Desserts/Sweets

Carrot Halwa (Gajar ka halwa)

Ingredients:

Carrots- 6 medium (grated)

Unsweetened khoya- 1/2 cup (grated)

Sugar- 1/2 cup

Ghee or clarified butter- 4 Tbsp

Cashew- 3 Tbsp

Raisins- 2 Tbsp

Cardamom powder- 1/2 tsp

Method:

Heat clarified butter in a pan on medium heat, then add cashews and sauté until light golden brown. Add raisins mix for 5-6 seconds and quickly remove the cashews and raisins leaving behind clarified butter in the pan.

Now add the grated carrots and cook them nicely in the ghee (for 8-10 minutes).

Add khoya give it a nice stir and lastly add sugar.

Mix and cook for 6-8 minutes until everything is well combined and comes together. Add in cardamom powder and mix.

Garnish with cashews and raisins!

Enjoy!!!

Desserts/Sweets

Mysore pak

Mysore pak is a sweet very popular in Karnataka,India. It just consist of three simple ingredients gram flour, sugar and ghee. I often make this sweet as its my husbands favorite sweet. It is simple to make but if the ingredients are not fresh and measured properly, there are chances of ruining the sweet.

This sweet is solely dedicated to Rukmini aunty (my friends mom) who actually taught me this recipe. She is an expert in making sweets. She was practically there with me when I tried it for the first time…I can never forget how well she taught me the technique. I always had filter coffee and a piece of Mysore pak when I visited her place. I miss those days!

You get the best mysore pak when the gram flour and ghee are fresh. Many people in my home town grind the chick pea fresh from the mill and use homemade ghee.

Ingredients:

Chick pea/Gram flour/ Besan-1 cup

Ghee/Clarified butter- 2 cups ( preferably homemade ghee)

Sugar- 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups

Water-3/4 cup

Preparation:

Add gram flour to the non stick pan and dry roast it for few minutes until the raw smell of the flour disappears and it turns light golden-yellow and keep aside.

Heat water in a pan on medium heat and add sugar, bring it to a two string consistency and add ½ cup of ghee. Turn the heat to low and slowly add gram flour (one or two spoons at a time) and mix well after each addition making sure no lumps are formed. (if you are doing it for the first time, take the help of a second person while doing this step). You can bring back the heat to medium now.

Stir continuously and keep adding ghee slowly into the mixture and mix well. (When 2-3 tbsp of ghee is added at a time, the ghee starts floating on the gram flour mixture, do not panic.. stir continuously until it is well incorporated. Add the ghee and mix in the same fashion until all the ghee has been mixed well.) The mixture becomes thick and starts leaving porous bubbles. Its time to stir it well until it forms one big lump and leaves the pan from the sides. Turn off the heat and pour the mixture on a greased plate. Cut the sweet into desired pieces when mildly hot.

Cakes n bakes

Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

Unsalted butter– 1 cup

Granulated white sugar- 3/4 cup

Light brown sugar- 3/4 cup packed

Pure vanilla extract– 1 1/2 tsp

Large eggs- 2

Salt-1/4 tsp

Baking soda– 1tsp

All purpose flour– 2 1/4 cup

dark chocolate chips– 1 1/2 cup

Preparation:

Pre-heat the oven to 375 degree F and line the baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Add white and brown sugar and beat until fluffy. Add in eggs one at a time making sure you beat well after each addition. Add in the vanilla extract and mix well.

In a separate bowl combine all the dry ingredients and mix well. Add the mixture slowly to the liquid mixture and mix well until no lumps are visible. Add in the chocolate chips and give it a nice stir. If the dough is very soft, refrigerate for an hour.

Using two spoons drop about two tbsp of dough onto the baking sheet. Make sure there is enough spacing between the dough to rise and flatten. Bake for 12- 14 minutes and cool it completely on a wire rack before tasting!

Cakes n bakes

Dark Chocolate Brownies

Servings- 16 pieces

Ingredients:

All purpose flour- 3/4 cup

Sugar- 1 cup

Salt- 1/4 tsp

Pure vanilla extract- 1tsp

Large eggs- 3 at RT

Unsalted butter- 1 stick or 1/2 cup (cut into squares)

Dutch processed cocoa powder- 2 tbsp

Bitter sweet chocolate chopped- 5 oz

Dark chocolate morsels- 3/4 cup

Preparation:

Pre heat the oven to 350 degree F. In a medium heat proof saucepan, add bitter-sweet chocolate and pieces of unsalted butter.

Microwave for a minute or 2 until the mixture forms a smooth paste. (Do not boil the mixture, they have to just melt). Add sugar, pure vanilla extract and mix well. Add in the eggs one by one and give it a quick stir. Now add, all-purpose flour, cocoa powder and salt.

Mix until no lumps are visible. Finally add the dark chocolate morsels and stir. Pour the mixture to a 8 inch greased square pan.

Bake for 25-30 minutes. Perfect brownies are done when little crumbs stick to the tooth pick when inserted.

Cakes n bakes

Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1/2 cup – Dutch processed dark cocoa powder

1 cup – boiling water

1 1/3 cup – Sifted all-purpose flour

2 tsp Baking powder

1/2 cup room temperature unsalted butter

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/4 cup – Granulated white sugar

2 – Large eggs

1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Frosting:

4 ounces – Unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped

2/3 cup Unsalted butter, room temperature

1 1/3 cups – Sifted powdered sugar or icing sugar

1 1/2 tsp Pure vanilla extract

Preparation:

Pre-heat the oven to 375°F Line 16 cupcake liners and keep it ready. Whisk all the dry ingredients like salt, baking powder and all-purpose flour, keep aside. In another bowl mix the hot water and cocoa powder until smooth and bring the mixture to room temperature.

Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, use a hand mixer or an electric mixer. Add the eggs one at a time and beat in vanilla extract.

Slowly add the flour mixture until everything is incorporated. Finally add the cocoa mixture and mix everything well.

Add the mixture to the cupcake liners until they are 2/3rd full.

Bake for 17-19 minutes until tooth pick inserted comes out clean. Do not over bake the cupcakes as they will lose the moistness. Remove from oven and cool them on a wire rack.

Once the cupcakes cools,you can smear the frosting on the cupcake using a spatula or if you have a piping, use a large 1M thick open star tip to make the swirls on the cupcake.

Frosting:

Melt the chocolate pieces in the microwave or place the heat proof bowl with chocolate on a saucepan of simmering water. Mix it until it melts and forms a smooth texture.

In another bowl beat the butter well, add the powdered sugar and beat again. Mix it until smooth and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and the melted chocolate, beat until smooth and glossy for about 3-4 minutes.

Smear or add into the piping and decorate the cupcakes as you like!

Cakes n bakes

Mexican Wedding Cake

Mexican wedding cakes also known as Russian tea cakes or butter cookies are very delicious and just melts in the mouth.

Ingredients:

Butter- 1 cup (room temperature)

All purpose flour– 2 cups

confectionary sugar 1/2 cup + 1 cup

Walnuts, pecans or hazelnuts 2/3 cup toasted and powdered

Vanilla extract– 1/2 tsp

Salt -1/4 tsp

Preparation:

Toast the nuts at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes until light brown, cool down before grinding to get a powdered mixture or else you will end up getting a lump. Use a hand mixer or food processor to mix the butter and 1/2 cup of confectionary sugar until smooth and creamy. Add in vanilla extract and mix again. In a separate bowl mix salt and all-purpose flour. Add the flour slowly and mix it completely until incorporated. Finally add the nut mixture and bring the mixture into a dough. Wrap the dough and refrigerate for an hour.

Preheat the oven to 350°C. Spray the cookie sheet with baking spray or use a parchment paper. Scoop 1 tbsp or 100 oz of mixture, make it in to a round shape and line up the dough 2 inches apart.

Bake for 12-15 minutes until the edges and the bottom just turn light golden brown.

Spread 1 cup of confectionary sugar on a flat bottom. As soon as the cookies are out of the oven, take a spatula and slowly grab the cookie and toss and turn the cookie in the sugar. The cookie should be completely coated with sugar. If you not a sugar person as I am, you can just sprinkle some sugar on top as well. Make sure you cool it completely before tasting it!

Cakes n bakes

Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroon

Ingredients:

Sweetened shredded coconut- 11/2 cup

All purpose flour– 1/4 cup

Sugar– 1/2 cup

Egg whites– 2

Vanilla essence– 1/2 Tsp

Salt- 1/8 tsp

For chocolate dipping:

Heavy cream- 1/2 cup

Dark chocolate/ semi- dark chocolate -14 oz

Preparation:

In a heatproof bowl, placed over a pan of warm water, whisk both egg white and sugar. Remove from heat when the mixture is warm to touch and creamy.

Add in salt, vanilla essence, sifted all purpose flour and sweetened shredded coconut and mix well. Cover this mixture and refrigerate for 2-3 hours.

On a baking sheet, add a parchment paper or aluminum foil and place a scoop of mixture leaving spaces in between. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350°F or until it turns golden brown.

Allow the cookies to completely cool down. (We can have these by themselves or coat them with chocolate). In a small bowl, add heavy cream and heat until it comes to a boil. Now add chocolate pieces or chips and allow it to settle for 2-3 minutes. Mix them evenly, dip the bottom of the cookies and on top, decorate the cookies as per your wish. Allow it to completely dry before you put them into a air tight container.

Cakes n bakes

Date Cake

Ingredients:

Pitted dates- 18 to 20

All purpose flour– 1 cup

Milk-3/4 cup

oil- 1/2 cup (vegetable oil or olive oil)

Baking soda– 1 tsp

Walnut– 1/4 cup (optional)

Sugar-3/4 cup (powdered)

Preparation:

Soak dates in milk for 2-3 hours.(If using dry dates, you might have to soak it overnight) Blend dates and sugar until smooth. In a bowl add oil and blended mixture and mix well. Now add (sifted) all purpose flour, baking soda and walnuts (optional) slowly and mix well.(I used a hand blender and mixed for 3-5 minutes, scraping the sides often.)

Put the mixture into a 9 inch pan and bake for 35 – 40 minutes at 350°F or until a toothpick comes out clear when inserted into the cake.

Desserts/Sweets

Amarkhand/ Mango Shrikhand

Ingredients

Full fat yogurt-4 cups

Sugar– 1/2 cup

Mango pulp-1 cup

Cardamom powder-1 tsp

Coarsely ground pistachios– 3 Tbsp

Preparation:

Take 4 cups of yogurt in a muslin cloth. Tie a knot and hang it overnight. This is a very crucial step in making good Shrikhand. Make sure to remove as much as water as possible.

Add sugar and mango pulp. Adjust the sugar according to the sweetness of mango. Beat the mixture very well. (I used hand blender and blended for 12-15 minutes).

The consistency should be thick and creamy. Add cardamom powder and garnish with pistachios. Serve chill.

Linking the post to Fruit Feista, Holi fest colorful palette, Cakes, Cookies and Desserts

Desserts/Sweets

ABC halwa

Ingredients:

carrot- 2(grated)

Apple-2(grated)

Banana-2(mashed)

Whipping cream-1/4 tin

Shredded Coconut-4 tbsp

Ghee-3 tbsp

Sugar-4 tbsp (depending on the sweetness of the fruit)

Cardamom powder-1/2 tsp

Cashew and raisins for garnishing

Preparation:

In a heavy bottom pan, heat ghee, add cashews ( I added around 10-12 cashews, and 10-15 raisins) fry until golden brown. Add raisins, remove quickly and keep aside.

Next add grated carrot and apple into the ghee,cover and cook for 5 minutes. Add banana and whipping cream (can use milk too) and mix well. Cook for another 3-4 minutes. Add sugar( if the fruits are sweet enough, add less sugar. Sugar can be added at any point) and mix shredded coconut. Do not cook too much after adding the coconut. You would want to leave it a bit crunchy. Turn off the heat, Mix cardamom powder and garnish with cashews and raisins.

Linking this post to Fruit Feista, HITS~Fiber Rich Foods

Kai Ruchi

For the love of cooking

Tag Archives: Sugar

Carrot Halwa (Gajar ka halwa)

Mysore pak

Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

Dark Chocolate Brownies

Chocolate Cupcakes

Mexican Wedding Cake

Date Cake

Amarkhand/ Mango Shrikhand

ABC halwa

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