This recipe is for easy-to-make, absolutely aromatic, and delicious Yazdi cakes. Eating these tiny cakes will bring back sweet memories of childhood and distant lands. The flavors are so Persian and include delightful cardamom and light rosewater essence. My modern twist is to top Yazdi cakes with a luscious buttercream frosting infused with saffron. Make this simple cupcake recipe and experience a taste of pure Persian heaven in every bite!
Yazd is a province in central Iran. It is said that these sweet cakes originally come from Yazd although you can find them all over Iran and beyond.
Can you make Yazdi cakes gluten-free?
Yes! I have made this simple recipe several times, swapping in a variety of flours, depending on the contents of the pantry and who I’m sharing them with. This recipe post is for standard white flour, however, a good 1:1 gluten-free substitute flour is also suitable.
My personal favorite gluten-free option is King Arthur Gluten-free flour. It’s easy to find in most grocery stores and available on Amazon Prime. The taste of Yazdi cakes made with gluten-free flour is almost identical with the addition of a welcome slightly powdery texture.
There are a few unique ingredients required to make an authentic tasting Yazdi mini cake. If you have access to Amazon, getting the ingredients is just a few clicks away.
Unique ingredients:
- ground cardamom
- culinary rose water
- saffron
Oven Hug is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
The steps for making Yazdi cakes are simple.
Steps:
- Beat eggs and blend in sugar, oil, and yogurt
- Whisk the dry ingredients together
- Sift the dry ingredients into the egg mixture
- Scoop into a well-oiled muffin or cupcake baking tin
- Bake and cool
- Frost or embellish
There are many options for topping Yazdi cupcakes. The tradition is to sprinkle them with either sesame seeds or green, slivered pistachios. In my modern version of Yazdi cakes, I use a saffron-infused buttercream frosting to pipe on the tops for an extra sweet, fun, and delicious option.
Topping options:
- sesame seeds
- green, slivered pistachios
- dried rose petals
- frosting
- edible gold glitter and/or edible gold luster dust
Rose petals offer a unique and beautiful garnish. Green pistachio slivers add color and compliment the Persian flavors. Edible gold glitter or gold cake dusting powder is fun to play with and elevates these homey cakes to something formal enough for the most royal of guests! Play with the topping options and choose what suits you and your occasion the best.
If you loved this recipe, be sure to check out our other aromatic Persian baking treats including the following:
Gluten-free Persian Rice Flour Cookies | Naan Berenji,
Gluten-free Persian Walnut Cookies | Naan Gherdooee
[mv_create key=”209″ thumbnail=”https://ovenhug.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Yazdi-cupcakes-with-saffron-buttercream-frosting.jpg” title=”Yazdi Cakes” type=”recipe”]
Leave a Reply