This Italian Rose Cake, a rich brioche-like cake hailing from Northern Italy’s Lombardy region, is a testament to the art of baking. Much more than the sum of its parts, this cake is a wonderful combination of simple ingredients: flour, butter, sugar, eggs, milk, and yeast. The butter and sugar in the filling create a unique caramel-like flavor. Flavored with citrus zest and vanilla, it’s comforting and cozy. Its shape is designed to resemble a bouquet of roses, making it the perfect bake for Mother’s Day or any celebration. And it’s surprisingly easy to make at home.
The recipe calls for 00 flour, a finely ground Italian flour, though all-purpose flour can be used if you have trouble finding it. This amazingly delicious cake takes a bit of planning (a 5-hour rise), but one bite and you will forget the extra time it takes. Enjoy this cake slightly warm or at room temperature.
To make the Italian Rose Cake, you will need the following ingredients:
In a small bowl, mix together ¾ cup and 1 ½ tablespoons milk with ½ tablespoon granulated sugar. Sprinkle 1 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast on top and let sit for 10 minutes. Then mix to combine.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, add 4 cups and 1-2 tablespoons flour, 1 tablespoon zest, remaining sugar, ¾ teaspoon salt, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and yeast mixture. Knead on low speed to combine, then increase the speed and knead for 7 minutes.
Add ⅓ cup and 2 tablespoons softened butter and mix again for 10-15 minutes until the dough stops sticking to the sides of the bowl and is smooth and elastic. The dough will be soft and tacky to the touch.
Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl. Cover and let the dough rise at room temperature for 2 hours until doubled in size. Alternatively, let the dough rise slowly in the fridge overnight.
In a medium bowl, beat together ½ cup softened butter and ½ cup + 1 ½ tablespoons granulated sugar until creamy, about 2 minutes.
On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a rectangle, about 20×24 inches.
Spread the prepared butter filling evenly over the dough.
Roll the dough up lengthwise, then cover with a tea towel, and refrigerate for 1 hour. This step will make the dough easier to cut and handle.
Grease and flour a 9-inch springform pan and a 9-inch loaf pan. Alternatively, line with parchment paper.
Cut the dough into 11 slices. Place 7 slices in the springform pan cut-side up and the remaining 4 slices in the loaf pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
Preheat the oven to 350 ℉.
Bake until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 190-200 ℉.
Just before serving, dust the cake with powdered sugar and serve warm or at room temperature.
Bring Italy to your home with this Italian Rose Cake! It is rich in flavor and makes the perfect bake for Mother’s Day or any special occasion. If you give this recipe a go, remember to tag us @cookmerecipes on Instagram – we love seeing your creations!
So very good!
Superb. I made this Italian Rose Cake for my husband's birthday and it turned out beautiful. The dough was simple to work with, and the aroma of the baking cake filled our home with warmth. Everyone at the party loved it, and it felt special to share such a lovely treat.
Excepcional y muy sabroso, gracias.
So easy make. I baked this for my wife's birthday, and it was a hit. Everyone loved the flavor. The aroma filled our home, creating the perfect atmosphere for celebrating together. Definitely a recipe I will repeat.
Absolutely love it!
I was nervous at first, but making the Italian Rose Cake was a joy! My kids helped shape it like roses, and it turned out beautifully. A fantastic treat for Mother's Day that everyone loved.
Delicious! This cake captured my heart & taste buds. Made it for a friend’s birthday, and everyone loved it! I'll be baking it again soon!
Superb and easy!
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