Tutti Fruity Cake

I am no expert at baking but once in a while I do try my hands at it. My little one now and then asks for cake and being a health conscious mommy,  I refrain myself from giving her sugar and cream loaded stuff.

I have very fond memories attached to this cake. When I was working,  we always had this available in our office kitchen from a local Indian bakery.  We would devour a slice of it in dessert. 

There are hundreds of recipes for a simple cake like this.  Here is my version which is eggless and butter less. Also, I have replaced half quantity of plain flour with whole wheat flour.  This guiltfree version stays good for 4-5 days without refrigerator and tastes heavenly when consumed warm.

Makes one small loaf
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 30-45 minutes

Ingredients 
For the batter
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup confectionery sugar
1 cup fresh thick Curd
1/3 cup cooking oil
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla essence

For the fruit and nut mix
(As per your preference)
1/3 cup tutti fruity or fruit cake mix
1/3 cup coarsely chopped nuts (I used walnut and almond)
1 tsp plain flour

Procedure
1. Mix fruits and nut mix with flour. Keep it aside
2. In a large mixing bowl,  mix curd and sugar till sugar dissolves.  Add baking powder and baking soda to it. Keep it aside till it becomes frothy and bubbly
3. Meanwhile, sieve both flours and mix them well
4. Add oil and vanilla extract to curd mixture and mix gently so bubbles don't subside
5. Now gradually add flour to curd mixture
6.  Lastly, add fruits and nuts and mix well. Pour the batter into greased baking pan
7. Pre heat oven at 350 F and bake it for about 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean

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

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