Cornish Saffron Cake
Cornish Saffron Cake is a rich, moist, and full-bodied cake made with butter, eggs, mixed peel, currants, and laced with saffron strands that are leavened with yeast. It has the texture of bread and is creamed like a cake. This crusty yet moist cake can be enjoyed with butter, clotted cream or by itself for tea or breakfast!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb King Arthur bread flour
- 4 ozs butter unsalted
- 1 tbsp saffron
- 1/2 cup water warm
- 1 oz yeast active dry
- 2 ozs caster sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3 oz mixed fruit and peel
- 2 eggs
- 4 tbsp currants
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 10"x4" loaf tin. Prepare the ingredients. Soak the saffron strands in warm water for an hour. Sift the flour with the salt. Warm the water and soak the saffron strands for an hour.
- Cut the butter and rub it into the flour with your fingertips until the flour looks like breadcrumbs. Alternatively, you can use the stand mixer attached to the dough hook for this Cornish Saffron Cake.
- Dissolve the yeast in a bowl of warm milk and let the yeast bloom for 5 minutes. Add the saffron water to the milk-yeast mixture.
- Beat the eggs and add them to the saffron-milk mixture.
- Whisk the eggs and add them to the saffron-milk mixture. Add the sugar and beat well until smooth.
- Grease a bowl and put the dough into this bowl. Cover with a damp cloth and place in a warm place. Allow the dough to rise to double in quantity for at least 90 minutes. Knock down the dough to release any large air pockets.
- Mix the dried fruit, candied peel, and currants into the dough. Knead well. Transfer the dough to the greased loaf tin. Level and smoothen the top. Prove for 20 minutes. Brush the top of the Cornish Saffron Cake with cream or whole milk. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown crust.
- Let the cake cool for 10 minutes. Slice the cake and serve hot with clotted cream or honey butter.
Video
Notes
Notes:
- There is no need to add other spices like cinnamon or nutmeg as the saffron lends itself well.
- The cake dough can be shaped into individual buns if you like.
Nutrition
Calories: 273kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 10gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 196mgPotassium: 175mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 134IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 68mgIron: 3mg
