2-Layer Rose Coconut Cake

Spring is a time for rebirth and renewal, a time for change. I decided make a change this year with finally reviving this space of mine (yeah, not that profound I know) and in a world where we hardly have control over anything, changing up this little thing makes me super super happy. We have so much to catch up on and gazillion delicious recipes coming your way! But first, THIS! ☝

So end of last year, I bought myself a set of 6-inch cake pans and these are game changers (should have got them sooner!). Small batch baking has always been my thing (here, here and some more) so the smaller size pans were way overdue. I have baked at least 7 layer cakes in these not-so-new-pans-anymore this past 3 months (not hard to believe right?!). It’s just 2 of us in the house and I do like to eat everything I make (you bet it shows) hence small batch baking wins big time in my book so this was definitely long time coming. Not that we I need any occasion to eat cake around here but guys, these 6-inch layer cakes are so very perfect for small gatherings. Not to mention but they look so dang cute. If you are baking for more people then no problem. Just double the recipe and make 4-layers instead, tall cakes are in and they are here to stay! Well, you certainly don’t need to wait for any gathering to make this one right here. It can totally be you+couch+fork situation, demolishing the whole thing by yourself. Believe me, you would want to!

So let’s talk about this particular cake here. This elegant looking, mildly flavoured, rose scented cake. The flavours will totally make you reminisce about the sweet smell of rose garden. The minimalist, semi-naked look is pristine for the spring season and is bound to make any brunch-table look chic and gorgeous. I have paired three different flavours for this cake but none overwhelms the other and are rather in complete harmony, even complimenting each other. Rose, coconut and cardamom seems to be a match made in spring heaven. So lush! I hope you enjoy this cake as much as we did!

2-Layer Rose Coconut Cake

Prep time: 20 minutes | Bake time: 20 minutes | Total active time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 Tbsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
• Pinch of salt
• 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
• 1/2 cup caster sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp rose extract or 1 Tbsp organic rose water
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1/2 cup coconut milk, room temperature

Coconut Buttercream Frosting:

• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
• 4 Tbsp coconut milk, refrigerated
• 1 cup confectioners sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 1/4 tsp rose extract
• 1/4 tsp coconut extract (optional)

Directions:

1. Grease 2 6-inch round cake pans with flavourless oil and line the bottom with parchment paper. Preheat the oven at 180°C/350°F.
2. In a small bowl, sieve all purpose flour, baking powder, ground cardamom and pinch of salt. Give it a whisk.
3. In another mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and creamy. Add vanilla extract, rose extract, egg and whisk very well until incorporated.
4. Now whisk in dry ingredients to wet ingredients alternating with coconut milk in 3 additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Be careful not to overmix.
5. Divide the batter in to the cake pans and bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let it cool on wire rack for about 5 minutes before demoulding. Let the cakes cool completely on wire rack and meanwhile get on the frosting.
6. Coconut Buttercream Frosting: In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and coconut milk using electric mixer until smooth. With the mixer on low-speed, add confectioners sugar and salt and beat until just combined. Once incorporated, turn up the speed to medium-high and beat until fluffy (about 5 minutes). Adjust the sugar until your desired consistency achieved. Briskly whisk in rose extract and coconut extract (for like 10 seconds).
7. Assembly: Once the cakes are completely cool, place one layer of the cake onto the serving plate (bottom side up). Spread about 3 Tbsp of frosting on this layer, spread it uniformly and top it with the second layer (bottom side up). Spread about 2 Tbsp of frosting on top, spread uniformly and crumb coat the sides. Let the cake rest in refrigerator for about 15-20 minutes. Frost with the remaining buttercream frosting and decorate as desired. I topped mine with fresh figs and fresh strawberry slices. The cake stays fresh for 4 days, stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

 

No Churn Strawberry Cheesecake Icecream

 

Hello everyone,

About 30 months ago, I took a break from blogging to pursue my dream of a Master’s degree in London. After returning to India and back to the nitty-gritty of life, the thought of reviving this space has crossed my mind every single day but I have been lazy procrastinating because Instagram made sure that I was still posting pictures, sometimes even recipes; of all the baked goods and smoothies (my new love) being whipped in my kitchen.

So you may ask why now? Well, there are few recipes which absolutely require they be documented because they’re too legendary to be forgotten as a mere Instagram post. They need to be made multiple times to be shared with your loved ones. Turns out I have accumulated tons of such recipes so it’s about time they get the recognition they deserve. Also, I am not a fan of long Instagram posts so I can’t bear my soul to you guys like I can here on the blog (think long future blog posts, not this though). For now nothing has changed around here as I am still clicking my pictures with iPhone (5s now, ancient I know!) and still want to share good food and things with you all. ❤

I posted a picture of this icecream on my Instagram and Facebook page and got so many requests for the recipe so this is the first recipe I chose to blog about. It’s summer and because last of the strawberries are still gracing the market, I don’t want you guys to not make this recipe at least once! This ice cream is THE BEST I have ever made and doesn’t require churning or icecream maker. It stays creamy and ice-free for about 5 days. The sweetest of strawberries give it an intense berry flavour without adding too much flavouring or colour (you could skip both). So get to it now, quick!

 

 

No Churn Strawberry Cheesecake Icecream

Yields: 1 litre icecream | Serves: 6-8 people

Hands-on time: 20 minutes | Chilling time: 6-8 hours | Total time: 7-9 hours

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (250 ml) whipping cream, chilled in the refrigerator (not freezer) at least overnight
• 1 cup (225 gram) cream cheese, softened at room temperature
• 1 1/4 cup powdered white sugar
• Pinch salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp strawberry extract (optional)
• Couple of drops pink colour (optional)
• 1 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries
• Digestive biscuits, to serve

Directions:

1. Put one large mixing bowl and whisk of your electric mixer in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. In the chilled bowl, add the whipping cream and whip with the electric mixer on medium high speed until the soft peaks form (about 5-7 minutes). Keep it in the refrigerator till you finish next step.
2. In another large bowl, whisk together cream cheese and powdered sugar until light, creamy and thick. On a low speed, whisk in pinch of salt, vanilla extract, strawberry extract and pink colour for about 30 seconds. Then whisk in strawberry pieces for another 10 seconds.
3. Slowly fold in whipped cream to the cream cheese mixture and transfer the icecream mixture to loaf pan. Let it set in freezer for about 8 hours at least. Serve it scooped as is or topped with some digestive biscuit crumbs.

Zesty Peaches & Cream Mini Bundt Cake

Hiya.. I hope you all had a wonderful Independence Day long weekend. Ours was relaxed and lazy and juust perfect. Monday was tough indeed. Today was only bearable because I had this cake in my life. First bite into it and I instantly regretted making a mini version because this was over in seconds!! So to save you from regret I suggest you double the following recipe and make 2 mini bundts! 😉

The combination of orange, peach and cream cheese is blow-your-mind-off-amazing! This mini bundt is supremely moist unlike the dry, crumbly pound cakes we all dread. It turns into a piece of heaven drizzled with the vanilla glaze. Isn’t this mini size so cute! Give this a go before the peach season officially ends.

Enjoy & eat it all up! 🙂

 

 

Zesty Peaches & Cream Mini Bundt Cake

Yields: 1 6-inch bundt | Serves: 6 | Prep time: 15 minutes | Bake time: 30 minutes | Total time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

For Cake:

• 1/4 cup peach cubes (about 1 medium /2 small peaches, peeled & pitted)
• 1/2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
• Zest of 1 Naval orange
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 Tbsp cream cheese, at room temperature
• 2 Tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp orange extract
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour, sifted
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• Pinch of salt

For Glaze:

• 4 Tbsp powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp milk or cream (add more to adjust the consistency)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven at 160°C / 325°F. Grease 6-inch mini bundt pan with oil/butter. Set aside.
2. Put the prepared peach cubes in a bowl. Sprinkle the peach cubes with all purpose flour. Stir lightly, just until peach cubes are coated with the flour.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, add orange zest and sugar and rub it together with your fingers to release the natural oils from the zest. Add butter and egg to the bowl. Cream together butter, egg, sugar & zest with the whisk or using hand held mixer. Whisk in cream cheese, orange juice, vanilla and orange extract. Slowly and carefully, mix in all purpose flour, baking powder and salt. Do not overmix.
4. Fold in the prepared peach cubes to the cake batter and pour the batter in the prepared bundt pan. Bake for 26-28 minutes or until the toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the bundt pan for 5 minutes before inverting on a cooling rack to cool completely.
5. For glaze: Combine powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk, adding a teaspoon of milk at a time until glaze reaches desired consistency.

 

Skinny Summer Popsicles

I love popsicles any time of the day. Be it for breakfast, an afternoon snack or dessert. I mean who doesn’t, right?! This one here is so refreshing and healthy without addition of any sugar, be it refined or unrefined. Just some fresh fruit pieces blended along with little bit of fruit juice. It’s a perfect pick-me-up treat using all the gorgeous summer bounty on offer. I bet you can’t stop at just one!

Hope you all are having a great Monday!
xx

Skinny Summer Popsicles

Yields: 4 popsicles | Prep time: 5 minutes | Cook time: 0 | Freeze time: 4-5 hours/overnight

Ingredients:

Puree 1:

• 6 slices fresh pineapple
• 1/3 cup pineapple juice (freshly squeezed or packed)
• Pinch of salt
• Zest from 1/2 orange

Puree 2:

• 1/4 cup cherries, pitted
• 1 medium nectarine, cored
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (from about 1 orange)
• Pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Puree 1: In a blender, blend together pineapple slices, pineapple juice and salt. Stir in orange zest to it and divide the puree among 4 popsicle moulds.
2. Puree 2: Wash and wipe the blender dry. Add all the ingredients mentioned under puree 2 in a blender and process until smooth. Top the popsicle moulds with puree 2, dividing equally.
3. Insert stick in the centre of each mould, cover and freeze for about 6-7 hours. To demould, run the moulds under warm running water for 30-50 seconds. Enjoy!

*Recipe can be easily doubled or tripled or quadrupled!

 

 

No Churn Fresh Peach Icecream

Celebrating my 29th birthday today with this fresh peach icecream. It is a no churn treat and quite easy to whip up. Making icecream at home takes more time but most of it is not an active time plus all the steps are very easy to follow and the end result makes it totally worth it.

This icecream is a peach lover’s dream with peach chunks in every bite. Peaches cooked with brown sugar lends a caramelized taste to the icecream which I love! It freezes well and is quite easy to scoop too. I photographed it for the blog on the 3rd day of making it and it still scooped perfectly, just like a store-bought or a churned variety!! Plus, it is eggless. So indulge in this perfect summer treat over the weekend.

More update on birthday later!
Happy weekend you all!!
xx

No Churn Fresh Peach Icecream

Yields: 2 liters | Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 20 minutes | Chill time: 6-7 hours or overnight | Total time: About 7-8 hours

Ingredients:

• 6 medium ripe yet firm peach, peeled, pitted and cubed
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 can (400 gm) sweetened condensed milk
• 600 ml medium-fat fresh cream (I used 25% fat Milkymist Cream)

Directions:

1. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the peaches, brown sugar and salt. Cook until the peaches have softened and the mixture is thick and jam-like, about 17-20 minutes. Mash with a potato masher, stir in the vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and condensed milk, and set aside to cool completely.
2. With the hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the cream until stiff peaks form, about 2-3 minutes. Gently fold the cooled peach mixture into the whipped cream until just combined. Transfer the mixture to two lidded liter containers (Do not pack it tightly). Freeze for at least 6-7 hours before serving.

 

 

3-Ingredient Watermelon Kiwi Popsicles

 

Hello lovely people! Let me give you an update on whats been going on in life, you don’t know if you’re not following me on Instagram. It’s been more than 2 weeks since I last posted. Very eventful 2 weeks they were. Hubs & I visited my parent’s house for about 10 days. We celebrated Father’s day, spent some time with my grandmother, met up with couple of school friends after long long time, visited some cool, hip places for meal, watched drama after ages, shopped with my mom & sis, visited beach, bought way too many peach fruits, brushed up on some childhood memories, had an early birthday celebration and consumed liters and liters of Aamras (unsweetened mango pulp) accompanied by some kickass mom-made Gujju food! List is quite long and don’t ask me how I was able to fit ALL of this in my stomach in our such a short stay!!! But it was all too much fun!

I celebrate my 29th birthday this Saturday. I’m freaking out as big 3-0 is approaching and my life in twenties as I know it is going to end. I am excited too ‘coz CAKE!!! Yeah, my brain is confused on how to react to this situation. Anyhoo, Friday can not get here sooooner! It is going to be a funtastic weekend!! 🙂

 

 

After dealing with unpacking, laundry and a health check before I apply for the Visa, I finally got some time to sit down today. I made these popsicles before we left to visit my parents (more than 3 weeks back). It was so dang hot there, I missed these very very much. I had to constantly drink ice water/tea or eat ice-creams in order to stay cool. These popsicles are child’s play to make with just 3 ingredients and only 2 if you skip kiwi slices (do not skip though!). The watermelon I used was quite sweet so I didn’t have to use any form of sweetener for these popsicles. In case the watermelon you use is not sweet enough, feel free to add a tablespoon of honey or maple syrup or any sweetener of your choice while blending. These are just perfect for breakfast, post-workout snack or dessert.

Happy Hump Day you all! 😀

3-Ingredient Watermelon Kiwi Popsicles

Yields: 4 Popsicles | Prep time: 2 minutes | Chill time: 6-7 hours or overnight

Ingredients:

• 2 cups watermelon cubes, seeded
• 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 4 kiwi slices

Directions:

Blend together watermelon and lemon juice in a blender. Slide in kiwi slices in each Popsicle-mould and pour watermelon mixture on top, dividing equally. Insert stick in the centre of each mould, cover and freeze for about 6-7 hours. To demould, run the moulds under warm running water for 30-50 seconds. Dig in immediately!

*Recipe can be easily doubled or tripled or quadrupled!
*For less sweet watermelons, add 1 Tbsp of sweetener of your choice while blending.

 

National Doughnut Day!!! #RecipeRoundUp

Whether you prefer doughnut over donut or fried over baked doesn’t really matter, because these glazed, filled, sprinkled, and all around glorious treats are uh-mah-zing no matter what you call them or how you make them! In honor of National Doughnut Day today, I’m sharing some of my favorites (which are all of them!) from the archives.

So, take out your donut-pans and get your sweet donut craving on!
Go get baking! 🙂

Baked Lemon Doughnuts with Lemon Cream Cheese Glaze

Baked Banana Donuts & Fresh Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Red Velvet Cake Donuts

Baked Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Doughnuts

Baked Chocolate Banana Doughnuts

Baked Apple Cinnamon Doughnuts

Skinny Chocolate Avocado Banana Pudding & Pops – Raw! ~ For Two

 

 

Okay, so I”m ashamed to EVEN call this a recipe but in actuality it is! However simple it might be. Sometimes simple is all we need. Simple is beautiful. We are experiencing summer at full force and I want to spend minimum time in kitchen that too away from stove and oven. Of course, still wanting extraordinary food to appear magically on my plate so I’m all about quick recipes nowadays. Cold salads, iced coffees/teas, cold cereal, smoothies and frozen fruit treats are what my days are made of.

A raw pudding. And pops. Same ordinary ingredients with just a bit of tweaking gets transformed into two incredibly delicious desserts. Desserts which are healthy and skinny at the same time. All you need is a high-speed blender. And some chocolate, cocoa powder to be specific. And avocado and banana. Avocado-haters, do not fret. You can not taste avocado. Promise! My husband truly hates avocado from the bottom of his heart, if used in anything other than guacamole and he couldn’t tell! Yes, I didn’t tell him beforehand and he couldn’t make out. Win! Also, you can totally have these for breakfast! 😉

 

 

Each recipe serves two but you can easily double, triple or quadruple the recipe to serve more people or have bigger portions. Stay cool this summer with these cool recipes up your sleeves!

Happy Monday you all!

Raw Chocolate Avocado Banana Pudding:

Serves: 2 | Prep time: 2 minutes | Chill time: 3-4 hours

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp instant coffee powder
• 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 ripe (large) avocado
• 1/2 ripe (large) banana (fresh or frozen)
• 3 Tbsp honey/maple syrup/date syrup
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 10-12 dices of fresh, ripe mango, for garnish

Directions:

Place all the ingredients in a blender (place dry ingredients in the bottom so they don’t stick to the sides of the blender) and whip till you get completely smooth consistency. Divide the pudding between two ramekins/bowls and refrigerate covered for at least 3-4 hours. Serve, topped with mango dices.

*Consume the pudding within 1 day of making it.
*Instead of mango, you may use strawberries/raspberries.

Raw Chocolate Avocado Banana Pops:

Serves: 2 | Prep time: 2 minutes | Chill time: 8 hours/overnight

Ingredients:

• 2 and 1/2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp instant coffee powder
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 ripe (large) avocado
• 1/2 ripe (large) banana (fresh or frozen)
• 1/4 cup honey/maple syrup/date syrup
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup water

Directions:

Place all the ingredients in a blender (place dry ingredients in the bottom so they don’t stick to the sides of the blender) and whip till you get completely smooth consistency. Divide between two Popsicle moulds. If you do not have Popsicle moulds then divide between two paper cups like I did and cover with tin foil, poke the center of the foil with the Popsicle stick. Chill in freezer for at least 8 hours/overnight, demould and serve immediately.

P.S. Want to make these Pops even more chocolaty? Cover them with the chocolate magic shell just like a professional by following this easy-peesy tutorial.
P.P.S. Use white chocolate for these Pops! 😉

 

Orange Muffins

 

Mondays should totally begin with muffins. We all need a muffin or two to get through the day and some more to celebrate getting through the day. I hope you all agree with me here.

When I posted Sunshine Smoothie last week, I promised I’ll return with some cake to celebrate the 100th blog-post. So drum-rolls please! I’ve returned today with equally sunshiny, happy-happy orange muffins!

 

These muffins are perfect to woe away your Monday blues. Eat them any time of the day. With your morning-coffee, evening-tea or as a night-time dessert accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice-cream. It’s a real treat and your summer-stricken soul will totally thank me. You’re welcome 🙂

Moist and fluffy, these muffins are a total winner. The orange flavor shines through because I’ve used orange zest, freshly squeezed juice and just a touch of orange extract. Look at their color! Addition of yogurt makes them soft and tender. Once out from the oven and still warm, we brush the tops with honey. Warm muffins ensure that honey seeps in. This is optional but totally heavenly. And genius. So do it!

 

 

Orange Muffins

Makes: 12 muffins | Prep time: 10 minutes | Bake time: 15 minutes approximately | Total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 and 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• Zest from 2 oranges
• 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
• 1/4 cup oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp orange extract
• 1/3 cup plain yogurt
• 1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 3 Orange slices, seeded and cut into quarters
• 2 Tbsp honey, to brush the muffin tops (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven at 180ºC / 350ºF. Line 12-counts muffin pan with paper liners.
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, place the measured white granulated sugar. Grate orange zest in the bowl and using your fingers, rub it against the sugar. Whisk in oil and eggs one by one until completely incorporated. Whisk in vanilla and orange extract.
4. Gently whisk dry ingredients into wet ingredients in three halves alternating with yogurt and orange juice, ending with dry ingredients. Mix until *just* combined. Do not over-mix the batter.
5. Divide the batter evenly between 12 muffin liners. Fill each liner till 3/4th mark and no more. Top each muffin with a quarter of the orange slice. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until the toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. While muffins are still warm from the oven, brush the tops with a layer of honey. The muffins stay fresh for about 3 days stored in an airtight container.

Banana Oatmeal Yogurt Pancakes

 

These delicious banana pancakes got so much attention on Instagram which forced me to post the recipe here. I didn’t photograph them for the blog but have a couple pics to go with the post. So here is the recipe for the softest and fluffiest pancakes which tastes incredible too! With hardly any butter, these pancakes are definitely on a healthier side. I know you have an overripe banana lying around in the house so make these ALREADY 😉

 

 

Banana Oatmeal Yogurt Pancakes

Makes: 10-12 pancakes (3-inch size) | Serves: 2-3Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 10 minutes | Total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour*
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 medium/large very ripe banana, mashed with fork (about 1/2 cup)
• 1/2 cup yogurt/buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted plus a bit more for greasing
• Maple syrup, to serve

*You may substitute all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour and add a splash of milk (if required) to reach the correct consistency of batter.

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, oats, baking powder, salt and ground cinnamon. Set aside.
2. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mash the banana with the fork till no lumps remain. Whisk in yogurt and egg till completely incorporated. Whisk in vanilla extract followed by brown sugar. To this mixture, add dry ingredients to form a smooth batter. Add melted butter to this and let the batter rest for 5 minutes.
3. Heat a large non-stick or cast iron skillet over medium-low heat and grease with butter. Work in batches. Pour scant 1/4 cup batter for each pancake into the skillet. When the edges begin to look dry and cooked and bubbles dot the top, flip and cook until golden on the other side.
4. Serve hot, topped with some maple syrup.