RAISIN COOKIES

These cookies are so quick to bake and are very popular too. May be because of the chewy texture and buttery sweet flavor. These raisin packed cookies are a baker's friend as the batter is quickly made and then all you do is drop spoonful onto a baking sheet. The cookies are baked until their centers are still soft and just beginning to turn brown yet their edges are a lovely golden brown color. 

Ingredients 

• All purpose flour - 2 cup
• Baking powder 2 tsp
• Salt - a pinch
• Unsalted butter 3/4 cup
• Brown sugar - 1 cup
• Egg - 1
• Vanilla essence - 1 teaspoon
• Milk - 2-3 tsp
• Raisins - 1 cup

Process

• In a bowl, add flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk together. 
• In a separate bowl, add butter and beat until smooth and creamy. Add sugar and beat till fluffy. Then add egg, vanilla and mix well. Now add flour mixture to the batter and beat until incorporated. Add milk to make a soft batter. Lastly add the raisins and beat well.
• Preheat the oven  at 180 degree. 
• Grease the baking tray with butter or you can use parchment paper.
• Drop one tablespoon of the batter on to the baking sheet / baking tray and bake for 13-15 minutes. Check once the tops of the cookies are still soft with just a touch of color. Once the edges are golden brown, remove from oven and let it cool down.  

COFFEE CAKE

December is here and we are experiencing our Instagram and Facebook feeds flooded with yummy cake posts. So I thought to bake my favorite cake and enjoy my piece of cake with everyone. I have not used any coffee essence for baking this, only Nescafe coffee powder and some chocolate chips and I just loved the cake.

Also note, this is baked in Kadhai, not microwave.

Ingredients :

1. Wheat flour - 1 cup
2. Sugar - 1/2 cup
3. Baking powder - 1 tsp
4. Butter - 1/2 cup
5. Milk (boiled and cold) - 1/2 cup
6. Chocolate chips- 1 tsp
7. Eggs - 2 
8. Salt - pinch of
9. Nescafe coffee powder - 1 tsp

Process :

1. Grease the cake tray. Dust with flour evenly and set aside.

2. Pour milk and suger in a mixing bowl and stir until sugar dissolves. Add flour, baking powder and salt. Gently mix until the flour is combined well. Start adding eggs one by one and keep mixing. Lastly add coffee powder and mix well.

3. Once the batter is ready, pour this in the cake tray.

4. Heat the heavy bottom kadai for 10 minutes and then place a steel stand (optional) inside the kadai and place the cake tray. If you do not have a steel stand, you can directly place cake tray in the kadhai. Sprinkle chocolate chips at the top and cover with a lid.

5. Let it cook for 15 to 20 minutes. After 15 minutes you can check by putting a knife side the cake, if the knife comes out clean, means the cake is done, else you can cook for another 5 minutes. 

Your Coffee cake is ready to serve. You can garnish it with some more chocolate chips and dust with coffee powder. 

EGGLESS SPONGE CAKE

We do not need an occasion to eat cake. Since I have started baking cake in Kadhai and every time it turns out so fluffy I am actually in love with this experimental journey. Today I have tried egg-less sponge cake and it turned out not only fluffy but yummy too. Here is the recipe, if you do not have a microwave at home, no worries, you can still bake a cake in kadhai. 

Ingredients :

1. Whole wheat flour - 1 cup 

2. Powdered sugar - 1/2 cup
3. Baking soda - 1 tsp

4. Baking powder - 1/2 tsp

5. Milk - as required to make the batter

6. Vanilla essence - 1/2 tsp

7. Oil - 1 tsp (for greasing)

Process :

1. In a mixing bowl, add powdered sugar, atta, baking soda and baking powder and mix everything together. Add vanilla essence and gently pour milk to get the mixture into a batter consistency. It should not be very thin but should be of pouring consistency.

2. Once the batter is ready, pour this in the cake tray.

3. Heat the heavy bottom kadhai for 10 minutes and then place a steel stand (optional) inside the kadhai and place the cake tray. If you do not have a steel stand, you can directly place the cake tray in the kadhai. If you want to add fry fruits, sprinkle them at the top of the cake and cover with a lid.

4. Let it cook for 15-20 minutes, after 15 minutes you can check by putting a knife inside the cake, if the knife comes out clean, means the cake is done, else you can cook for another 5 minutes and re-check.

5. Let it cool down to room temperature and then remove from the cake tray. The sponge cake is ready and can be serves with some topping or icing, if you wish to.