Black forest cake

Ingredients :

1. All purpose flour - 1 cup
2. Unsweetened cocoa powder - 1/3 cup
3. Baking powder - 1/2 tsp
4. Baking soda - 1 tsp
5. Salt - 1/4 tsp
6. Sugar - 1 cup
7. Milk - 1/2 cup
8. Vinegar - 1/2 tbsp
9. Egg - 1 no
10. Vegetable oil - 1/4 cup
11. Strong coffee - 1/2 cup
12. Vanilla extract - 1/2 tsp 
13. Cherries - 1 can ( drain the cherries & retain the syrup)
14. Whipping cream - 1 cup
15. Vanilla essence - 1/2 tsp
16. Powdered sugar (Icing sugar) - 1 tbsp
17. Chocolate flakes & glaced cherries for decoration

Method :

1.   Preheat the oven at 180 C.  Grease & line up the baking pan with the parchment paper.

2.   Mix together the milk & vinegar & set aside.

3.   Sieve together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda & salt.

4.   In a another bowl, whisk together the egg, oil, coffee & vanilla essence.  

5.   Stir in the milk mixture  & then the flour mixture gently.  Pour the batter in the prepared pan & bake it for 30 mins or until done.  Allow it to cool completely.

6.  Cut the cake horizantally & brush the first half with the syrup preserved. 

For the whipping cream :

7.   Beat together the whipping cream, vanilla essence & powdered sugar until soft peaks.

8.   Now spread the cream between the layer, sides & over the cake.

9.   Finally, decorate the cake with the chocolate flakes & glaced cherries.

10.  Refrigerate the cake for atleast one hour before serving.

Enjoy..

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Eggless chocolate cake with chocolate cream icing

This is a perfect moist eggless chocolate cake with rich and creamy chocolate icing, for the chocolate lovers.

Ingredients :

1. All purpose flour - 1 cup
2. Baking powder -  1/2 tsp
3. Baking soda - 1 tsp
4. Unsweetened cocoa powder - 6 tbsp
5. Granulated sugar - 3/4 cup
6. Vegetable oil - 1/2 cup
7. Hot coffee - 1/4 cup ( 1 tsp of coffee in 1/4 cup hot water)
8. Milk - 1/4 cup
9. Yogurt - 1/4 cup
10. Vanilla extract - 1 tsp

For Icing :

1. Whipping cream - 500 ml
2. Powdered sugar to taste (I used arround 5 tbsp)
3. Cocoa powder - 3 tbsp (Sieved)
4. Vanilla essence - 1 tsp
5. Glazed cherries for decoration

Direction to bake :

1.   Preheat the oven at 170 C and line up the baking pan with parchment paper.

2.   Sieve together the flour, baking powder, baking soda & cocoa powder. 

3.   Mix together the vegetable oil, hotcoffee, milk, yoghurt, vanilla extract & granulated sugar.

4.   Combine both dry and wet ingredients on low speed.  Bake it for 30 mins or until done.  Cool the cake completely.

For Icing  :

5.   Whisk the whipping cream along with powdered sugar until spreadable consistency and slowly mix the cocoa powder & vanilla essence.

6.  Now sandwich the icing between the cake & over the cake.  Decorate it with the glazed cherries.

Happy baking.

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Eggless Pineapple upside down cake

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Perfect cake for kids party :)
Ingredients :

1. All purpose flour - 2 cups
2. Butter - 100 gms
3. Pineapple slices - canned
4. Baking powder - 1 tsp
5. Baking soda - 1 tsp
6. Sweetened condensed milk - 1 tin (400 gms)
7. Sugar for caramalizing - 5 to 6 tbsp
8. Cherries for garnishing

Method :

1.   Preheat the oven to 180 C.  Grease the baking pan and keep aside.

2.   Heat sugar in the pan till it melts and becomes brown.  Pour hot caramel in the prepared baking pan.  Now arrange the pineapple slices & cherries over the caramel.   Keep aside.

3.   Sieve the flour, baking powder and baking soda. 

4.   Cream the butter and add the milkmaid.  Mix well.

5.   Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients to the butter mixture.  Pour the batter over the arranged pineapples and bake it for 35 / 40 mins or until done.

Serve with tea.

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Pineapple topped Cake

Delicate, soft, fluffy & delicious cake made with fresh pineapple and a dash of cardamom powder for additional flavour.  Perfect with tea & occasionally for parties.  

Ingredients :

1. Softened butter - 125 gms
2. Sugar - 1 cup
3. Pineapple essence - 1/2 tsp 
4. cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp
5. A pinch of salt
6. Eggs (medium) - 3 nos
7. All purpose flour - 2 cups
8. Baking powder - 2 tsp
9. Milk -2 tbsp
10. Crushed pineapple - 1/2 cup
11. Pineapple pieces for topping
12. Melted butter - 2 tbsp

Direction to bake :

1.   Grease the baking pan with butter & preheat the oven at 180 C.

2.   Sieve the flour, baking powder & salt together.

3.  Whisk the butter till creamy, add pineapple essence, cardamom powder, sugar & egg one at a time.

4.   Fold the sifted flour & crushed pineapple alternating with milk.   Pour the mixture in the greased baking pan & arrange the sliced pineapple pieces on the top and finally pour the melted butter on the top.  Bake it for 45 mins or until done.

Enjoy baking :)

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Carrot Cake

Carrot cake is healthy & perfect for kids.  Best way to eat the vegetables  !!!  It even has walnuts which is the good source of calcium.   I like to have this with a cup of tea.  It is incredibly dense, moist & flavourful.  Perfect for birthday parties too.  It taste awesome.

Ingredients :

1. Grated carrot - 3 cups
2. All purpose flour  - 2 cups
3. Refined oil - 1 cup
4. Sugar - 1 1/2 cups
5. Cashewnut (or) Walnut - 1 cup (toss in flour)
6. Baking powder - 1 tsp
7. Baking soda - 1 tsp
8. Cinnamon powder - 1 tsp
9. Vanilla essence - 1 tsp
10. Eggs - 3 nos

Direction to bake :

1.   Sift flour, cinnamon powder, baking powder & baking soda together.  

2.   Beat eggs well.  Add all other ingredients one by one and beat thoroughly.

3.   Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.  Pour into a greased tin and bake for 1 hour at 180 C till brown on top.

Serve with custard or cream.

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1-yr blog anniversary and Fruit Cake

It's hard to believe one year ago I posted my first entry on this blog. So much has happened since then. I've met many amazing foodies and improved my baking and cooking skills. As well I've found a new love: photography. I want to thank all of you who read and comment and support my passion for food. It's been a blast!

To mark this occasion, I made a fruit cake.   


Ingredients :

1. Dried cherries - 1/8 cup
2. Dried berries - 1/2 cup
3. Raisins - 1/4 cup
4. Sultanas - 1/4 cup
5. Currants - 1/4 cup
6. Chopped candied citron - 1 tbsp
7. Dark rum - 1/4 cup
8. Butter - 1/2 cup
9. Brown sugar - 1/4 cup
10. Egg - 1 no
11. All purpose flour - 1/2 cup
12. Baking soda - 1/8 tsp
13. Salt - 1/4 tsp
14. Ground mixed spice  - 1/2 tsp
15. Milk - 2 tbsp
16. Dark rum - 1/4 cup 

Direction to bake :

1.   Soak cherries, Sultanas, raisins, berries, currants & citron in 1/4 cup rum for one day.  Cover tightly & store at room temperature.

2.   Cream the butter & brown sugar until fluffy.  Beat in egg.

3.   Sieve together flour, baking soda, salt & spice powder.  Mix into butter & sugar, alternating with milk.  Stir in the soaked fruits.

4.   Bake in preheated oven at 325 F for 45 mins or until done.  Cool in the pan for 15 min & sprinkle the 2 tbsp of rum on the top & sides of cake.  

Store it in the airtight container.

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Little pudding cake & my 100th post

I feel very happy to post my 100th recipe today.  Thanks all for making this to happen.  Celebrations never end without a piece of sweet or cakes.  Yes, today I made this delicious little pudding cake with little chocolate shavings on top.  Even, I dont want to remove the excess pudding arround the cake, it looks like my cake is floating in the white chocolate sea.  Its really a delectable cake.  Just love this :)

Ingredients :

1. Eggs - 6 nos
2. All purpose flour - 1 cup
3. Sugar -1 cup
4. Baking powder - 1 tsp
5. Melted butter - 1/4 cup
6. Vanilla essence - 1 tsp
7. Vanilla pudding - 1 packet
8. Cocoa powder for garnishing

Directions to bake :

#   Seperate the egg yolks and whites.  Beat the egg whites seperately until stiff.

#   Beat the egg yolks seperately until thick & pale yellow colored.   Gradually add the sugar & vanilla essence.

#   Sift the flour & fold them in the egg yolk mixture gently.  Finally, fold in the stiffly beaten egg whites.

#   Bake at 325 F for 15 to 20 mins.  Allow it cool.

#   Meanwhile, prepare the pudding as per the instructions given & allow it to cool.

#   Once, the cake is cooled pour the pudding mixture over the cake & refrigerate them for 2 to 3 hrs (preferably overnight)

#   If required, remove the excess pudding mixture arround the cake & serve just like that :)

Sprinkle some chocolate shavings or cocoa powder.  It taste delicious.

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Cornflour sponge cake

Little different cake made with cornflour as the main ingredient.  It is very soft & spongy.  Once in a while, this can be tried.   It taste unique.

Ingredients :

1. Chilled water - 2 tbsp
2. Sugar -3/4 cup
3. 4 eggs, seperated
4. Cornflour - 11/2 cups
5. Plain flour - 2 tsp
6. Baking powder- 1 tsp
7. Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
8. Whipped cream and jam for filling
9. Icing sugar for dusting

Direction to bake :

#   Preheat the oven to 190 C.  Lightly grease the baking pan.

#   Warm water and sugar in saucepan.  Beat egg whites until stiff.  Add sugar mixture and beat well. 

#   Add yolks one at a time, and beat until thick.  Stir in sifted cornflour, flour and baking powder.  Lastly add vanilla extract.

#   Pour into prepared tins and bake for 20 to 25 mins.  Fill with whipped cream and jam.  Dust with icing sugar.

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Marble cake

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I like gardening. I planted lotz of flower seeds & this is my first flower in my garden for this season. I am excited to see this cute looking tiny sunflower especially during my morning hrs. With this excitment, I made this cake which taste both vanilla & chocolatish in every single bite. Simple to bake, yet taste yummy :)

Ingredients :

1. 50 gms dark cooking chocolate, chopped
2. 175 gms softened butter
3. 200 gms sugar
4. 3 eggs, lightly beaten
5. 1/3 cup milk
6. 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
7. 175 gms self-raising flour
8. 1/2 tsp baking powder
9. Icing sugar, for dusting

Directions to bake :

£ Preheat the oven to 180 C. Lightly grease the baking pan & line the base with non-stick backing paper.

£ Melt the chocola in a bowl over hot water and keep warm. Cream the butter and sugar until soft and fulffy.

£ Add the eggs little at a time until well combined. Add milk, vanilla essence and stir until combined.

£ Stir in the sifted flour and baking powder. Remove half of the mixture and stir in th emelted chocolate until well combined.

£ Drop spoonfuls of the cake mixture into the prepared tin, alternating between mixtures and starting with the light mixture. Bake for 60 to 75 min or until cooked through. Once cool, dust some icing sugar & serve with tea.

Happy baking :)

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Almond cake

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Last weekend, we had small chitchat meeting in my house. Two of my friends with their kids made the day very funny. We all three of us decided to bake a cake & that came out simply superb :)

Ingredients :

1. 150 gms butter
2. 1 cup sugar
3. 3 eggs
4. 1 tsp almond extract
5. 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
6. 3 tsp baking powder
7. 60 gms ground almonds
8. 3/4 cup milk
9. Icing sugar for dusting (optional)

Directions to bake :

£ Preheat the oven to 160 C. Lightly grease & flour the baking pan. Keep aside.

£ Cream the butter and sugar, then beat in eggs and almond extract.

£ Sift the flour, grounded almonds and baking powder. Add them in the butter mixture alternately with milk. Mix well.

£ Pour into cake pan & bake for 50 to 60 min or until cake is done.

Dust with icing sugar. Serve them them with tea.

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Lemon Zest cake

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I would say, cakes are our creation. We can mix and match the ingredients to bake a perfect cake. This time, I used only lemon zest with other basic ingredients. I turned out simply superb with soft, fluffy inside & crispy, crunchy outside.

This cake is perfect during tea time. Lemon has got its unique taste and aroma. Addition of lemon zest is the real twist which made this cake yumm:)

Ingredients :

1. 200 gms softened butter
2. 200 gms sugar
3. Grated zest of 1 lemon
4. 1 1/2 cups plain flour
5. Baking powder - 1 tsp
6. Eggs - 3 nos (lightly beaten)
7. Milk -2 tbsp

Directions to bake :

# Preheat the oven to 180 C. Lightly grease the baking pan & line the base with non-stick baking paper.

# Cream the butter, sugar and lemon zest until light and fluffy. Sieve the flour with baking powder. Slowly add the eggs, alternating with a tbsp of flour. Fold in remaining flour and then the milk.

# Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 60 min or until done.

Perfect with tea.

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Eggless Pineapple cake

Baking is a real fun & interesting. I like watching cooking shows both in TV & internet. One among my fav show is Dhamu's cooking & manjulas kitchen b'coz of the simplicity in the dish.
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I tried this eggless pineapple cake from manjulas kitchen which turned out to be the best in my cake collection. The flavour of cardomom powder with the crushed pineapple makes this cake little special & taste unique.

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Ingredients :

1. All purpose flour - 1 1/4 cup
2. Baking powder - 1 tsp
3. Baking soda - 1/2 tsp
4. Condensed milk - 1/2 can (or) 7 oz
5. Crushed pineapple (tin) - 1/2 cup
6. Pineapple syrup (that comes along with the pineapple in the tin) - 1/2 cup
7. Cardomom powder - 1/4 tsp
8. Salt - 1/4 tsp
9. Melted butter - 1/2 cup

Directions to bake :

• Strain the syrup from the crushed pineapple & keep aside.


• Mix all the dry ingredients - flour, baking powder, baking soda, cardomom powder and salt together.


• Combine condensed milk, melted butter, 1/2 cup crushed pineapple & 1/2 cup pineapple syrup together.


• Now, fold the dry ingredients into the above mixture carefully.


• Grease the baking pan preferable 8 * 8 pan & pour the cake mixture.


• Bake them at 325 F for 25 min.

• Brush the warm cake with 2 tsp of pineapple syrup to keep it moisture.

Serve & have fun.

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Birthday chocolate cake & My first award

Cakes makes the day special. That too when we bake a cake with a pinch/tonnes of love, wht else a big gift would be..... Though, the cake falls down, sure it taste awesome.....

I tried baking a chocolate cake with thin choclate icing on top to celebrate my husband birthday. I didn't frost in the middle of the cake (we r in diet :)) It was perfect for the day & made the day memorable.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY my love.

Ingredients :

1. All purpose flour - 2 cups
2. Baking powder - 2 tsp
3. Cocoa powder - 3 tsp
4. Sugar - 1 1/2 cups
5. Eggs - 4 nos
6. Butter - 1 cup
7. Vanilla essence - 1 tsp
8. Milk - 3/4 cup

Chocolate Frosting :

1. Semi sweet chocolate (or) Milk chocolate - 4 oz
2. Cream - 1/2 cup

Directions to bake :

# Grease the baking pan with the butter & flour.

# Sieve the flour, baking powder and cocoa powder together. Keep it aside.

# Beat butter, vanilla essence and sugar till light and fluffy.

# Add eggs one by one. Beat well.

# Add flour and milk alternately.

# Pour the cake mixture into a greased pan. Bake it for 30 min in 200 C.

For Chocolate frosting :

# Bring the cream to boil on low flame. Switch off the flame & add the chocolate. Stir them to melt in the cream.

Assembling the cake :

Cut the cake horizantally. Spread the frosting & place the other half of the cake. Finally spread the remaining chocolate frosting all around the cake & decorate it, the way u like :)

TIPS :

If the cake is not moist or if u want to refrigerate it for couple of days, dissolve sugar and water & sprinkle them over the cake before frosting. Sprinkle them on both the half.

My First award :)

Thanks Padma for passing this award to me. I m happy to receive my first award from you :)

I would like to pass this award to Priya, Ramya, Aruna, Pooja of sai kitchen, Pooja of My experience in cooking, Suparna, Vicki & to all my blog friends. My hearty thanks to all of u for motivating me with the shower of lovely comments.

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Molten chocolate cake

Happy Mothers day!!!!

I like baking & thats my hobby tooo. Molten chocolate cake or Chocolate lava cake or Molten lava cake is one among my baking adventure. It is very simple to make in less time. Less ingredients we use but taste divine.

We can call it like cake like, pudding like mousse like....... B'coz it will be moist at the border but chocolatish, cremish in the middle. This would be perfect when served with vanilla icecream. Warm chocolate cake with cool icecream "Imagine how tasty it would be !!!!!"

Ingredients :

1. Butter - 1/2 cup
2. 3 oz bittersweet chocolate
3. 1 large egg
4. 1 Egg yolk
5. Sugar - 1/8 cup
6. Vanilla essence - 1 tsp
7. Pinch of salt
8. Flour - 1 tbsp
9. Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)

Directions to bake :

# Melt the bittersweet chocolate & butter together in microwave.

# Meanwhile beat the egg, egg yolk, sugar, vanilla essence & salt together till creamy & fluffy.

# Sieve the flour & fold them in the egg mixture carefully.

# Pour them in the generously greased baking cups. Plastic wrap & chill them in the refrigerator for 1/2 hr.

# Bake them at 200 C for 10 min.

Serve them with the icecream. Vanilla icecream would be perfect.

TIPS :

1. Bake them for further 2 min for less chocolatish in the middle.

2. Run the knife very carefully to take the cake out. It tends to break easily. Better serve them in the same cup u baked.

3. Topping them with powdered sugar is optional. If u like to do, dust them when the cake is warm.

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