Lavender Cake (Printable)

A delicate cake infused with fragrant culinary lavender and finished with a sweet lemon glaze, ideal for elegant spring and summer occasions.

# What You Need:

→ Cake

01 - 1½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 tsp baking powder
03 - ¼ tsp salt
04 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 2 tbsp culinary lavender buds, finely chopped
08 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
09 - ½ cup whole milk

→ Lavender Syrup

10 - ¼ cup water
11 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar
12 - 1 tsp culinary lavender buds

→ Lavender Lemon Glaze

13 - 1 cup powdered sugar
14 - 1½ tbsp fresh lemon juice
15 - 1 tsp culinary lavender buds, finely chopped

# Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour an 8-inch round cake pan.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
03 - Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in lavender and vanilla.
04 - Alternately add flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
05 - Pour batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
06 - While cake bakes, simmer water, sugar, and lavender in a small saucepan for 3 minutes. Strain and set aside.
07 - Let cake cool for 10 minutes. Poke small holes in cake and lightly brush with warm syrup. Cool completely.
08 - Mix powdered sugar with lemon juice and lavender until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cake and let set before slicing.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The flavor is sophisticated yet approachable, perfect for impressing guests without exhausting yourself
  • The texture is incredibly moist thanks to that optional syrup soak
  • It strikes that rare balance between elegant enough for tea time and casual enough for a Tuesday dessert
02 -
  • Culinary lavender is non-negotiable, lavender from craft stores or gardens may be treated with chemicals
  • Chopping the buds finely prevents you from biting into large concentrated bursts of floral flavor
  • The syrup step is optional but makes a noticeable difference in moisture and flavor penetration
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are crucial for proper emulsion and a tender crumb
  • Let the glaze sit for 5 minutes after whisking to let the lavender buds soften slightly

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