, alternating with flour mixture.

  3. Step 3

    With the mixer set on medium speed, beat in vanilla, then cream. Batter will be thick. Transfer batter to a large mixing bowl. Set aside.

  4. Step 4

    Place egg whites in a medium nonreactive bowl and, with an electric hand mixer, whip egg whites to stiff peaks. Using a rubber spatula, stir about one-quarter of the egg whites into batter to lighten. Fold in remaining whites.

  5. Step 5

    Carefully spoon batter into prepared pans. (Additional leaves may be arranged on top of batter if desired.) Run a knife blade through batter a few times to remove air bubbles. Bake until a cake tester comes out clean, 80 to 90 minutes. Let cool on wire rack, 1 to 1 1/2 hours, then remove from pans.

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