A dandelion cake recipe is a wildflower, often seen in meadows and roadsides during the warmer months. The root of this stinging plant has been traditionally used as a natural treatment for inflammation, jaundice, and digestive problems.
A dandelion cake recipe is a favorite in many parts of the world, including England, France, Germany, America, and Australia. In many countries, the stalks and roots are collected while still green to make dandelion wine or dandelion wine jelly.
In culinary applications, its leaves can be used as food wrappers or added to soup or salad, while the flowers can be made into wine and jelly. Dandelion greens can also be substituted for spinach, salads, and garnish.
Contents
How To Prepare Dandelion Cake Recipe?
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 45 minutes
Serving Size: 8 people
Equipment:
- Sifter,
- bowl,
- oven tray,
- cake tin
Ingredients :
- 150g/5oz butter
- 150g/5oz caster sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 50g/2oz soft brown sugar
- 300g/10oz self-raising flour
- 2 tbsp milk
- 4 eggs (separated)
- 240g/8. 5oz dandelion flowers
For The Icing:
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tsp boiling water
- 1-2 tbsp double cream
Instructions By Dandelion Cake Recipe:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Grease and line a 20cm/8in the round cake tin.
Step 2: Beat the butter, caster sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and flour together in a bowl. Add the milk. Beat well, fold in three egg yolks, and finally add four egg whites, beaten stiffly.
Step 3: Place the dandelion flowers in a sieve or strainer and squeeze out as much water as possible. Add the flowers to the mixture and stir through.
Step 4: Spoon the mixture into the cake tin, smoothing it over evenly. Bake for 45 minutes or until cooked through.
Step 5: To make the icing, combine the cocoa powder with boiling water using a whisk. Add in the double cream and whisk well.
Step 6: Remove the cake from the tin and put it on a wire cooling rack. Spoon the icing over the cake, allowing it to drip down the sides. Let it set before serving.
Nutrition Facts Of Dandelion Cake Recipe
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 425 |
| Protein | 11 |
| Carbohydrates | 72 |
| Fat | 13 |
| Cholesterol | 99 |
| Sodium | 260 |
| Potassium | 7.5g |
| Total Sugars | 64g |
| Fibre | 3.5g |
8 Amazing Serving Ideas For Dandelion Cake Recipe
1. Make Dandelion Soup:
Wash the roots, peel off the outer skin and cut them into small pieces or grate them finely. Pour water over them, add salt to taste, and cook for about 40 minutes or until tender. Strain the soup, add lemon juice, and you have a very good vegetable soup.
2. Make Dandelion Flower Jelly:
Pick as many of the flowers as possible and put them in a pan along with water to cover them. Add a little salt and boil, then simmer for about 20 minutes or until tender. Put through a sieve to get rid of the pips.
Strain well and store in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to six weeks. Remove before using and use as prescribed above.
3. Make Dandelion Seed Cake:
Wash and clean the seeds, crush them and add them to a bowl. Add the flour, butter, vanilla extract, and sugar. Mix well and shape into small cakes, roll in granulated sugar, or coat with icing mixture.
4. Make Dandelion Flower Tea:
Chop the leaves into small pieces (if large leaves, they need to be chopped up), then put them in a pan with water to cover them. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 5-10 minutes until tender. Strain and use as a tea.
5. Make Dandelion Milk:
Place leaves in a pan with water to cover them and simmer for 20 minutes or until tender. Strain through a sieve, then use as you would any other tea. To keep the milk for longer, put it in the fridge.
6. Make Dandelion Fruit Tea:
Wash the flowers and place them in a pan with water to cover them. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 minutes or until tender. Use either fresh or dried flowers and simmer for 10 minutes with a little sugar if using dried flowers. Strain and use as a tea.
7. Make Dandelion And Apple Juice:
Wash the flowers, core, peel the apples, and cut them into small pieces. Please put them in a pan with water to cover them and bring them to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes or until tender.
Strain through a sieve into a jug, then use as you would any other juice (this is also suitable as an apple drink).
8. Make A Dandelion Cordial:
Put the flowers in a pan with water to cover them, bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve into a jug and add sugar. Stir until the sugar has dissolved completely. Pour into airtight containers and store in the fridge or freezer.
What Does Dandelion Bread Taste Like?
To make dandelion bread instead of other white breads, you can pinch a small amount of dandelion and leave it in the oven to raise. After a few hours, you will have dandelion loaves ready to eat!
Do Dandelions Have Medicinal Properties?
Many people consider dandelion as a detoxifying and cleansing herb. It was called ‘piss-a-bed’ in the early nineteenth century because of its diuretic properties. Dandelion leaves, roots, and flowers can all be used to cure various illnesses.
In the middle ages, dandelion was thought to be good for curing kidney stones, dropsy, and other diseases that involved fluid retention.
Is Dandelion Cake Recipe Healthy?
The dandelion cake recipe is not exactly health food. It has been used as a medicine by many cultures in the past. Still, it is rather toxic, and its roots contain an alkaloid called “taraxacum officinalis,” discovered by a German chemist in 1689, which gives dandelion its toxic effect.
This chemical compound has properties that resemble a narcotic and can cause severe vomiting and deformation.
Have Any Side Effects To Eating Dandelion Cake Recipe?
The roots are considered toxic, so it is best not to use them in recipes. The leaves and flowers, however, should be fine for consumption. The leaves can be used in salads.
Or any other dish that requires cooked greens, but the flowers are best to use as a garnish or to eat on their own as they have a tart taste.
Is It Safe For Heart Patients?
The leaves are useful for treating blood circulation disorders, but avoiding using them in other disorders is advisable as they can increase the heartbeat. Using the roots or seeds of dandelion is not recommended as they are toxic.
Is Dandelion Cake Recipe Good For Diabetics Patients?
The flowers are useful for people with diabetes as they contain the chemical compound avenanthramides used to treat diabetic nerve damage. There is conflicting evidence about dandelion seeds.
However, as some studies suggest that they do not affect blood sugar levels while others show an effect on them.
Is It Suitable For Children?
The leaves and flowers of dandelion are considered safe for consumption by children, but dandelion roots should be avoided as they can have a toxic effect on children. It is best to avoid the seeds as, like the roots, they have a toxic effect.
Is It Good For Weight Loss?
The roots contain nitrates (which make the urine more acidic) that can help weight loss by increasing the body’s ability to use protein and sugars. On the other hand, the leaves contain oxalates which can bind calcium into the teeth causing dental problems.
Also, if consumed in large amounts, dandelion can cause stomach upset, bloating, and headaches.
Is It Safe For Pregnant Women?
The leaves, stems, and flowers of the dandelion all contain calcium. However, one should be careful with the consumption of this vegetable if you are pregnant because it can cause miscarriage or early labor.
Dandelion has also been said to cause breast milk to dry up in nursing mothers, so it is best avoided by them too.
Is Dandelion Cake Recipe Vegan?
The dandelion cake recipe does not contain any ingredients consistent with the definition of veganism. Therefore, in theory, it is not suitable for vegans. In practice, however, vegans who do not eat dairy products can probably safely eat the icing on dandelion cakes as it should have no animal products.
Can Dandelion Cake Recipe Be Stored In The Freezer?
The freezing dandelion cake recipe does not affect its taste or texture and can be stored for up to two weeks. However, if you want to store it for longer, it is better to freeze the icing separately.
And then apply it when you want to eat the cake. The good news is that the dandelion cake recipe freezes well.
How To Freeze Dandelion Cake Recipe?
1. Prepare your cake by baking it for 40-45 minutes in a preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius. Remove from the oven and leave to cool before removing it from the cake tin.
2. Separate the icing into two portions, one of which you will use to ice your cake while leaving the other to freeze.
3. Take a baking tray, cover it with wrapping paper, and place your iced cake on it. Please put it in the freezer and leave it to freeze for at least four hours or overnight before serving.
How Long Will It Take To Prepare?
Preparing a dandelion cake recipe should require approximately 30 minutes. This is because the cake will take 40-45 minutes to bake in a preheated oven, and then you have the icing to prepare however if you are planning on making it for your family or a special occasion.
It is best to start preparing it at least 2-3 hours in advance so that you can spend less time preparing and more time enjoying it with friends.
Conclusion
The dandelion cake recipe is a great herb for the spring or summer, and many cultures have used it over the years. Now that you know more about this delicious recipe, you may want to start preparing it for your family and friends.
If you take precautions when preparing it, the dandelion cake recipe should be a great treat to enjoy any time of the year.
