Eggless Black Forest Cake

Back to baking after a long break. I know just a handful of cake recipes. And I am not very confident either. But this time I was very firm to make this cake. Two important people in my life - my brother and husband's birthdates are just two days apart. So it is kind of a tradition to celebrate it on the day in between. Both of them are avid lover of cakes and desserts, so what could be better option?

This happened to be our favorite cake back in India. Even after coming here we go to Indian Bakery quite often to have it.

Makes 9" cake

Preparation Time: 20 Minute

Cooking Time: 45 Minute

Decoration/Cooling Time: 1-2 Hr

Ingredients

1 and 3/4 cup all purpose flour

3 tbsp cocoa powder

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 can of sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

250 ml coke/pepsi

1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips (optional)

For Filling/Decoration

1.5 to 2 cup cool whip

3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate shavings

1 cup cherries

1/2 cup sugar

M & Ms (Optional)

Procedure
1. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and cocoa powder and sieve them
2. Whisk condensed milk and butter together until soft and fluffy and then add vanilla extract
3.  Now gradually add coke and dry ingredients to wet ingredients and whisk thoroughly
4. Add chocolate chips
5. Pour mixture in a greased baking pan and bake at 350 F until toothpick comes out clean, about 30 to 40 minute

Decoration
1. Heat 3/4 cup water in a pan and add sugar into it. Stir it till sugar gets dissolved. Turn off the heat when it starts getting thickened 
2. Once cake cools down completely, cut it from middle and divide it into two parts
3. Moisturize both parts from inside with sugar syrup
4. Apply of cool whip, 1/2 cup cherries and spread 1/2 cup of chocolate shavings. Again spread cool whip and place other half of the layer
5. Apply sugar syrup on top and cover both top and sides with remaining cream
6. Decorate with remaining cherries, chocolate shavings and M&Ms

Cherry Cobbler

The other day we went to farm to pick blueberries and there I found out that they had fresh tart cherries too. I did not know any other use of cherries except having them all by  themselves or once in a while using them in mocktails. Still I could not resist myself from picking ripe and juicy cherries.

I froze half of them and did some serious brainstorming to put rest of them at innovative delicious use. Initially i thought to buy a ready made pie crust and then top it with cherry sauce and ice cream (I have done so with canned pineapple). Later I decided to make crust myself and then I found this cherry cobbler recipe. I changed quantities of butter, sugar and cherries per my taste.

Cherry Cobbler is a Classic American Dessert where cherries are baked in dip dish covered with thick crust. As it gets cooked, crust gets brown and fruits juices squeezes up through cracks creating sweet and rich syrup. This can be served hot/cold and often paired with whipped cream and/or vanilla ice cream.

In this dip dish fruit pie dessert, you can experiment with different fruits and nuts. Next time I am thinking to use apricots and blackberries.

Serves 4

Preparation Time: 15 Minute

Cooking Time: 30 Minute

Ingredients

For Crust,

1 cup plain flour

1/4 stick of unsalted butter

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup milk

For Filling,

2 cup tart cherries

3/4 cup sugar

1/8 tsp almond extract

1 tbsp butter

Buttermilk and sugar

Procedure

1. Mix flour and butter till it becomes mealy, do not make a paste

2. Add baking soda and knead dough using milk

3. Cover it with plastic wrap and keep it aside

4. In a baking tray (For bigger quantity, I would prefer individual trays) toss cherries with sugar

5. Evenly dot them butter and almond extract

6. Now roll dough into thin shit (about the size of the tray) and cover cherry mixture using it

7. Prick the sheet, brush with buttermilk and sprinkle sugar

8. bake at 375 F for 20-25 minute and then broil for 5 minute till crust becomes brown and cherry juice starts bubbling

9. Serve warm/cold with whipped cream or ice cream

Chocolate-Strawberry Cupcake (Eggless)

Tangy strawberries baked in rich chocolate and then topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce..just one word YUMMY! Summer has started and so are my experiments with baking :). It's great that during summer we easily get fresh fruits. Just last weekend we picked strawberries and I could not wait to use them in my chocolate cake. I avoid eggs as much as possible so when I start baking sometimes I am not sure whether my cake will be soft and spongy. Usually when we bake without egg, it becomes very dense and heavy. I did a little experiment by replacing butter with canola oil and yes, eggless cake can be just perfect!

Makes 12-16 small cupcakes

Preparation Time: 10 Minute

Cooking Time: 40 Minute

Ingredients

3/4 cup plain flour, sifted

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3 tbsp canola oil/ 3 tbsp butter

3/4 cup milk

3-4 pc strawberries, diced

To serve,

Whipped cream

Chocolate syrup
Strawberries

Procedure

1. Preheat oven at 180 C/350 F

2. In a medium bowl, mix all dry ingredients and gradually add all wet ingredients

3. Mix well using spatula or hand whisk (Do not use electric mixer)

4. Add cut strawberries and mix well

5. Pour the mixture in cupcake pan and bake until toothpick comes out clean (about 20-25 minute)

How to serve,
Option 1

Top it with whipped cream and drizzle chocolate syrup

Option 2

Glaze with milk chocolate (Sweet or Semi-sweet) and top with toasted walnuts

Chocolate Banana Cake

Long weekend has started and before HE was home, I wanted to make something special. Recently, I did not bake anything and thought to make the cake. No milk, egg or condensed milk, this could not be any simpler. Plus, I used ripe banana to replace sugar quantity. Initially I thought, using water instead of milk would make the cake dry, but that is not the case. It came out perfectly soft and moist.

Makes one 9” cake

Preparation Time: 15 Minute

Cooking Time: 45 Minute

Ingredients

2 cup all purpose flour

1 and 1/3 cup sugar

2/3 cup cocoa powder

1and ½ tsp baking soda

¼ cup melted unsalted butter

1 cup hot water

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup mashed banana (about 1 and ½ ripe banana)

2 walnuts, roughly chopped (Optional)

Procedure

1. Grease the baking tray and pre-heat oven at 350 F for about 8-10 minute

2. Mix flour, sugar, cocoa and baking powder and keep them aside

3. Gradually add wet ingredients – water, butter and vanilla

4. Make banana puree with little water and add to flour mixture

5. Whisk thoroughly and pour batter to baking tray

6. After 10 minutes, add chopped walnuts

7. Bake about total 40-45 minute, until toothpick comes out clean

8. After 10-15 minute, take out the cake out of tray and let it cool down on cooling rack for 30-40 minute

9. Cut into pieces and refrigerate