Black Forest Cake - Eggless

Black Forest Cake is a Swiss-German traditional specialty dessert and is one of the most popular sponge delicacy that is hard to resist!! 

Ingredients

• All purpose flour - 1 1/2 cups
• Baking powder - 1 1/2 tsp
• Baking soda - 3/4 tsp
• Cocoa powder - 3 tblsp
• Condensed milk - 1 cup
• Melted butter - 3/4 cup
• Vanilla frosting - 32 oz / 900 gms container
• Hershey mildly sweet Chocolate bar - 6.8 oz /192 gms
• Vanilla essence - 1 tsp
• Water - 1 cup
• Canned cherries for decoration

Method

• Preheat the oven at 350 degree F / 180 degree C
• Grease an 8 inch round cake pan with butter and keep it aside
• In a large mixing bowl sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and cocoa powder
• In another bowl mix melted butter, vanilla essence, water and condensed milk using a whisker
• Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well with out any lumps
• Pour the cake batter to the greased pan
• Bake it for 40 minutes or until an inserted tooth pick comes out clean
• Remove the cake from the pan and let it cool on a wire rack completely before frosting
• Now cut the cake into 2 layers using a big knife
• Transfer one layer onto a plate or turn table and spread some frosting
• Place another layer over the frosting
• Spread a thick layer of frosting evenly using a flat spatula or big knife over the cake
• I decorated the cake with rosette border using tip 18, you can just leave it plain 
• Peel the chocolate bar using a peeler to make the gratings 
• Sprinkle it on top and onto the sides of the cake
• Decorate with cherries on the top

Nutritional Information

• Per slice = 340 calories approximately

Tutti Frutti Christmas Cookies - Eggless

Celebration time with eggless tutti frutti cookies!!! These colorful and yummy cookies are a perfect treat for this holiday season. My family loves the candied orange peel twist.

   

Ingredients - Yields 40 Cookies

• All purpose flour (Maida) - 1 cup
• Powdered sugar - 1/2 cup
• Melted butter - 6 tblsp
• Tutti Frutti / Candied fruits - 1/2 cup
• Milk - 2 to 3 tblsp

Method

• In a mixing bowl, beat sugar and butter until nice and fluffy using a whisk or hand beater

• Add flour, tutti frutti and mix well

• Sprinkle milk little by little to make into a dough

• Place the dough on butter paper and roll the dough like a log

• Wrap the log in the butter paper and freeze for 45 minutes

• Take the dough from the freezer and slice it with a sharp knife
• Pre heat the oven at 350 F for 10 minutes
• Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges turn slightly brown
• Store in a airtight container

Note - Check the cookies in the oven after 10 minutes as these cookies tend to burn quickly

Nutritional Information

• Each Tutti frutti cookie = 40 calories approximately

Homemade Cinnamon Buns

Warm homemade cinnamon buns topped with crunchy walnuts and melting brown sugar, fresh from the oven... what a great way to treat your friends and family on a cool evening!

Ingredients - Serves 4

• All purpose flour - 2 cups
• Yeast - 2tsp
• Butter - 4 tblsp
• Sugar - 4 tblsp
• Salt - 1/2 tsp
• Warm milk - 3/4 cup
• Oil - 1 tblsp

For spread

• Brown sugar - 4 tblsp
• Cinnamon powder - 1 tblsp
• Walnuts - 3 tblsp ( chopped)

For glazing

• Powdered sugar - 1/2 cup
• Vanilla essence - 1/2 tsp
• Butter - 1 tsp
• Milk - 2 tblsp

 Method

• In a large bowl add sugar,salt,yeast and warm milk, let it sit for 10 minutes
• The yeast and milk mixture will become foamy 

• After 10 mins add flour and knead for approximately 5 min or until the dough becomes soft and smooth

• Keep the dough aside
• Coat the bowl with 1 tsp of oil and place the dough in it 
• Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and let it sit for an hour
• The dough will be double the size after an hour

• Now knead the dough again and spread it like a chapatti with a roller

• Sprinkle cinnamon, walnuts and brown sugar evenly

• Roll the dough from one end to another and cut into 1 inch thick swirls

• Let it rest for 20 minutes

• Preheat the oven at 180 C / 350 F

• In the meantime whisk butter, sugar and milk till it reaches a thick flow-able consistency
• Bake the cinnamon swirls for 30-40 min till golden brown
• Remove the baking tray and let it cool

• Drizzle the glaze over the rolls and serve warm 

Nutritional Information

• Cinnamon buns are rich in carbohydrates
• Walnuts decreases LDL cholesterol and increases omega 3 fatty acid in red blood cells
• Per serving = 200 Calories approximately

Oatmeal Walnut Raisin Endurance Cookies - Eggless

These oatmeal walnut raisin cookies are healthy, delicious and easy to bake at home. This is great at tea time or after a workout.

Ingredients - Yields 15

• Walnuts - 1 cup
• Regular oats - 2 cups
• All purpose flour - 1/2 cup
• Raisins - 1/4 cup
• Brown sugar - 1/4 cup
• Agave  sweetener- 3 tblsp (or use 1/4 cup of honey)
• Cooking oil - 2 tblsp
• Baking soda - 1 tsp
• Cinnamon powder - 1/2 tsp
• Milk - 2 tblsp
• Vanilla essence - 1 tsp

Method

• Preheat oven to 350F and grease a baking sheet
• Place walnuts on the baking sheet  and toast it in oven for about 10-12 minutes, until golden in colour (Watch carefully as walnuts will turn black or burn quickly)
• When walnuts are toasted remove from oven and cool it for few minutes
• Grind walnuts in the food processor or mixer - until finely grounded
• In a medium sized bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, oats and cinnamon powder (dry ingredients)
• In a small bowl mix brown sugar, agave, oil, vanilla essence, milk and raisins (wet ingredients )
• In a large bowl mix wet ingredients, dry ingredients and grounded walnuts
• Take about 2 tblsp of dough, make a ball, and then flatten it with your fingers
• Place it on cookie sheet and bake it for 10 minutes at 350F and no longer
• Remove from oven and let sit on baking sheet for couple of  minutes before placing onto a cooling rack for 10-15 minutes
• Makes about 15 cookies, store in a clean air tight container

Nutritional Information

• Walnuts are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and an excellent source of omega 3 essential fatty acids which help to prevent coronary artery disease and strokes
• Regular intake of walnuts in the diet help to lower LDL or bad cholesterol and increase HDL or good cholesterol levels in the blood
• Oats is low in sodium and can help reduce cholesterol
• Oats is rich in soluble fibre and can reduce hypertension
• Raisins are cholesterol-free, low in sodium, high in fiber and totally fat-free
• Raisins are rich in potassium which is important in regulating blood pressure
• Each cookie = 170 calories approximately

Palmiers

Palmiers is a french cookie which is very crispy, flakey and buttery. These palmiers are perfect with afternoon tea.

Ingredients

• Puff pastry sheet - 1 (I used light puff sheet)
• Brown sugar - 1 tbsp
• Cinnamon powder - 1 tsp
• Raisins - 1 tbsp

Method

• Pre heat the oven at 400 F
• In a bowl mix brown sugar, cinnamon powder and raisins
• Thaw the puff pastry sheet according to the package instruction
• Dust all purpose flour on a clean work surface
• Place the puff sheet on the floured surface and slightly roll it using rolling pin

• Spread brown sugar mixture over the puff sheet

• Start folding the sides towards the center so they go halfway to the middle

• Fold them again so the two folds meet exactly at the middle of the dough

• Now fold one half over the other half as though closing a book

• Cut the dough to 1/2 inch width and arrange them on the greased baking sheet

• Bake it for 10 - 12 minutes or until nice golden brown on both sides

• Transfer to a baking rack to cool
• Serve with tea

Nutritional Information

• Each cookie = 115 calories approximately

Eggless Dundee Cake

Dundee cake is a traditional Scottish fruit cake served at Christmas. This cake is filled with sultanas, raisins, currants and mixed candied peel. It has a light and crumbly texture.

Ingredients - 8'' cake (10 -12 slices)

• All purpose flour - 1 1/2 cups
• Butter - 2 tbsp
• Brown sugar - 3/4 cup (or regular sugar)
• Oil - 1/2 cup
• Mixed fruit - 1 cup (sultanas, raisins, currants and mixed candied peel)
• Baking powder - 1 tsp
• Baking soda - 1/2 tsp
• Cinnamon powder - 1 tsp
• Almond essence - 1/2 tsp (or vanilla essence)
• Milk - 2/3 cup
• Blanched Almonds - 25 - 30 nos

Method

• Beat brown sugar, oil and butter with electric beater or hand whisk till creamy
• Add milk and almond essence & mix well
• In a big bowl sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon powder
• To the dry ingredients add wet ingredients and mixed fruits

• Mix well on low speed for 2 to 3 minutes
• Pre heat the oven to 325 F and grease an 8'' round cake pan
• Pour the batter in the cake pan and decorate it with blanched almonds 

• Bake it for 45 minutes or until the inserted tooth pick comes out clean

• Cool the cake completely in the cooling rack - ready to serve

Nutritional Information

• Mixed fruits are loaded with vitamins and minerals
• One slice of egg less Dundee cake = 215 calories approximately 

Eggless Gingerbread Man cookies

Spicy gingerbread is an ultimate Christmas treat

Ingredients - Yields 75 Small Cookies

• Room temperature butter - 100 gms
• Brown sugar - 1 1/2 cups (or powdered sugar)
• All purpose flour - 2 1/2 cups
• Grated ginger - 1 tbsp (or ginger powder)
• Cinnamon powder - 1/2 tsp
• Clove powder - 1/2 tsp 
• Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp
• Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
• Baking soda - 1 tsp
• Baking powder - 1 tsp

Method

• Beat brown sugar and butter with electric beater or hand whisk till creamy
• Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder and all spice powders together 
• Add grated ginger
• Mix this with butter and brown sugar on low speed until the dough comes together
• Dust the work surface and knead the dough until soft
• Wrap the dough in cling film and refrigerate for 45 minutes
• Remove from the fridge and dust the work surface and knead the dough one more time

• Roll out the dough to 1/4 '' thick (keep dusting the surface to avoid sticking)

• Cut the dough using gingerbread cookie cutter or any desired shape

• Place the cut out cookies on the greased cookie tray and bake it for 8 to 10 minutes or until the cookies turn slight brown on the edges
• Cool and store them in an air tight container

I used star shape cookie cutter for my last batch of dough and sprinkled some coloured sugar
(Mix 1/2 cup of sugar and 5 drops of colour of your choice - homemade sugar sprinkle is ready)

For Icing

• Icing sugar - 1/2 cup
• Corn starch - 2 tsp
• Lemon juice 2 tsp
• Milk - 2 to 3 tsp

Mix all the above ingredients together. Fill the icing in the zip lock bag and cut the tip to decorate.
Tips

• Adjust the consistency - If you need it thin add bit of more milk or if you need it thick add bit more of sugar
• You can also add any colour to the icing
• Icing will harden if it is open so put it in the zip lock bag to avoid this
• Make sure you cut the tip of your zip lock bag minute enough to get fine lines for decorating

Nutritional information

• Ginger helps eliminate congestion and kill cold viruses
• Ginger is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties
• Ginger is low in calories and contains no cholesterol, but is a very rich source of many essential nutrients, minerals and vitamins
• Each Gingerbread cookie = 35 calories approximately

Nutty Coffee Cake

Fruit and nut filled coffee cake

Ingredients - Serves 6

• All purpose flour - 1 1/2 cups
• Brown sugar - 3/4 cup
• Instant coffee powder - 1 tbsp
• Baking powder - 1 tsp
• Baking soda - 1/2 tsp
• Flax seed - 1 tbsp
• Milk - 3/4 cup
• Cooking oil - 1/2 cup (or butter 3 tbsp)
• Chopped nuts - 1/2 cup (I used walnuts)
• Raisins - 1/4 cup

Method

• Mix coffee powder in 1/4 cup of hot water and keep it aside
• Grind flax seed in a mixer or spice grinder and mix well with 3 tbsp of water
• Beat milk, sugar,  oil, coffee powder and flax meal mixed in water
• Mix all dry ingredients together - Flour, baking powder, baking soda, nuts and raisins
• Now add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well
• Pre heat the oven at 360 degrees
• Pour the cake batter in the greased pan and bake for 45 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted comes out clean
• Cool completely and slice it
• Serve with coffee

Nutritional Information

• Per serving = 65 calories