Something Sweet to Treat Yourself (Minus the Chocolate)

Have you recovered from the Valentine's Day chocolate coma? We know we have! But our sweet tooth is still aching for a treat. If you feel the same way, we've got the perfect recipe for you. Check out this awesome Moroccan Snake Cake by the Kitchy Kitchen!

Ingredients

For the cake:
½ cup butter, softened to room temperature, plus 3 tablespoons melted butter
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 eggs
2 cups almond flour
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon rose water
½ teaspoon cardamom
zest from 1 orange
1/3 cup pistachios, chopped or roughly ground
12 sheets of filo dough (plus extra for repairs)

For the syrup:
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon hot water
2 teaspoons rose water
rosebuds, for garnish (optional)
candied orange, for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs. The mixture will look broken and curdled.

3. Stir in the almond flour, which will pull everything together quite nicely.

4. Add the all-purpose flour, rose water and zest, stirring to incorporate.

5. Finally, add the pistachios to the almond paste.

6. On a long, clean work surface, line up five of the filo sheets, lengthwise, end-to-end (short ends touching). Lay the remaining four sheets on top, staggering so that the center of each top sheet lies on the seam of two bottom sheets.

7. Spoon the almond paste down the length of the filo sheets, along the edge nearest you, about 2 inches from the edge.

8. Working quickly, roll the filo around the paste, like a cigar – one rotation only at this point – moving down the length of the filo. With the first roll entirely complete, lightly brush with melted butter, and continue rolling until you’ve created a tube. Brush with butter between each rotation.

9. Starting at one end, begin coiling the tube in a spiral, flat, along the work surface, taking care not to crack the filo too badly as you roll. Repair any cracks with the extra filo brushed with melted butter.

10. Transfer to a baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes. Remove, and allow to cool. Drizzle with syrup and garnish with candied orange.

Whether you’re planning a birthday party, brunch with the girls, or a shower of sorts, this Moroccan snake cake will be a crowd pleaser. Or if you're just treating yourself, this cake is much more devour the detail worthy than some leftover Valentine's Day chocolate. Enjoy!