Tag: breakfast


Sep
2017

Six-Bananas Banana Bread Bundt Cake

categories: Baking, Cake, Cakes, Desserts, Fall, Monsoon

Six-Bananas Banana Bread Bundt Cake-1

SIX bananas! Yep, you read that right! Do you think I’ve lost it? Hell, NO! Please read on.

We’ve been experiencing heavy downpours in the evenings around here since past 2 weeks and to me gloomy mornings and rainy evenings are synonymous with a slice of banana bread + a cup of strong coffee with a dash of milk. I love experimenting with my no-oil/butter and egg-free banana bread recipe (it’s a staple in my house and uses 3 ripe bananas) by changing the add-ins every time. I developed that recipe first by using raspberries but on other occasions I have added walnuts, chocolate chips, cocoa and strawberries add-ins.

This particular banana bread is all the more special because the batter here uses SIX (no kidding!) VERY RIPE bananas which imparts super-intense banana flavour to this bundt cake. I love all the above mentioned banana bread versions dearly but this here has become my favourite. I had very ripe banans sitting on the counter, begging to be used. The husband and I both ended up picking up a bunch of bananas on the same day. Due to chill in the air I have traded my usual breakfast of smoothies made with frozen bananas with piping hot cinnamon stovetop oatmeal so I had to come up with a way to use up this substantial quantity of bananas at my disposal. That’s when I developed this recipe which absolutely deserves a place in your repertoire too, prefect for times when you find yourself drowning in excess ripe banana situation like myself. I used some more bananas to bake chocolate chip banana brownies (recipe next up!) later in the week which turned out pretty good as well.

Six-Bananas Banana Bread Bundt Cake-2

This is your quintessential banana bread laced with sublime flavour from cinnamon and nutmeg. The addition of spices also makes your house smell divine while baking. Also, it’s baked in a bundt pan instead of a loaf pan and in my book, bundt > loaf! ❤️
Bundt cakes are truly awesome when baking for groups, potlucks and picnics. This cake is soft, moist and the crumb; gorgeous. It could be baked ahead and travels beautifully because it’s quite sturdy. Serving it warm just out of the oven is highly recommended and so is generous drizzle of sea salt caramel sauce. A scoop of vanilla takes it few notches up and is just the thing for your post-dinner dessert cravings. You could obviously have a slice for breakfast because B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

I’ll leave you to a recipe now. Do leave a comment if you have any questions or just to say hi. Have a great rest of the week people!

Six-Bananas Banana Bread Bundt Cake-3

Print Recipe
 Six-Bananas Banana Bread Bundt Cake
Course Cake, Desserts
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 60 minutes
Servings
slices
Ingredients
Course Cake, Desserts
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 60 minutes
Servings
slices
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven at 180ºC/350ºF. Grease the bundt pan with oil and set aside.
  2. In a large microwave-safe mixing bowl, melt the butter at high power for 30-60 seconds. Let cool for 5 minutes. Whisk in eggs using hand whisk, one at a time, until completely incorporated followed by white sugar and cane sugar. Whisk in yogurt, vanilla and 2 1/2 cup mashed bananas.
  3. In another bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Gently fold in dry ingredients to the wet ingredients using rubber spatula.
  4. Transfer batter to the bundt pan and bake for 55-60 minutes. Mine was done in 57 minutes exactly. Let the cake cool in the bundt pan placed on a wire rack. After about 10 minutes of cooling, invert the cake on wire rack and pour sea salt caramel sauce on top. Slice and serve warm. Store cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Recipe Notes

I have used 1/2 cup sugar in total in this recipe as I wanted to top the cake with sea salt caramel sauce. You could add another 1/4-1/2 cup sugar to the cake batter if you prefer sweeter cakes.

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Aug
2017

Peach Banana Breakfast Cake ~ Eggfree & Whole Wheat

categories: Baking, Breakfast, Cake, Cakes, Desserts, Summer

Peach Banana Breakfast Cake-1

Peach season has almost ended around here but if you are still able to get your hands on some fresh or even canned peach for that matter, that could turn your breakfast into major awesomeness. Yes! This banana breakfast cake could be made with either fresh or canned peach. I have used the fresh ones here but I would use canned variety in a heartbeat if need be.

I first made this cake with strawberries back in the strawberry season days in February but didn’t get a chance to blog hence I decided to bake it again using peach this time so that you all could try it during stone-fruit season but alas, I am late again. Surely you guys have come to expect this erratic behaviour from me by now and I don’t even have any silly excuse to back me up here anymore. ?

Peach Banana Breakfast Cake-2

Coming back to the cake, as the title suggests, this cake here is eggfree and the batter is made using whole wheat flour, smidgen of oil and little cane sugar. You could replace cane sugar with powdered jaggery to make it refined sugar-free. Totally wholesome breakfast material. But there’s more. You could also make it vegan by using a vegan variety of yogurt or buttermilk. Win-win for everyone!

This recipe has lots of cinnamon which is my most favourite flavour to bake with after vanilla. Also, in my book, banana, peach and cinnamon go hand in hand and I love whole teaspoon of ground cinnamon here to enhance the banana flavour but if you don’t like then skimp down on cinnamon by adding half a teaspoon and a pinch of nutmeg if that’s your thing. If plums or apricots are available to you, use them on top in place of peach. Apart from strawberries, I have tried the plum version as well and it works beautifully. Basically, switch things up as you fancy and still the end product would be this gorgeous looking CAKE you’d want to devour in seconds.

Topping the cake batter with fruit instead of layering the fruit at the bottom makes demoulding this cake a breeze, definitely not as tricky as an upside-down cake. It also eliminates the chance that part/s of fruit would get stuck to the bottom of the cake pan. Topping it with granulated sugar before baking makes peach reach jam-like consistency while cooking in the oven. This in turn enhances the sweetness of peaches and helps in keeping the total added sugar to the minimum. Make this cake ASAP as it is just what your breakfast table needs alongside a cup of coffee.

Have a lovely rest of the week folks!

PS : If you’re in Mumbai, stay safe!

Peach Banana Breakfast Cake-3

Print Recipe
 Peach Banana Breakfast Cake
Course Breakfast, Cake, Desserts
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings
slices
Ingredients
Course Breakfast, Cake, Desserts
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings
slices
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven at 180ºC/350ºF. Grease an 8-inch round cake pan with oil and set aside.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
  3. In another medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together oil, mashed banana, cane sugar/powdered jaggery, vanilla and buttermilk.
  4. Gently fold in dry ingredients into wet ingredients. Be careful not to overmix. Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan. Top with the peach slices (as shown in the image) and granulated white sugar. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes. Stays fresh for 3 days stored in an airtight container in refrigerator.

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Jul
2017

Whole Wheat Cinnamon Buttermilk Waffles

categories: Breakfast, Desserts

Weekends to me are for leisurely breakfast with a pot of coffee. English breakfast and pancakes are my absolute favourites, followed by waffles. To be honest, I love waffles equally but finding a decent place in the neighbourhood which serves healthy and low-calorie waffles is far more challenging than I thought. On top of all the calories you seem to pile on and money you spend, hardly any place seem to get the texture even remotely right so there goes my weekend mojo and moolah. Ha! So one fine day, husband decided to surprise me with a waffle maker. Ta-da! Problem solved (We own this model but it’s out-of-stock on Amazon at the moment, for other options see ‘shop the recipe’ section below the recipe section). 

Bazillion waffle combinations here I come! Breakfast, meal or dessert; using whole wheat, oats or sorghum flour; topped with fried/pached eggs, cheese, mango, berries, Nutella, maple syrup or ice cream; well you get the idea. ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES! It’s truly such a versatile piece of equipment you could invest into, to up the delicious quotient of your weekend brunch situation.

Just like all the recipes on this blog, this recipe could not have been simpler. Definitely groggy eyes and child friendly. Addition of brown butter is an extra step but lends such a great depth of flavour and your kitchen will smell fantastic. And if you don’t want to do the extra step to brown the butter (if that’s even possible!), replace it with a healthier substitute – extra virgin coconut oil. All other ingredients are usual pantry staples. These waffles have crispy exterior and soft interior, just how perfect waffles should be. So what are you waiting for?

Go on and have a lovely weekend. ✨

Print Recipe
 Whole Wheat Cinnamon Buttermilk Waffles
A simple recipe using pantry staples. These waffles have crispy exterior and soft interior, just how perfect waffles should be!
Course Breakfast, Desserts, Waffles
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Servings
waffles
Ingredients
Course Breakfast, Desserts, Waffles
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Servings
waffles
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Do this step if you're using brown butter - Heat a pan on a medium-low heat and add butter. Let the butter melt, once the water from it evaporates it will begin to brown. Keep an eye on it as it browns quickly. The butter will begin to smell nutty. Remove from the heat and immediately transfer the browned butter to a small bowl. Let cool for 5 minutes.
  2. In one bowl, whisk together whole wheat flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
  3. In a liquid measuring jar, whisk in egg, cane sugar, brown butter/olive oil, buttermilk and vanilla, in this same order.
  4. Make a well in the center of dry ingredients and add liquid ingredients to it. Stir together using silicon spatula until well combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Make waffles as per the manufacturer's instructions of your waffle maker. Serve immediately topped with seasonal fruits and a drizzle of maple syrup.

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Here are some items I used to make today’s recipe.

                   

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Jun
2017

Mango Strawberry Semolina Cake {Eggfree}

categories: Baking, Cake, Cakes, Desserts, Summer

I can tolerate summer only because it’s a mango season and I get to eat my weight in mangoes until next summer. It does more harm than good for my waistline but we all have our weaknesses, don’t we? Having said that eaten at right time it has numerous benefits like high in fiber, antioxidants, potassium and Vitamin A to name a few. Having mangoes for breakfast is the best time due to it’s high sugar and calorie content so I usually add them to my morning smoothies and chia puddings and this cake is another way to have mangoes for breakfast with a cup of tea or coffee.

The cake uses semolina for a regular all purpose flour substitute but rises beautifully and has got good crumb. Pairing of mango and strawberry is absolutely divine and one for the books. The cake uses few simple ingredients and mango is the hero here so be sure to use good quality, sweet mangoes for best tasting cake, I have used Alphonso mangoes. The cake batter comes together in minutes and is super easy to whip up even for a novice baker but looks oh-so-fancy because of strawberries on top. It’s an eggfree, vegan recipe which makes it suitable for all kinda palates and diets. So if you are still on a look out for a cake to bake for Father’s day, your dad will be ecstatic with this one.

Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful fathers! xx

 

Print Recipe
 Mango Strawberry Semolina Cake {Eggfree}
Course Cake, Desserts
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings
slices
Ingredients
Course Cake, Desserts
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings
slices
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Grease a round 8-inch cake pan with oil. Preheat the oven at 170ºC/350ºF.
  2. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together fine semolina, baking powder and salt.
  3. In another mixing bowl, whisk together coconut oil, mango purée, castor sugar and vanilla extract.
  4. Gently fold in flour mixture to the wet ingredients until just combined using rubber spatula. Do not over-mix.
  5. Pour the batter in the cake pan. Top with the strawberry halves (cut-side down) in circular fashion and sprinkle raw sugar on top. Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  6. Let cool for 5 minutes on a cooling rack before unmoulding the cake. Serve as is or topped with fresh whipped cream, plain yogurt or vanilla ice cream. Keeps well for 3 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Recipe Notes

Feel free to substitute fresh peaches, apricots or cherries for strawberries as per seasonal availability.

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Aug
2014

Skinny Summer Popsicles

categories: Desserts, Ice-creams, Summer
Skinny Summer Popsicles1
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!

 

Skinny Summer Popsicles2

 

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