Spiced Orange and Cranberry Cake

Everyone is baking Christmas cakes, some boozy, some not so boozy…filled with nuts, preserved fruits and a whole lot of warm spices. Amazing aromas and delicious tasting cakes sure mean Christmas 😋

A traditional Christmas cake is moist, very moreish, filled with rum or whisky soaked dry fruits and preserved fruit peels. These are soaked for over a month or so in advance to incorporate the flavours of the alcohol into the ingredients. These cakes are often served as a large round cake or even at times as petit fours. They could be served as a naked cake, just dusted with some icing sugar. One could even cover them in marzipan or ice them with whipped cream and then decorate them with Christmas embellishments. They all look so pretty! ☃️🎄

However, I have never baked a boozy cake or even a traditional Christmas cake for that matter. I first thought I’d soak all the  fruit peels and dry fruits in some orange juice with some whole spices but I wasn’t quiet sure when would I get to actually bake the cake. So I changed the plan and this worked out really well.

I decided to bake a warm and hearty Spiced Orange and Cranberry Cake. Some simple and fresh ingredients transformed into this gorgeous cake. I must admit it did turn out better than I had thought. 😊 And the texture was perfect, moist crumb and not very dense.

The addition of Cranberry gives the cake a bit of tartness in every bite that compliments the citrusy notes from the oranges very well. If you wish you omit the Cranberry here, do that or you can replace them with some colourful tutti Frutti or even chopped nuts. I added some warm spices here, feel free to omit them too if you wish. This recipe makes for an excellent summer cake with just the orange flavour or replace Orange juice with some lemon juice.

Let’s start…

Yield: a 7″ round cake.

Equipment: an electric whisk, 7″ cake tin, a large mixing bowl, a medium sized mixing bowl, a silicon spatula, cooling rack, baking paper/ parchment paper, measuring cups/ spoons.

Ingredients:

2 cup all purpose flour (Maida)

1+1/2 cup powdered sugar

4 nos. large eggs

1 stick/ 100 gms unsalted butter @room temperature

1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp ground clove

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/4 cup milk

3/4 cup fresh orange juice

1/4 cup dried cranberries

icing sugar to dust the cake

Method:

Preheat the oven @180’c. Line the base of the tin with parchment paper/ baking paper and grease and dust the sides well.

In a medium size bowl, seive together the flour, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, ground cinnamon, baking powder and baking soda. Set it aside. Dust the cranberries with some flour and set them aside.

Next, in a large mixing bowl, whisk together the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. I used an electric whisk and it took me about 3-4 mins of whisking. Now add one egg at a time and whisk the butter and sugar mixture with the eggs until light and fluffy once again.

Now, add the seived flour mixture and milk in the egg-butter-sugar mixture alternately and fold the mixture with a silicon spatula. Do not mix with a heavy hand else all the air whisked in the eggs will escape. Then add the orange juice and the cranberries. Mix well.

Pour the batter in the tin and bake @ 170’c using the lower heating rods/ coil for 60 mins approximately or until a skewer inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Note that every oven works differently so keep an eye on the temperature and the duration of the bake.

I prefer baking my cakes low and slow, low temperature takes longer to bake the cake but ensures it rises well without any cracks on the top.

Once the cake is baked, remove it from the oven and cool it on a rack for 15 mins in the tin, then unmould it and cool it for a further 30 mins. Dust the top with some icing sugar. Slice it and serve. This cake keeps well for 3-4 days in an airtight container.

I used these spices, you can choose any spices of your choice.

Hope you will bake this soon, it’s easy, alcohol free and absolutely delicious! 😀

Love,

Shreya💖

 

Vrat ke Pakode | Phalhari Pakode ki recipe | Glutenfree Fritters

I am a Northern Indian and having spent many winters up there, I love everything that the winters have to offer in terms of the local fresh produce! I particularly enjoy roasted or sautéed Singhara (water chestnut or water caltrop). The flavour is very earthy and not many spices are needed to enhance it further 🙂 They are commonly seen in green or brown colour…I’ve heard about the pink ones but haven’t come across any yet. Although, the green ones do have a light pinkish hue around the skin. I wish I had a few fresh ones at hand to show it’s beauty! 

So, as I was saying…it’s available up North…usually you will find local vendors selling these on small stalls. These Singharas or water chestnuts are usually roasted on coal embers and are sold hot. The earthiness (‘sondhapan’ in Hindi) is something that grows on you and you will want to enjoy them even more! Usually paired with the evening tea, they make for a toothsome snacking option.

Since it’s a fruit, it can be enjoyed during the Vrat (fasting) season in Navratri or Mahashivratri. It can be enjoyed raw,boiled or sautéed or even roasted as I mentioned above wth some Vrat ka namak.

 

The Singhara is dried and powdered to make Glutenfree flour which too can be used for recipes during Vrat (fasting). It’s full nutritional properties and almost no fats!

So, today I am going to be sharing my favorite Vrat (fasting) dish, Vrat ke Pakode! Anyone who knows me well, know that’s I am not too fond of sweets…(Yes!! My blog archives tell a different story…but that’s courtesy my hubby😘😂). This is my Mom’s recipe…and I freak out over them. So much so, I refuse to share any when these are on the menu. Luckily enough, my hubby has become fond of them so he wants a share even though he isn’t fasting….so obviously I make a large batch!!

Let’s see how…

Yield: serves 1

Equipment: a large wok, a mixing bowl, measuring cups/ spoons, a slotted spoon, kitchen paper.

2 nos. large potatoes

1/4 cup Singhara ka atta (water chestnut flour or any other Glutenfree flour like buckwheat or finger millet but I always use water chestnut flour)

vrat ka namak (or regular salt) to taste

1 tsp grated ginger

1 tsp chopped green chillies

1/4 tsp black pepper powder

1/4 tsp degi mirch (optional, use it for the colour)

2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves and some extra to garnish

water as needed

oil to fry

Method:

Peel the potatoes, wash and pat dry them.

Then cut the potatoes into small cubes. Set them aside.

In a mixing bowl, add the cubed potatoes, degi mirch, black pepper pwd, chopped green chillies, chopped coriander leaves and grated ginger.

Mix these well. Add the Singhara flour/ atta. Mix well again. Do not add salt right now. (If you do, the mixture will leave a lot of water and the fritters/ pakode won’t be crisp). 

Heat oil in the wok. Once it’s hot enough, reduce the flame to medium.

Now season the mixture with salt and add a little water to it and mix well. Do not let the this mixture rest, drop spoonfuls of it into hot oil and fry them evenly until golden and crisp on all sides. Remove from the oil and place them on absorbent kitchen paper to get rid of any excess oil.

That’s it, serve them piping hot with tea and some Phalhari chutney. 

Also try my Roasted Phool Makhane (spiced foxnuts), click here for recipe...makes for a great fat free snacking option as you fast!

Love,

Shreya💝

Instant Kesar Peda

Yes, everyone knows I love Pedas 😉 I like them all…well almost! What’s not to like, they are sweet, slightly fudgy and so delicious! Much like these golden beauties…my Instant Kesar Pedas (saffron fudge). A 15 min wonder..more like. 

My blog has many recipes for Pedas, some very quick and some slightly lengthy…but each hold their own…..they are yummy and so tempting.

I made these Pedas on the first day of Navratri last weekend…I could think of my Kaju Katli…but I will make that for Diwali 😁along with some Karachi Halwa! I am salivating just thinking about the feast in store for the days to come 😍

Anyways, coming to these Pedas….you may or may not have them during Navratri fasts depending on what rituals you follow…

Yield: 8-10 Pedas

Equipment: measuring cups/ spoons, a heavy bottom non-stick pan, a wired whisk, a plate.

Ingredients:

200 gms condensed milk

1 cup milk powder

2 tsp warm milk

9-10 strands of saffron and some extra to use for the garnish

2 tsp ghee + extra to grease your palms while shaping them

Method:

Mix warm milk with the saffron strands and let it stand for 5-8 mins until the milk is coloured beautifully.

Next, add milk powder and condensed milk to the pan. Add the saffron infused milk too. Whisk it well until it’s lump free. Place the pan with the mixture on medium flame and cook while you stir it constantly. Add 2 tsp ghee and keep stirring, I cooked it for about 10 mins to achieve a dough like consistency which leaves the sides of the pans once cooked.

Take the mixture from the pan onto a greased plate. Knead the mixture like a dough for 2 mins. Let it now cool for the next 8-10 mins. Then, grease your palms with some ghee and take a small portion of the dough and shape it into a Peda. Do the same for the rest of the dough. You can use any stamps to make some pretty designs or simply decorate them with a few strands of saffron.

Cool them in the refrigerator before you serve. They stay fresh in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days.

You can also try my instant Dhoodh Peda, Mathura ke Pede, Khoya Peda, Mawa Burfi among many others this Diwali 😊

Love,

Shreya💝

Tutti Frutti Cookies/ Karachi Biscuits

It’s the season to bake!🎄🎅Christmas is just days away…and everyone is making cookies….cakes..etc to enjoy with family & friends🎁 and I have started too…with some very easy & delicious Tutti Frutti Cookies/ Karachi Bakery style Biscuits😁

They look so festive….Christmasy..white..red..green and a a touch of gold to add some glamour!🌟 gorgeous!🎊🎉❄️

We are in love with the flavour! 😘 They are buttery…crispy and just melt away as you bite into one. Besides, they are really easy & fast to make too! Simply slice and bake kinda cookies😉

Let’s get you baking…😬

Yield: 24 medium cookies

Equipment: a large mixing bowl, a whisk (electric or manual), some cling wrap, a sharp knife, measuring cups/ spoons, baking tray, cooking rack.

Ingredients:

1 cup Maida/ APF

1/2 cup powdered sugar

7-8 tbsp softened butter (I used unsalted, if you are using salted butter then, increase the quantity of sugar by 1-2 tbsp)

1 tsp vanilla extract/ essence

1/2 cup of mixed tutti frutti

5 tbsp roughly chopped cashew nuts (optional)

1 tsp milk (optional, to be used only to make a smooth dough if you are unable to roll the dough)

Method:

Take butter and sugar in a mixing bowl, cream them together until they are fluffy and light. Then add the tutti frutti, cashews & vanilla extract. Mix it these well then add the flour. Mix them well with a light hand and bring them together to make a ball. Use 1 tsp of milk only if you are unable to make a round ball. The dough doesn’t need to be kneaded, just bring it together. The mixture is very soft and pliable.

Now, take the dough on some cling wrap and roll it well to give it the shape of a thick log. Wrap the log well and refrigerate for a minimum of 30-40 mins.

In the meantime, preheat your oven @180’C for about 10 mins. Line your baking tray with some parchment/ butter paper. Remove the chilled log of dough from the refrigerator and cut it in about 1/2″ slices. Place them slightly apart on the lined baking tray. Bake them for 15 mins @180’C using the upper and lower rods for the first 10 mins, then just the lower rod for the last 5 mins. Remove the tray from the oven & let it cool on the rack for about 15 mins. The cookies are soft when you remove them from the oven but crisp up as they cool down. You can store these in airtight containers for almost 1 week.

*Please note that baking time may vary as every oven is different, so time the oven accordingly. The cookies turn slightly golden around the edges as they are ready, so remove them from the oven as per the colour.

Don’t they look yummy!?! 😊 try these today!

Love,

Shreya💓

Adapted from Click Cook n Devour