Category: Dessert

Sapna2 Comments

Thandai Infused Rainbow Crème Brûlée (Vegan)

A creamy, rich, aromatic custard with a beautiful caramelized crust that is unbelievably easy to make.  This Thandai Infused Crème Brûlée is a twist on the classic French dessert by using coconut cream and coconut milk making it vegan and gluten-free.

Holi has always been one of my favorite Indian festivals.  The colors, the food, the fun.  What makes it even more special is that 8 years ago, my husband bent down on one knee in the middle of a very public festival (the organizers were in on it as were our siblings and friends) and everyone (about at least 100 people) stopped playing to watch him ask me to marry him.  I will always treasure that moment.

So for this Holi, I decided to do a fun fusion in honor of my very special husband.  His favorite dessert is crème brûlée.  What better way than to infuse a Holi special drink of Thandai and combine my two favorite events together?  Honestly, it tastes SO YUM that I had to stop myself from “tasting” the custard before it set.

WHAT DO I NEED FOR A VEGAN CREME BRULEE?

Full-fat Coconut Milk and Coconut Cream – this is important to give the custard it’s rich creamy texture.
Arrowroot Powder – this acts as a thickening agent.
Agave – for that hint of sweet
Thandai Masala – this is going to lend that brilliant aromatic and floral flavor to the custard
Saffron – for a beautiful golden color
Vanilla Extract
Almond Milk
Sugar
Rainbow Sprinkles – optional but I love how the colors brighten up the dessert
Salt

THREE IMPORTANT STEPS TO A PERFECT THANDAI INFUSED CREME BRULEE

1. Infusing the thandai masala.  This is important to get that flavor in there.  The longer you infuse, the better the end result will be.

2. Blending all of the ingredients.  This is extremely important because the arrowroot powder can clump and that would ruin the whole dessert.  When you blend it into a smooth liquid, you end up with a rich, silky dessert.

3. Once it’s blended, whisk the mixture on the stove constantly to prevent it clumping and/or burning until you get your custard consistency.

THE CHERRY SUGAR ON TOP
How can I possibly leave this part out?  This is my favorite part.  I used cane sugar to layer on top of the custard but for my Holi special, I used colored sugar and dusted the caramelized sugar to symbolize the fun of Holi.  Take a blowtorch and carefully caramelize the sugar.  If you don’t have a blowtorch – don’t worry!  I’ve included directions in the recipe card to caramelize the sugar using a broiler.  Reminder – the top won’t be as crunchy using the broiler setting but it will do the trick to caramelize your sugar.

This recipe is perfect for Holi, Diwali, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, or pretty much any occasion you want to celebrate.  I might even make this again for our next date night.  Feel free to add berries.  I chose not to this time because I wanted the colors to shine.

I hope you enjoy this as much as we did!  Feel free to follow and share comments on my Instagram and Facebook pages!  I would love to hear your thoughts!

From my kitchen to yours, I hope you enjoy this decadent THANDAI INFUSED RAINBOW CREME BRULEE!

Vegan Thandai Infused Crème Brûlée

Vegan Thandai Infused Crème Brûlée
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Sapna
March 23, 2021
by Sapna
Cuisine French and Indian Fusion
Category Dessert Indian
Persons
4
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Wait Time
6 hours
Total Time
35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 13.5 oz can coconut milk
  • 2 1/2 Tbsp Thandai Masala
  • 1/2 tsp saffron
  • 1/2 c canned coconut cream
  • 1/4 c toasted coconut almond milk
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
  • 2 Tbsp sugar
  • 1/4 c agave
  • 1/4 c arrowroot powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt

For the caramelized sugar crust:

Instructions

  1. Combine the coconut milk and thandai masala in a medium sized saucepan and bring to a boil on high heat. Reduce heat to medium flame and let simmer for 5 minutes while you whisk every 2-3 minutes to avoid the milk from boiling over or burning.
  2. Add in the saffron and continue simmering for another 10 minutes.
  3. Let the milk cool down then strain into your blender. Add in the the coconut cream, almond milk, vanilla extract, sugar, agave, arrowroot powder, and salt. Blend on high for 1-2 minutes to achieve a smooth texture.
  4. Transfer back to the saucepan and cook on medium heat for another 10 minutes. Be sure to stir continuously so as to avoid clumping and burning.
  5. It will thicken up into a pudding consistency. Once it reaches to this consistency, turn off heat and transfer immediately into 4 ramekins.
  6. Refrigerate for 6-8 hours.
  7. Remove from fridge and top each ramekin with an even and slightly thick layer of sugar.
  8. Using a blowtorch (keep it about 1" away to avoid burning), caramelize the sugar. Dust the rainbow sprinkles once the caramelized sugar has cooled down.
  9. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

**If you do not have a blowtorch, set your ramekins on the highest rack in the oven and broil on high for 3-5 minutes.  Watch carefully so as not to burn.

Tags

Creme Brulee,
Dessert,
French Fusion,
Indian Fusion,
Kid Friendly,
make ahead,
Vegan,
Vegan Dessert,
vegetarian
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**Note: The ramekins I used are passed on to me from a family member but the ones I’ve featured in the tools list are the closest in size and shape to the ones that I used.

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Pistachio Pudding Bundt Cake

Soft, moist, light, creamy, and a little crunchy, this pistachio cake has it all!  Fresh ground pistachios in the cake with some more drizzled over the top gives it a perfect crunch.

I’ve made this delicious cake several times but every time, we dig in right away and never get a chance to photograph it.  With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, I knew I wanted to make it again…. I just needed to make it at 6:30am so that I would actually be able to take photos to share with all of you.

The pudding mix makes this cake really moist which I love.  Add to that the fresh pistachios and the almond extract which enhances the nutty flavor, you just may become addicted to this cake like we have.

From my kitchen to yours, I hope you enjoy this delicious Pistachio Pudding Bundt Cake!

Pistachio Pudding Bundt Cake

Pistachio Pudding Bundt Cake
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Sapna
March 16, 2021
by Sapna
Category Dessert
Persons
12
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
50 minutes
Wait Time
10 minutes
Total Time
1 hour, 10 minutes

Ingredients

For the cake batter:

  • 1 package yellow cake mix
  • 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant pistachio pudding mix
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 c water
  • 1/2 c milk
  • ¼ c oil ( I like to use olive)
  • ½ tsp almond extract
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 c shelled pistachios, ground
  • 7 drops green food coloring (optional)

For the frosting:

  • 2 c confectioner's sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 Tbsp milk
  • Garnish:
  • 1/4 c shelled pistachios, roughly chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 10 inch bundt cake pan.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, then add in the water, oil, and milk and mix until well combined. Add in the pudding mix and the vanilla and almond extract and mix well.
  3. If you are choosing to add the food coloring, add it in at this point..
  4. Now add in the cake mix and mix well to combine all of the ingredients.
  5. Fold in the pistachios and mix gently.
  6. Transfer the batter to greased bundt cake pan.
  7. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until cake springs back when lightly pressed. Cool in pan 15 minutes. Turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.

For the Frosting:

  1. Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl and whisk gently into a thick syrup consistency. Pour over the cake when it has completely cooled. Garnish with chopped pistachios.

Tags

desserts,
Green Cake,
Pistachio Bundt Cake,
Pistachios,
Pudding Mix,
St. Patrick's Day
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Apple Pie Bread

A little variation on banana bread, I added in some sweet apples, lots of cinnamon (as requested by my little ones), just a hint of nutmeg, and a streusel topping to finish it off is the perfect afternoon snack.  (Spoiler Alert:  It doesn’t last more than a day – maybe two – in our house.  It flies so quickly!)

I first made this loaf to take as a treat with me when I took the girls hiking last month.  We did almost 4 miles with quite an uphill so I was proud of my littles ones who not only trekked without a single complaint, they also put up with me while I took pics of them with cows in the background as they thought their Mom was crazy!

Let me get back on track though and tell you a little more about this delicious loaf!  The base recipe is similar to that of a banana bread but I wanted it a little more moist to balance the addition of spices so I added in a bit of yogurt.  The sweetness of ripe bananas and the warm spices to give a hint of apple pie is so amazing of a combination.  Who says you can only have apple pie in the fall?!

This recipe makes enough for two large loaves or 4 minis.  I’ve made both depending on what occasion I’m using these.  I love the minis for gifts or travel (the hike was a perfect example) and the large loaves I’ll use to pack in lunches, give as an afternoon snack, or even with breakfast on the weekends.

Here are a few other loaves to check out:
Spiced Pear Loaf
Pumpkin Bread
Zucchini Bread
Lemon Blueberry Mini Loaves

Can you tell we love fruity loaves in this house?!

From my kitchen to yours, I hope you enjoy eating this Apple Pie Bread.

Apple Pie Bread

Apple Pie Bread
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Sapna
February 25, 2021
by Sapna
Category Breads Dessert
Persons
24
Serving Size
1 slice
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
65 minutes
Wait Time
10 minutes
Total Time
1 hour, 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs
  • 1/3 c yogurt, plain and nonfat
  • 1/2 c oil (vegetable or olive)
  • 1 c ripe bananas, mashed (2 large or 3 medium sized)
  • 1 c peeled & diced apple (about 1 small apple)
  • 1 c brown sugar
  • 1/2 c white sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 c AP flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp salt

For the Streusel Topping

  • 3 Tbsp flour
  • 1/4 c brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp butter, softened

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray two 9x5 loaf pans with non-stick baking spray and set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, yogurt and oil until completely emulsified. Add mashed bananas, sugars and vanilla and stir until well combined.
  3. In a smaller bowl combine dry ingredients and whisk until well incorporated.
  4. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir until just combined. Fold in apples.
  5. Pour half the batter into each baking pan.
  6. Combine streusel ingredients and stir until mixture is uniform and crumbly. Sprinkle half streusel mix over each loaf.
  7. Bake for 60-70 minutes. Check with a toothpick in the center of the loaf to see if it comes out dry.
  8. Remove from oven and let cool in bread pans for about 10 minutes. Overturn onto a cooling rack to cool fully.
  9. Wrap in plastic wrap and store at room temp on your counter for up to 5 days or in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Notes

**To make the mini loaves, reduce baking time by 25% or bake for 40-45 minutes.  


Tags

Apple Pie,
bread,
Dessert,
Kid Friendly,
Loaf,
Snack,
Treats,
vegetarian
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Sapna4 Comments

Rose Pistachio Ice Cream

Who doesn’t love ice cream?  And this delicious and timeless combination is perfect to surprise your significant other or loved ones for a great Valentine’s day (or any special day) dessert.

It’s luscious, creamy, tasty, and has this gorgeous pink hue from the rose syrup that is so pretty! The best part, I didn’t have to cook it and I spent less than 10 minutes making it!  The hardest part was waiting for the ice cream to set!

Pistachios are an evergreen favorite of mine.  I add it to anything I can and pistachio ice cream is a favorite of mine.  For Valentine’s Day, I wanted to add a little symbol of love to this recipe and what beats roses for love day?  As I experimented, the addition of rose syrup was a given but I played around with rose water also because while the syrups lends a sweetness and a beautiful pink color, the rose water is where the aroma comes in.  That beautiful, sweet rose flavor makes me think of flowers in the house!

Go ahead, give this a try for your loved ones this Valentine’s Day and I promise you will not be disappointed!  The earthy and floral combination is sure to be a hit!

From my kitchen to yours, I hope you enjoy this delicious Rose Pistachio Ice Cream!

Rose Pistachio Ice Cream

Rose Pistachio Ice Cream
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Sapna
February 12, 2021
by Sapna
Category Dessert
Prep Time
10 minutes
Wait Time
24 hours
Total Time
10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 480 gm (2 c) heavy whipping cream
  • 76.5 gm (1/4 c)sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 tsp rose water
  • 1 Tbsp Rose Syrup
  • 300 gm (2 c) pistachios, roughly chopped
  • 1 tsp dried rose petals to garnish
  • 1 tsp pistachios, finely chopped to garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a large bowl in the freezer for at least 30 minutes
  2. Add heavy cream to chilled bowl and beat it until stiff peaks are formed
  3. Add in the condensed milk, rose water, and rose syrup and continue beating for another 30-45 seconds until thick
  4. Gently fold in the chopped pistachios
  5. Pour mixture into a 9x5 loaf pan and cover with saran wrap. Freeze overnight to let the ice cream set
  6. Garnish with rose petals and ground pistachios before serving

Notes

** I have linked the Rose Syrup and Rose Water to purchase online however you can also find it at your local MIddle Eastern or Indian Food Markets.

Tags

Date Night,
Easy Desserts,
egg free,
Ice cream,
make ahead,
Pistachio,
Rose,
Valentines Day
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If you love pistachios as much as I do, try out some of these other recipes:
Pistachio and Goat Cheese Crusted Spicy Lamb Chops
Pomegranate Pistachio Chia Pudding
Herb Roasted Acorn Squash with Pomegranates and Pistachios
Pear Halwa Cake
Fresco Carpaccio

Sapna1 Comment

Best Ever Oatmeal Lactation Cookies

Yup.  There’s such a thing!  And boy was I ever so happy to eat this one!  With my first child, I really struggled to nurse her after the first few months.  I didn’t know about these delicious cookies at that point but I wish I had.

When I was pregnant with my second child, I did plenty of research because I wanted to nurse her as well but I didn’t want to struggle.  But the better benefit of these cookies…. you’re always hungry when you are nursing and this was one of the few excuses left for me to eat cookies every day!

I’m not sure who’s recipe I used the first time around as I found it when I was at the hospital and honestly, I don’t remember much from those first few days.  I gave the recipe to my sister-in-law Shivani and she was sweet enough to whip up batches for me until I was able to do so myself.  Well, now it’s my turn to do the same for her!

If you’ve been following my blog, you’ll know that she just had the most adorable baby boy and I’m over the moon about being his aunt!

Anyways, over time, I changed the recipe a little to suit my tastes and needs but these delicious lactation cookies still provide the nutrients you need to help feed your little one!

Not sure how it works?  Take a look:

  • BREWER’S YEAST – this is considered to be a galactagogue but there are still studies going on to understand the full effects.
  • OATS – this is considered one of the best foods to eat for breastfeeding mothers.  They are also a great source of fiber, iron, magnesium, and zinc so you can’t really go wrong with this ingredient.
  • FLAXSEEDS  – these have phytoestrogens that help influence breastmilk production.  Added benefits include a boost of energy, positive effect on your mood, and help in getting rid of the baby blues.

If you are nursing or know someone who is nursing, these are one the of the most helpful foods the new mom can have.

If you bake them, store them at room temperature for up to 7 days in an airtight container.  You can also freeze the dough for up to 2 months.

If you’re making these as a gift for a new Momma, I usually like to bake a dozen to start her off and give her the dough so she can make the cookies as she wants them.  I personally would freeze or refrigerate the dough and make a few each day in my little toaster oven so I could have fresh cookies out of the oven!   So divine I tell you!

From my kitchen to yours, I hope these Lactation Cookies help you as much as they helped me!

Best Ever Oatmeal Lactation Cookies

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Sapna
January 27, 2021
by Sapna
Category Dessert
Persons
24
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
10 minutes
Total Time
25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 c old fashioned oats
  • 1 1/2 c whole wheat flour
  • 1/3 c + 1 Tbsp Brewer's Yeast
  • 1/4 c ground flaxseed
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3/4 c unsalted butter
  • 1/4 c Olive Oil
  • 1 c brown sugar
  • 1/4 c white sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 c chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
  2. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper
  3. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar, and white sugar.
  4. Add in the egg and whisk well to combine.
  5. Add in the oil and vanilla extract and continue to whisk.
  6. Add in the baking soda and baking powder and whisk to completely incorporate.
  7. Add in the salt and cinnamon and continue to mix.
  8. Now add in the flaxseed and brewer's yeast and whisk really well to combine.
  9. Finally add in the oats and flour and mix well.
  10. Fold in the chocolate chips.
  11. Scoop with a spoon or scooper onto baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Notes

** The order in which I added my ingredients is non-conventional from normal baking practices.  I realize this.  But it works.  The cookies turn out softer and with a better texture for me when I use this method.  If you don't feel comfortable, definitely stick to the traditional method of mixing wet and dry ingredients separately before combining them.  

**If you are baking these from the freezer, you may need to add a couple more minutes to the baking time.  


Tags

Brewer's Yeast,
flaxseed,
Lactation Cookies,
Nursing,
Oats
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Sapna7 Comments

Almond Cacao Energy Bites

Since making my New Year’s Resolution to eat healthier this year, I have significantly cut down on snacking, especially on fried foods or foods that are calorie dense but not necessarily nutrient dense.  But I do love snacking and therein lies the problem of how will I curb my cravings for the sweets and carbs that I so love.  In this quest to eat healthier, I decided I could not forgo my beloved snacks and therefore started a mission to create my own healthier ones.

Recently I posted the Almond Butter Breakfast Bars recipe to help me get a good start to my day and I’ve realized that I love incorporating almond flour into my recipes.  These Almond Cacao Energy Bites are a perfect balance of cacao powder, almond flour, and dates.  The cacao powder provides the perfect balance of chocolate and nutrition as it’s filled with antioxidants and magnesium!

The almond flour of course provides protein and a nutty flavor that balances out the sweetness in these bites.  The dates also add quite a bit of sweetness to these bites and are known to have a high sugar content but are fairly low on the glycemic index and have a high fiber content.  These energy bites are the perfect way to satisfy my sweet tooth and stay healthy.  Try them out for yourself and you will love them just as much as I do.

From my kitchen to yours, enjoy these delicious Almond Cacao Energy Bites!

Almond Cacao Energy Bites

Almond Cacao Energy Bites
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Sapna
January 19, 2021
by Sapna
Category Dessert
Serving Size
2 bites
Prep Time
2 minutes
Cook Time
3 minutes
Total Time
5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/4 c cacao powder
  • 2 c almond flour
  • 1 1/2 c pitted dates
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3/4 c shredded coconut
  • 3 Tbsp Almond Milk

Instructions

  1. In a food processor, combine cacao powder, dates, almond flour, coconut, and vanilla extract. Pulse for 1-2 minutes until a soft dough has formed.
  2. Add in the Almond Milk and process the mixture until a firm dough forms.
  3. Remove from the food processor and roll into 1" balls.

Notes

**I store these bites at room temp and they keep for up to 1 week on the countertop.  They keep well in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Tags

almonds,
Diabetic Friendly,
Fiber,
Gluten Free,
Healthy,
Paleo,
Sweet,
Vegan,
Whole30
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Sapna1 Comment

Lemon Blueberry Mini Loaves

A few days ago, my brother and sister-in-law were blessed with an adorable little baby!  Throughout her pregnancy, we had nicknamed the baby Blueberry and called him as such.  It is in honor of his birth that I dedicate this recipe to my little munchkin.  He is so adorable and cute, I’m so excited and lucky to be his aunt!

In the spirit of welcoming the new baby, I made these loaves in mini pans but you can absolutely bake them in a regular 9×5 loaf pan.

Last week, a friend was kind enough to share lemons from her lemon tree and they are absolutely amazing.  The juice from the lemons were the perfect complement to brighten up these lovely blueberry loaves.  In addition, I added a little yogurt and replaced the sugar with honey to give it just a hint of sweet without overpowering it.  The addition of these two ingredients makes the loaves even more fluffy and light.

Pair it with coffee or chai to complement a slice of this delicious loaf for breakfast, snack, or dinner.  Once you’ve baked them, they will keep at room temperature for up to 1 week and in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.  Though, we’re pretty good about making sure they are eaten pretty quickly!

From my kitchen to yours, enjoy these delicious Lemon Blueberry Mini Loaves.

Lemon Blueberry Mini Loaves

Lemon Blueberry Mini Loaves
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Sapna
January 15, 2021
by Sapna
Category Breads Dessert
Persons
4
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Total Time
45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 c AP flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 c honey
  • 1/2 c yogurt
  • 1/4 c oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/4 c lemon juice
  • 3/4 c fresh blueberries
  • 1 Tbsp flour

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease with cooking spray 4 mini loaf pans and set aside.
  2. Combine flour, salt, and baking powder and mix well to incorporate.
  3. In a separate bowl, add eggs and whisk until you start seeing bubbles and the eggs are light and airy. Add in yogurt, honey, oil, and lemon juice. Whisk well to combine.
  4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until completely combined.
  5. In a small bowl, combine the blueberries with the remaining 1 Tbsp flour and toss to coat all the blueberries evenly. This process will help prevent the blueberries from sinking.
  6. Gently fold the blueberries into the batter with the lemon zest. Be careful to not over mix.
  7. Transfer the batter to loaf pans and bake for 30 minutes.
  8. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
  9. Loaves will keep at room temperature for up to 1 week and 2 weeks in the fridge.

Notes

**To make 1 large loaf, use a 9x5 loaf pan and bake 50 minutes at 350 degrees F. 


Tags

baking,
Breakfast,
Dessert,
Fresh Fruit,
Lemon Blueberry Bread,
Snack
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Sapna4 Comments

Pumpkin Bread

One of the best things about the Fall season is pumpkin bread.  The spices and the aroma when you are baking it compares to no other.  It makes me feel so warm and cozy and ready for the winter.

I love this pumpkin bread recipe because:

  • It’s moist
  • Easy to make
  • Isn’t too dense
  • Has all the Fall spices:  Cinnamon, Ginger, Cloves, & Nutmeg
  • Fun to make with the kids


Here’s a little trick….. to keep it moist, I added applesauce to the batter.  You can’t taste it but it makes the pumpkin bread so much better!

The girls have been eating it in the mornings with breakfast and I love having a slice in the afternoon with my cuppa chai.  It’s perfect to snack on any time of the day!  And with the holidays right around the corner, make an extra batch for a relative or neighbor.  What a great gift to give too!

If you like this Pumpkin Bread recipe, try out….

My Spiced Pear Loaf and Zucchini Bread.

From my kitchen to yours, I hope you enjoy this Pumpkin Bread!

Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin Bread
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Sapna
November 30, 2020
by Sapna
Category Breads Dessert
Persons
1
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
55 minutes
Wait Time
5 minutes
Total Time
1 hour, 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 (15oz) can pumpkin puree
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 c vegetable oil
  • 1/3 c water
  • 1/2 c applesauce, unsweetened, plain
  • 1 c brown sugar
  • 1 3/4 c whole wheat flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and grease a 9x5 loaf pan with cooking spray
  2. In a large bowl, mix pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water, applesauce, and sugar until well blended to a smooth, creamy texture.
  3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Mix well to incorporate.
  4. Add dry ingredients to the pumpkin puree and mix until well combined.
  5. Pour into greased loaf pan and bake 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  6. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

*To make this vegan, switch out the eggs with flax seeds.  
For 1 egg = 1 Tbsp flax seeds + 3 Tbsp water


Tags

bread,
Dessert,
Fall baking,
Pumpkin,
Snack,
vegetarian
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Sapna8 Comments

Rangoli Ladoos

Diwali has always been a special festival growing up in my family… in fact for most Indian families.  It’s the Festival of Lights, where we celebrate faith and hope and wish that everyone has a bright future, happiness and prosperity in their lives.

Everywhere you look, Diwali takes over with lights and colors.  Rangoli designs are a prominent component of Diwali, with the idea that it brings strength, good luck and genorosity.  Keeping in mind that very foundation of colors and brightness, I decided to bring the spirit of rangoli to my mithai (sweets) for Diwali this year.


Coconut ladoos are very popular in Indian and the best part is, they are very easy to make.  The basis of each ladoo was kept the same with the main ingredients being coconut, almond flour/ground almonds, and condensed milk.  The ratios vary based on the flavor and additions of the ladoo.

Here are the flavors I decided to go with:

  • Mango (seriously, how could I not include this flavor?!)
  • Lavender (because it’s a new obsession and the flavor and colors are so amazing!)
  • Rose (the colors, the fragrance, and the taste are so pretty, it makes me feel like a princess when I’m eating this!)
  • Mojito (…..yep.  No alcohol, but that hint of lime and mint….YUM!)
  • Coconut Almond (the original cannot be overlooked!)


Some tips to make it easier for you when you make this:

  • Use a non-stick skillet to make these.  It prevents the mixture from sticking and makes the process that much easier.
  • Make them vegan!  Use vegan condensed milk and coconut oil instead of ghee to roll the balls.
  • You can use frozen grated coconut.  Just leave it out for a little bit to thaw and bring to room temperature.
  • If you don’t want to use or don’t have almond flour available, substitute with the same amount of almonds and grind them up into a flour.  It’s an extra step but easy and a perfect swap.
  • When buying almond flour, make sure you buy the almond flour and NOT the blend.  I almost did that.  The blend has a mixture of rice and other ingredients that would change the taste of this dessert.


If you end up making any of these delicious ladoos, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram at @bitofspice146.  I would love to see your creations!

Rangoli Ladoos

Rangoli Ladoos
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Sapna
November 12, 2020
by Sapna
Cuisine Indian
Category Dessert Indian
Persons
15
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
6 minutes
Wait Time
30 minutes
Total Time
11 minutes

Ingredients

For the Coconut Ladoos:

  • 1/2 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 c shredded or grated coconut
  • 1 1/2 c almond flour
  • ghee to roll

For the Lavender Ladoos:

  • 1/2 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 c shredded or grated coconut
  • 1 1/2 c almond flour
  • 1 Tbsp Lavender petals, ground to a powder
  • 1 tsp purple food color
  • ghee to roll

For the Mojito Ladoos:

  • 1/2 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 c shredded or grated coconut
  • 1 1/2 c almond flour
  • 3 Tbsp Dried Mint, ground to a powder
  • 1 Tbsp Lime sugar
  • 1 tsp green food color, optional
  • ghee to roll

For the Mango Ladoos:

  • 1/2 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 1/2 c shredded or grated coconut
  • 2 c almond flour
  • 1/2 c Mango Pulp, or available at your local Indian store
  • ghee to roll

For the Rose Ladoos:

  • 1/2 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 c shredded or grated coconut
  • 1 3/4 c almond flour
  • 3 Tbsp Rooh Afza
  • 1 Tbsp Rose Water
  • ghee to roll

Instructions

For the Coconut Almond Ladoos:

  1. Heat a non stick skillet on medium flame and add the condensed milk. Cook while stirring for 1-2 minutes until it thins out. Be careful it doesn't burn.
  2. Add in the coconut and mix to combine well. Cook for an addition 1-2 minutes and you will see the water separating.
  3. At this point, add in the almond flour and mix. Keep stirring until it starts to form into a dough.
  4. Remove from heat and let cool for a couple of minutes.
  5. When it is still warm but not too hot to handle, grease your palms with ghee and roll into truffle balls.
  6. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to let them set.

For the Lavender Ladoos:

  1. Heat a non stick skillet on medium flame and add the condensed milk. Cook while stirring for 1-2 minutes until it thins out. Be careful it doesn't burn.
  2. Add in the lavender powder and purple food color.
  3. Add in the coconut and mix to combine well. Cook for an addition 1-2 minutes and you will see the water separating.
  4. At this point, add in the almond flour and mix. Keep stirring until it starts to form into a dough.
  5. Remove from heat and let cool for a couple of minutes.
  6. When it is still warm but not too hot to handle, grease your palms with ghee and roll into truffle balls.
  7. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to let them set.

For the Mojito Ladoos:

  1. Heat a non stick skillet on medium flame and add the condensed milk. Cook while stirring for 1-2 minutes until it thins out. Be careful it doesn't burn.
  2. Add in the mint powder and lime sugar and mix well. Also add in the green food color if using
  3. Add in the coconut and mix to combine well. Cook for an addition 1-2 minutes and you will see the water separating.
  4. At this point, add in the almond flour and mix. Keep stirring until it starts to form into a dough.
  5. Remove from heat and let cool for a couple of minutes.
  6. When it is still warm but not too hot to handle, grease your palms with ghee and roll into truffle balls.
  7. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to let them set.

For the Mango Ladoos:

  1. Heat a non stick skillet on medium flame and add the condensed milk. Cook while stirring for 1-2 minutes until it thins out. Be careful it doesn't burn.
  2. Add in the mango pulp and mix.
  3. Add in the coconut and mix to combine well. Cook for an addition 1-2 minutes and you will see the water separating.
  4. At this point, add in the almond flour and mix. Keep stirring until it starts to form into a dough.
  5. Remove from heat and let cool for a couple of minutes.
  6. When it is still warm but not too hot to handle, grease your palms with ghee and roll into truffle balls.
  7. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to let them set.

For the Rose Ladoos:

  1. Heat a non stick skillet on medium flame and add the condensed milk. Cook while stirring for 1-2 minutes until it thins out. Be careful it doesn't burn.
  2. Add in the Rooh Afza and Rose water and mix well.
  3. Add in the coconut and mix to combine well. Cook for an addition 1-2 minutes and you will see the water separating.
  4. At this point, add in the almond flour and mix. Keep stirring until it starts to form into a dough.
  5. Remove from heat and let cool for a couple of minutes.
  6. When it is still warm but not too hot to handle, grease your palms with ghee and roll into truffle balls.
  7. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to let them set.

Notes

*If using frozen shredded coconut, make sure to thaw it out to room temp to avoid extra moisture in the final product.
*If you don\'t have almond flour, substitute with almonds 1:1 ratio and grind into flour 
*To make this VEGAN, use vegan condensed milk and switch the ghee and use coconut oil


Tags

30 minute recipes,
Almond,
coconut,
desserts,
Diwali,
homemade,
Mithai,
Rangoli,
Sweet,
Vegan,
vegetarian
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Sapna4 Comments

Spiced Pear Loaf

I love a traditional banana bread but I also love changing out the fruits and making different types of loaves.  This Spiced Pear Loaf gives me a peek into the fall with its hints of cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger; the sweet pear chunks added in… oh so delicious!
IMG_7866
This bread uses milk and oil in addition to the pear chunks to give it just the right amount of moisture.  Use a 1:1 ratio of whole wheat flour and oats for a healthy balance of carbs, and just enough brown sugar to combine with the warm spices to bring fall home any time of the year!
IMG_7871
Use this loaf for a snack during recess, packed in your lunchboxes, or even as a sweet treat post meals.  So delicious and scrumptious, you have to try it out!
IMG_7862From my kitchen to yours, I hope you enjoy this delicious treat!

Spiced Pear Loaf

Spiced Pear Loaf
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Sapna
August 19, 2020
by Sapna
Category Breads Dessert
Persons
16
Serving Size
16 slices
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
55 minutes
Total Time
1 hour, 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 c old fashioned oats
  • 1 c milk
  • 1 c whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cardamom powder
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp cinnamon powder
  • 1/2 c brown sugar
  • 1/4 c oil
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla exract
  • 2 med pears, ripe, cored, peeled, diced

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Combine milk and oats and let sit for 15 minutes.
  3. In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients together including the spices.
  4. In a separate bowl, cream together oil and brown sugar. Add in the egg and beat well. Add in the vanilla extract and mix.
  5. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix well.
  6. Gently fold in chopped pears.
  7. Transfer batter to loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown crust and toothpick comes out clean from the center.
  8. Cool for 15 minutes before slicing.

Tags

baking,
bread,
comfort,
desserts,
Fall,
Loaf,
Oats,
Pear,
Snack,
spices,
Sweet,
vegetarian
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Sapna6 Comments

Chocolate Samosa

Rakhi is here and I wanted to make it special for the girls’ cousin Krish.  Traditionally, a sister ties a Rakhi (similar to a friendship bracelet) on their brother’s hand and feed them their favorite sweet.  In return, the brother gives his sister a gift as a token of love and both promise to honor and protect each other.
IMG_7965
It’s a really great festival to celebrate siblings and I wanted Krish to feel special.  So I asked his mom what his favorite desserts are and she said anything with chocolate (my kind of kid!).  I set my brain to work and really thought about different desserts I could make for him.

When I first thought of this fusion recipe, I was excited, nervous, and skeptical of how it would turn out.  As I started making it though, I saw this was going to be one of my best creations yet!
IMG_7954
What is a Chocolate Samosa?
A chocolate samosa is a delicious fusion of sweet chocolate (and your favorite add-ins) with a crust of a samosa.  Traditionally, a samosa is a savory snack made of a roti dough crust and filled with a potato pea mixture which is deep fried.

I took the concept of a samosa, and gave it a pie crust filled with Nutella.  Let me just say, I felt like complete bliss eating this delicious dessert!

To make these beauties, I made my pie crust and kept the dough in the fridge for an hour to keep it cool.  When making pie dough, you have to use cold butter and ice water but if the dough starts getting to room temperature, it can get sticky and hard to handle.

Once I pulled it out of the fridge, I divided it into 13 portions, rolled them out and cut them in half to make the samosa cones.  Fill them about 3/4 of the way with Nutella then seal the seam.  Freeze these for an hour (you can even keep them in the freezer up to 3 month) then when you’re ready, bake them for 15 minutes!
IMG_7959
Add-Ins
I did straight up Nutella for this one but who’s to say you can’t make other creations?  Here are a few ideas:

  • Coconut
  • Toffee
  • Almonds and sea salt
  • Pistachios
  • Cashews
  • White chocolate and hazelnut

Try it out and enjoy this delicious creation for Rakhi, Diwali, or any day you’re in the mood for some samosas and chocolate!

From my kitchen to yours, hope you fall in love with these Chocolate Samosas like I did!

Chocolate Samosa

Chocolate Samosa
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Sapna
August 3, 2020
by Sapna
Category Dessert
Persons
26
Serving Size
1 Samosa

Ingredients

For the Samosa Crust:

  • 2 1/2 c All Purpose Flour, plus extra for rolling
  • 1 c butter, very cold, cut into cubes
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1/2 c ice cold water
  • 1/4 c milk

For the filling:

  • 1 c Nutella

For the topping:

  • 1/4 c chocolate chips
  • 2 Tbsp milk
  • 2 Tbsp chopped pistachios

Instructions

  1. Add flour, sugar and salt to food processor and mix for 30 seconds to combine everything.
  2. Add in 1/2 the butter and mix for 30 seconds.
  3. Add in the remaining butter and mix for another 30 seconds.
  4. Add in 1/4 of the ice water and mix for 30 seconds to 1 minute. The dough should just start to combine.
  5. Add in the remaining ice water 1Tbsp at a time until the dough starts to form into a ball. Pulse while doing this, don't keep the processor on.
  6. Take the dough out of the processor and roll into a ball by hand. Cover in saran wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  7. Take the dough out of the fridge and divide into 13 equal portions.
  8. Roll out eat portion to about 6" diameter.
  9. Cut in half and fold into a triangle. Line the edge of one side with a little milk and fold the other edge over. Press firmly to seal the seams. This should give you a cone shape. Repeat with the rest of the dough.
  10. Fill each one 3/4 of the way with Nutella (or your favorite filling).
  11. Dab the edge of the top of the seam with milk and seal the samosas closed.
  12. If you don't want to use them right away, freeze for up to 3 months.
  13. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
  14. Brush the tops of the samosa with milk.
  15. Bake for 15 minutes.

For the topping:

  1. Warm chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl for 30 seconds. Remove and stir the chips and place back in the microwave for another 30 seconds. Repeat this process a total of 3 times.
  2. After the last time warming the chocolate, add in the milk and stir until you have a smooth chocolate sauce. Using a fork, drizzle over the samosas. Garnish with pistachios.

Tags

Celebration,
Chocolate Samosa,
Desi Dessert,
Desi Khana,
Diwali,
Indian Fusion,
make ahead,
Mithai,
Nutella,
Pie Crust,
Raksha Bandhan
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Sapna1 Comment

Oreo Cheesecake

From as far back as I can remember, my brother and I have always loved oreos.  Dunking them in milk, twisting them and eating the cream first, in shakes (mostly from fast food places), or hiding in the pantry and eating them (so my kids don’t catch me).
IMG_7907
Don’t Judge.  A mom’s gotta do what a mom’s gotta do!

So many years later, cookies and cream remains our favorite flavor; definitely a go to for me.

Monday is Raksha Bandhan which is a big festival for Hindus.  In a nutshell, this is a celebration between brothers and sisters where we promise to protect and honor each other.  The sisters usually feed the brothers their favorite dessert after tying a Rakhi (kind of like a friendship bracelet) and receive a gift from their brothers as token of love (my favorite part).
IMG_7908
Traditionally, I’ve done Indian sweets but my brother has never been a big fan of them.  Don’t get me wrong, they’re delicious, but just not what he prefers.  As I was sitting at the table planning Rakhi, I knew without a doubt in my mind I was going to make something with Oreos in it for him.

This Oreo Cheesecake is one of my favorites because it is not too sweet, is very easy to make and I don’t have to deal with a water bath.  I know the cheesecake masters are probably gasping and worried that I haven’t used a water bath, but to be honest, I don’t think this one needed it!
IMG_7913
It is very creamy on the inside with chunks of cookie in each bite and the cookie crust just finishes off this amazing cake.

I know Cheesecake is not a very traditional Mithai (dessert) for Rakhi, but it’s all about what my brother likes and I think I hit this one out of the park.
IMG_7914
What event will you make this delicious Oreo Cheesecake for?

From my kitchen to yours, enjoy every bite of this cheesecake!

Notes:
I used a 7″ springform pan for this recipe

Oreo Cheesecake

Oreo Cheesecake
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Sapna
August 1, 2020
by Sapna
Category Dessert
Persons
8

Ingredients

For the crust:

  • 15 Oreo cookies with cream filling, Original not double crust
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp butter, melted

For the Filling:

  • 12 oz cream cheese, softened at room temp
  • 1/2 c + 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 egg
  • 15 cookie halves, filling removed, crushed into chunks or pieces

Instructions

For the crust:

  1. Line springform pan with parchment paper, close the spring and cut around the edges removing excess parchment paper.
  2. In a food processor, blend the cookies into a fine crumb. Add in the butter and pulse 5-6 times.
  3. Line cheesecake pan and press down with your fingers evening out the crust.
  4. Set in fridge until filling is ready.

For the filling:

  1. Preheat oven to 325ºF.
  2. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with sugar until smooth. Add in egg and vanilla and beat until it is just combined.
  3. Fold in the cookie pieces being careful not to let in too much air.
  4. Fill cheesecake pan with the filling.
  5. Tap onto your counter a good 3-4 times to remove any air bubbles.
  6. Bake 20-22 minutes
  7. Cheesecake should be a little jiggly when you remove from the oven. Let it cool completely (about 30 minutes) before covering with foil wrap and refrigerate over night or at least 6 hours before serving.

Tags

Brothers Love,
Cheesecake,
Cookies and Cream,
Dessert,
Mithai,
Oreo Cheesecake,
Oreos,
Rakhi,
Raksha Bandhan
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Sapna2 Comments

Spiced Plum Crumble Bars

One of my very good friends, Diana, has a plum tree that produces an abundance of plums every year.  One of my favorite memories is when Sanaya was just over a year old, we had gone to her house and she let us pick plums in her backyard.  We had so many plums in our hands, I had walked away to put them in a basket.  When I came back, Sanaya had eaten half a plum (most of the juice was around her mouth and on her clothes) and was holding another she was getting ready to dive into.  It was one the best afternoons ever!
IMG_7830
We are a fruit loving family and we don’t discriminate (well, unless it’s mangoes – then everyone has to fend for themselves while I devour them).  At any given time, there’s always fresh fruit in the house and I love that my girls share mine and hubby’s love for them.  In honor of Diana’s plum tree (which I heard may not be around much longer and I almost cried), I got creative and added a little spice spin to these crumble bars.
IMG_7824
I love this recipe because it is so easy to come together.  For the filling, I stayed true to Salted Mint‘s filling.  I tried out a few different variations but I love this one the best because it is simple, adds the warmth of star anise and cinnamon and tastes amazing!
IMG_7831
For the crumble, I added hints of ginger and cardamom (I seriously felt like I could call this a Chai Spiced Plum Crumble because of the similar spices used). And the best is I can use the same mixture for the crust and crumble!
IMG_7834
For the oats, I used old fashioned oats and mixed it by hand.  You can absolutely pulse it in a food processor until you get a crumbly mixture.  Here is the food processor I love and use:

I don’t think anyone can stop eating just one bar!  These are so crumbly, flaky, sweet, tart, and have just a little hint of spice which just warms your insides up!

This recipe makes about 16 squares in a 8×8 baking pan.

Notes:
To store, place in a sealed container and keep in fridge for up to 1 week or in freezer for up to 2 months.

Keep the skin on the plums!  I wasn’t sure about this when I first started experimenting but it just becomes a part of the jam and you can’t even notice it!
IMG_7828
From my kitchen to yours, I hope you enjoy these delicious plum crumble bars!

Spiced Plum Crumble Bars

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Sapna
July 24, 2020
by Sapna
Category Dessert
Serving Size
16 square bars
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
35 minutes
Total Time
55 minutes

Ingredients

For the oats crumble:

  • 2 1/2 c old fashioned oats
  • 1 1/2 c whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 c dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 c butter, room temperature
  • 1/3 c almond milk (or any milk you use)
  • 1 tsp cardamom powder
  • 2 tsp ginger
  • 1/4 tsp salt

For the filling:

  • 8 med plums, cut into chunks
  • 1/2 c dark brown sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon powder
  • 1 star anise

Instructions

For the filling:

  1. In a medium saucepan, add plums, sugar, and spices together.
  2. On medium flame, cook for 15-20 minutes while stirring constantly.
  3. When the plums get to a jam like consistency, turn off stove, remove star anise, and let cool for 10 minutes.

For the oats crumble:

  1. Mix all the dry ingredients together.
  2. Add in the butter and milk.
  3. Pulse in food processor or mix by hand until you have a crumbly texture but the dough is moist enough to stick together.

Preheat oven to 350ºF

  1. Line an 8x8 inch pan with parchment paper and spray nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Press half the dough firmly into the pan.
  3. Add in the filling on top of the crust.
  4. Use the remaining dough to sprinkle as crumble over the top.
  5. Bake for 35 minutes.
  6. Remove from oven and let cool for 15 minutes.
  7. Slice into 16 squares.

Tags

baking,
Brunch,
Desi Fusion,
fresh,
MakeAhead,
Oats,
plums,
Quick and Easy,
spices,
Sustainable
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Sapna6 Comments

Mango Berry Bread Pudding Yum

My absolute favorite food on Earth is mangoes.  I can’t think of a time that I didn’t like them. I love hearing stories from my mom about how I could go through a case (about 10-12 mangoes) in a sitting when I was a kid.  Nowadays, I probably would end up with a tummy ache but I’m willing to give it a try. Continue reading “Mango Berry Bread Pudding Yum “ →