… we had the most incredible weekend in Morocco for what can only be described as the wedding of the century… it was a proper spectacular spectacular and so hard to put down in words just how magical it was but if you can imagine for a moment a crowd of very merry people surrounded by a lush oasis of palm trees in the middle of the North African desert… the groom riding down the aisle on the back of a bejewelled stallion and the bride carried aloft in a mother of pearl encrusted Sudan chair, with a swing band, a singing drag queen and an excommunicated rabbi you may be a little closer to the film-set inspired beauty that surrounded us… it was incredibly special…
moroccan rose, fennel and chocolate cake
with the teeny window we had between champagne glass and dancing I took a frantic trip into the infamous souk and was surrounded my the most intoxicating sounds, sights and of course smells of morocco… it’s everything you’d imagine it to be, both terrifying and exhilarating at the same time and this humble little cake brings together some of the classic spices and tastes of the trip… rose and fennel are everywhere and the orange honey is infused in almost everything you eat or drink… this cake will remind me of that wonderful trip whilst it lasts…
ooo I am envious – have always wanted to go to Morocco. The cake looks damn fine.
Orange, rose, fennel, almonds, cardamom……
Sounds like a heavenly cake.
Glad you had a fab time…..love the photo of the two of you!
GORGEOUS CAKE! Lovely photo of you and The Viking too. Cor, he's like a hero out of Game Of Thrones, isn't he?
I went to Morocco at seven months' pregnant, which precluded some food adventuring, but it was still amazing. And yes, pregnant women still get hassled by touts for drugs and bloomin' camel rides!
I LOVE Morocco ………… the sounds, smells, flavours, colours, are so inspiring. This cake looks absolutely divine! What a gorgeous combination of ingredients….
I have never put fennel seeds in a cake, but it has been popping up in so many things lately maybe I need to. Bought some lovely gouda with fennel seeds at the Royal Melbourne Show this week. Sounds like a spectacular wedding, great photos!
My Gawd, you lead such an exciting life!
Mmmm, looks gorgeous, and so great to get the back story too – you look right at home on the 'film set'! Thanks.
The cake and wedding sounds amazing – and it's really nice to see a picture of you both!
ooh this looks lovely
in just the short little snipit you gave us, the wedding does sound incredible…. and speaking of incredible.. I'd love some of that cake right now!!! YUM!
This is a great post, very evocative and the cake looks amazing.
Delectable, delicious and divine, and the cake looks good too! Karen
That's a fine, fragrant cake. I'm always happy to get a taste of the souk.
What an incredible cake, and we need more photos of the wedding!!
Ooh we were in Agadir over the summer and brought back some orange blossom honey (and thyme honey, and amlou !) so I may just have to try this 🙂
What a spectacular sounding wedding. I dream of visiting Morocco one day, and wandering the souks. Until then, I'm pretty sure this cake, with its flavours of almond, orange blossom, fennel and rose water, could transport me there in a heart beat.
looks delicious…just mouthwatering!
That sounds like a weekend to remember. Glad your first trip to the African continent was a good one. Just love that picture of you and the Viking and that cake sounds pretty special too. Didn't know fennel was a particularly Moroccan thing. Will have to go out there one day and see it all for myself.
Looks amazing but what size tin?
I have just cooked this cake, was rather disappointed as it did not say what size tin, it took a lot longer than the 35 minutes to cook and also stuck to my well greased, floured and non stick baking tin, needless to say it was way too brown on top – yet not cooked in the middle!! Also recipe failed to say add the Fennel seeds.
Oh I'm so sorry! You're right. It doesn't say when to add the fennel (with the chocolate pieces) or the tin size which should be at least a 20cm tin I will correct this. Sorry the cake didn't cook through.