Eggless Fruit and Nut Cake

This fruit cake is great not just for Christmas but for any special occasion. The aromas of flavorful spices, exotic nuts, dried fruits, and fruit juices make this cake almost irresistible.

 

Ingredients:

Plain Flour- 1 cup

Butter-120g

Brown Sugar-120g

Baking soda-1/2 tsp

Baking powder-1tsp

Sugar-1 cup

Cinnamon powder-1 tsp

Clove powder-1/4 tsp

Cardamom Powder- 1/2 tsp

Fruit Juice -1/3 cup ( I used Orange juice)

Mixed Fruits (sultanas, raisins, cherries, dates, tutti frutti)-, 120g roughly chopped.

Mixed Nuts (cashew nuts, Walnuts, almonds)- 120g roughly chopped

Orange marmalade (I used mixed fruit jam)-2 tbsp

Vanilla essence- 1 tsp

Curd-1 tbsp

blanched and peeled almonds for decoration

Soaking the fruit mix: 

Soak the dried fruits and nuts in orange juice for a day. The juice will get absorbed by the dry fruits and they will look plump

 

Method:

1.Pre heat the oven 180 degree C

2.Shift the flour along with the baking powder, soda and spice powder

3.In a mixing bowl, beat butter till it becomes light and fluffy. Add brown sugar and sugar mix well

4.Then add the yogurt, then jam whisk well. Add the soaked fruits along with the juice, nuts and combine everything together.

5.Add these dry ingredients to the fruit mixture a little at a time, mixing with a spoon. Decoratively arrange the almonds over the top of the cake.

6.If it is not in dropping consistency, add some milk as required.

7.Pour into the greased tins and bake at 180 degrees C for 15 to 20 mins.

8.Test the center of the cake if it is done. Cool for 15 minutes in pan.

Enjoy!

Eggless Fruit n Nuts Cookies

Fruit n Nuts Cookies

These cookies are tasty and colorful and full of flavor from the fruit and nuts. Fruit n nuts Cookies are a real treat for their luscious taste and spellbinding aroma and perfect choice for the holiday season.  These soft, colorful cookies are a nice addition to a Christmas dessert tray.

Ingredients:

All Purpose Flour - 1 cup

Unsalted Butter -1/2 cup

Powdered Sugar -  1/2 cup

Tutti Frutti - 1/3 cup

Milk - 1 to 2 tbsp

Dates- 1/4 cup coarsely chopped

Cherries-1/4cup

Toasted walnuts,Cashew  - 1/4cup coarsely chopped

 

(I used a combination of raisins, dates,dried cherries//walnuts &cashews)

Method:

1.   In a mixing bowl add powdered sugar and butter. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy - Add maida, tutti frutti , dried fruit and nuts and mix well.

2.   Add milk to form a soft sticky dough. Lay a butter paper and roll the dough and form a log(dust flour if needed).

3. Divide the dough in half and place each half and Wrap it with butter paper  Roll each log in the butter paper and  Put it up in the freezer to make the dough firm for 30 to 40 min.

4.Cut log into slices or cut it with a cookie cutter and Bake it at 180 deg C for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are slightly golden brown. Transfer carefully in a rack and cool it.Store in airtight container.

Vermicelli /Semiya Vada

Vermicelli /Semiya Vada is a delicious spicy snack coated with flour and mixed with spices and chopped chillies before getting deep fried in hot oil. Serve the crispy hot Vermicelli vada with coconut chutney or tomato sauce as evening time snack.

Ingredients

Vermicelli-/Semiya - 2 cups

Onion-1 finely chopped

Green.chillies-2 finely chopped

Ginger-2 tspgrated

Gram flour-1 cup

Rice flour-1 tbsp

Maida-1 tsp

Redchilli powder- 1tsp

Yoghurt-1 cup

Curry leaves-1 sprig

Salt- to taste

Oil- for frying

Method:

Boil some water and cook the vermicelli for few min and drain it and allow to  cool

In yogurt add cooked vermicelli in a bowl and add ginger ,green chilies, onion and Mix with all other ingredients.

Yoghurt is enough to make a dough, if not add little bit water.

Press in your palm to flatten it & Fry these vadas till golden brown and crispy.

Serve hot with any kind of chutneys or Tomato ketchup. 

Fresh Ginger-Lemon &Honey Cookies

The Fresh lemon ginger cookies are treats those who like sour, sugary, tangy with spice.I love ginger, lemon& honey. Honey and lemon is always so soothing and the lemon and ginger really shone through and complemented each other well ;and in these cookies the honey was delicately lingering in the background... Well to be honest the ginger cookies turned out soft and lovely balance of crispy and chewy and full of ginger & lemon aroma with spicy flavor. 

 

Ingredients:

All Purpose flower- 200 gms

Butter-115 gms

Powdered Sugar- ½ cup

Brownsugar- ½ cup

Baking Powder- 1 tsp

Baking soda- ½ tsp

Honey – 2 tbsp

Lemon zest -2 tsp

Fresh lemon juice -1tsp

Ground ginger-1tbsp

Cardamom- ½ tsp

 

Method:

1.Preheat oven to 180°C.

2.Add the flour, baking powder, ginger, baking soda and mix until well combined.

3.Cream the butter together with the sugar and honey until light and fluffy.

4.Grate in the lemon zest and finely chop the ginger and add to the bowl along with the lemon juice and ground ginger.

 

5.Add the flour and beat together until all incorporated. knead to a smooth dough.

6.Flatten then slightly using the palm of your hand and place on the baking tray.

7.Bake in the oven for 12-14 minutes until they are golden brown in colour.

8.Allow to cool before storing in an airtight container.Enjoy with Hot Tea or Coffee.