This delicate sponge cake is flavoured with aromatic fresh bay leaves and inspired by the White Tree of Minas Tirith. The perfect sweet finish for a feast inspired by the region of Gondor from Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
A Feast in Gondor – Inspired by The Lord of the Rings
Let us travel to Middle Earth, down the Anduin River, for a lavish feast in Gondor. A feast in the great southern kingdom of men is imbued with the splendour of a realm rich in history and majesty. To create recipes worthy of the Great Hall of Feasts in the White City of Kings, we take inspiration from Tolkien’s own imagined ideas of Gondor, the different geographical regions of Gondor, and the influence of Minas Tirith as an urban centre.
The White Tree of Minas Tirith
Long considered a symbol of Gondor, the White Tree of Minas Tirith was planted high in the city in the Court of the Fountain. By the end of the Third Age, the tree has long since died and its remains have been left to await the coming of the King.
One of the few Gondor food references we find in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings comes when Pippin has arrived in Minas Tirith and is offered white cake. In honour of the long dead White Tree, this cake is infused with aromatic bay leaves for a delicate flavour. A dusting of powdered sugar is the perfect topping for this soft and tender sponge cake.
Ingredient Notes
Fresh bay leaves: While dry bay leaves are most commonly used, the fresh leaves have a delightful, aromatic flavour all their own. Try as best you can to find fresh bay leaves. If you are unable to source fresh bay leaves, you can use dried.
Milk: This type of sponge cake is a hot milk cake. Make a hot milk cake by first whipping the eggs and sugar together until tripled in volume before adding the dry ingredients and finishing with a blend of hot milk and melted butter. It is important to make sure that the milk is hot when adding it to the batter, I have made this cake before with milk that has cooled and the texture was definitely different.
Spring form cake pan: I like the look of using a smaller 8″ cake pan which results in a small, tall cake. However, the cooking time is a little longer since the batter is so tall. A 9″ cake pan cane be used instead if you prefer, which will cook a little faster.
How to Make the White Cake of Gondor
Steep the milk
In a small saucepan heat the milk over medium high heat. Tear the fresh bay leaves into a few pieces and add to the milk.
Heat the milk just until hot, but before it simmers. You don’t want the milk to simmer or boil which could result in reducing the amount of milk.
When the milk is hot, remove from the heat, cover, and let steep for 30 minutes.
Prepare the batter
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of an 8″ or 9″ spring form cake pan with a piece of parchment paper. See above for more info. Spray the inside liberally with non-stick spray. Set aside.
In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the eggs and sugar. Whip on high speed for about 5 minutes until the egg mixture is pale yellow and very thick. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Then, add the dry ingredients to the mixer and beat on low just until combined.
Rewarm the milk before adding to the batter. Remove and discard the bay leaves. Cut the butter into small pieces and add to the milk. Heat the milk just until it is hot and the butter melts. Do not let it boil or simmer.
With the mixer running on low speed, slowly drizzle in the hot milk, stopping a few times to scrape down the sides of the mixer. Continue mixing until all of the milk has been added. Scrape down the inside of the mixer to make sure the batter is smooth and completely combined.
Bake the cake
Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan. Place the remaining bay leaves decoratively on top of the batter. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes until done. An 8″ cake will take longer to bake than a 9″ cake. The cake will be dark brown on the outside. Check the cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
Serve the White Cake of Gondor
When the cake is done, set it on a rack to cool briefly and then remove from the pan and cool completely. To serve, dust the cooled cake with powdered sugar and enjoy!
