Name: Victorian Rose Geranium Cake
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H50M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H30M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT1H20M0.000S
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 16 to 18 rose geranium leaves, rinsed and patted dry; 2 sticks unsalted butter, plus more for the pan; 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting; 1 tablespoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 3/4 cup whole milk; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 3/4 cups sugar; 6 large egg whites; 4 rose geranium leaves, rinsed and patted dry; 1 1/2 cups sugar; 2 large egg whites; 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar; Pinch of salt; 5 drops red food coloring

Directions

Infuse the butter for the cake: Rub 6 rose geranium leaves to release the oils. Wrap the leaves around the butter. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
Infuse the sugar for the frosting: Rub 4 rose geranium leaves, then combine with 1 1/2 cups sugar in an airtight container and let stand at room temperature overnight.
Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Rub the remaining 10 to 12 leaves and arrange in the pan. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the milk, 3/4 cup water and the vanilla. Unwrap the butter and remove the leaves. Beat the butter and 1 3/4 cups sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in the egg whites, two at a time. Add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Pour the batter into the pan; bake until golden, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool 10 minutes; invert the cake onto a rack and remove the leaves.
Make the frosting: Remove the leaves from the sugar. Put the sugar, egg whites, cream of tartar, salt and 1/3 cup cold water in a large heatproof bowl and beat with a mixer, 1 minute. Place the bowl over a pot of barely simmering water. Beat until the mixture holds stiff peaks, about 7 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the food coloring and beat until spreadable, about 2 minutes. Spread the frosting over the cake.