Monday, December 21, 2015

Julekake/Julekaga - Norwegian Christmas Bread




Today's recipe is a colorful Christmas bread which is popular in Norway and Denmark.The bread is scented with cardamom,originally green citrus peel is used along with cardamom.But here I used the raisins and tutty frutty.The bread came out so soft and love the texture of the bread.But the tutty frutty,stuffed is not uniformly mixed.So after stuffing it roll the dough smoothly for couple of minutes to get evenly distributed.Icing on the top of the bread can be optional.Off to the recipe........




                                                                      
                                                                                         Julekake


                                                                  
   Basic Information

   Recipe Source  My Diverse Kitchen
   Preparation time 30 minutes
   Proofing time 1 1/2 -2 hours
   Cooking time 30-35 minutes
   Makes 1
    


   Ingredients


  
Ingredient
Quantity
All purpose flour
1-1/4 cups+2 tbs
for dusting
Instant yeast
1 -1/4 tsp
Butter(melted)
2 tbs
Sugar
2 tbs
Luke warm Milk
1/2 cup+2 tbs
Salt
1/2 tsp
Cardamom powder1/4 tsp
Candied peel(tutty frutty)1/4 cup
Raisins1 tbs
Butter/milk/cream1 tbs(for brushing)


   For the icing


Ingredient
Quantity
Powdered sugar/confectionery
 sugar
1/2 cup
Vanilla 
1/4 tsp
Milk
2-3 tsp

    Method 
  • Take all purpose flour,instant yeast,salt,sugar,cardamom powder and butter in a bowl,mix it well.To this add the milk,knead it to a soft dough. Knead the dough on a floured surface for 10 minutes till it becomes smooth and elastic.

  •   Shape the dough and keep it in a warm place for 1 hour or the volume of the dough doubled.After the raise,punch down the dough and roll the dough to  a smooth ball.

  • After the raise,punch down the dough and roll the dough to  a smooth ball.Now on a floured surface,roll the the dough to 1/4 inch thickness.Spread the raisins and tutty frutty,roll it and smooth it to a round shape ball.Keep it on a lined baking tray and let it raise forabout 30 -40 minutes.

  • Preheat oven to 375 F and brush it with milk or butter.Bake it for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown.Cool it on a wire rack.After it cools down completely,mix in the powdered sugar with the milk to a dropping consistency.Pour it on top of the bread.Let it sit for another 10-15 minutes for the icing to set.

  • Slice it with a serrated knife 




  • The dough should be slightly stick,don't add too much of flour while kneading.
  • Pour the icing on top of the bread,once the its completely cool down. 
  • Roll the dough well after the stuffing is kept.
  • I baked the bread in the evening and sliced it next day morning.

Enjoy..................



Bake-a-thon 2015 











Sumber http://www.naliniscooking.com

Friday, December 18, 2015

Cream Horns/Cream filled Pastry Cones






Today's recipe is a simple dessert and can be made in no time if the pastry cones are baked already.All you need is mix in the whipped cream along with some powdered sugar and fill in the cone.To make it more attractive the pastry cone can be drizzled with some melted chocolate or sprinkle with powdered sugar.
I remember eating this cream filled cones in local bakeries back in India.I am not sure whether its made with puff pastry or bread dough,still remember the taste.After checking so many videos,finally ended up in making it with homemade puff pastry.I got the cone shaped molds from Amazon if you don't have you can use the aluminium foil.Make a thick and sturdy mold by rolling the aluminum foil and use it.
When I made the cone/horn for the first time myself and kids got tempted so had it as such without any filling.Then made it for the second time and filled with cream.Off to the recipe..........................





                                     Cream Horns/Cream Filled Pastry Cones



    Basic Information

    Preparation time 20-25 minutes
    Cooking time 20-22 minutes
    Makes  12
    


   Ingredients

IngredientQuantity
Puff Pastry1/2 sheet
Whipped Cream11/2 cups
Powdered sugar2 tbs
Semi sweetened chocolate1/2 cup(optional)
Powdered sugar(as needed)for sprinkling
Chopped nuts (as needed)for garnishing



  Method

  • Thaw the puff pastry if its frozen.Roll it to thin sheet and cut it into strips.Now take one strip if needed roll it for one more time with the rolling pin. 

  • Wrap the rolled strip on the cone and press the edge to seal it.Keep the sealed edge facing down on the baking tray,so that it doesn't puff up.Continue for the rest for the dough and arrange it on the baking tray.Preheat the oven at 375 F and bake it for 20 minutes or till golden color and crispy.
  • Remove it from the oven and let it sit for few minutes.Now remove the mold and let it cool completely.

  • Meanwhile melt the chocolate in a double broiler,drizzle with a piping cone on baked cone or dip the edge in the melted chocolate.Let it dry.Now take the whipped cream and powdered sugar in a bowl,mix it well.Take the cream in a piping bag and pipe it into each cone.If needed dust it with the powdered sugar.

  • Serve it within an hour.







  • The baked horns can be stored in an air tight container for 2 days,keep it in the oven for couple of minutes before filling or drizzling with chocolate.
  • Do not bake it more than 22 minutes and after drizzling the melted chocolate let it dry completely before filling the cream.
  • While wrapping in the each layer should overlap,otherwise while puffing up it may create gaps.
  • After removing the baked horns from the oven let it sit for 2-3 minutes,then remove the mold and cool it completely.

Enjoy.................................................




Bake-a-thon 2015 














Sumber http://www.naliniscooking.com

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Sugar Cookies


As Christmas is around the corner,wanted to share some Holiday themed cookies.When I was listing down the recipes,my son suggested to share the sugar cookies.
Coming to the recipe,the cookies are crunchy and mouth melting,my lil one had 3-4 cookies as soon as I took it from the oven.
The icing part is little time consuming and I am not happy with my icing as well as my pictures.By the time I finished my icing,it was around 3 PM and getting dark.Kids were waiting to taste the cookies,will update the pictures soon.Lets move on to the recipe.....





                                                                       
                                                             

                                            Sugar Cookies
                                                                  
   Basic Information
   Preparation time 35-40 minutes(including icing)
   Cooking time 12-16 minutes
   Resting time 1 hour
    Makes  12 cookies
    


   Ingredients


  
Ingredient
Quantity
All purpose flour/maida
 1 cup
Butter/vennai
1/2 cup
Sugar/sakkarai
1/2 cup
Baking soda
1/8 tsp
Salt
a generous pinch
Milk2-3 tbs+2 tbs for icing
Vanilla1 tsp
Icing sugar/confectionery sugar2 cups
Gel colorsfew drops
Colorful sprinklesas needed

  

    Method 
  • Mix in all purpose flour,salt and baking soda,keep it aside.Beat together butter and sugar till it becomes creamy.Add in the vanilla and mix it well.Add in the flour and milk alternatively and mix it well. 

  •  Wrap the prepared dough in a cling wrap.Refrigerate it for an hour.Now take out the dough and slightly dust it with flour.Roll the dough with a rolling pin to thin and cut it with the cookie cutter.Arrange it on a lined baking tray.

  • Preheat the oven at 350 F and bake it for 10-12 minutes or the edges turned brown.Allow it to cool completely on a wire rack.Meanwhile take the icing sugar in a bowl and slowly add the milk and mix it till it reaches a dropping consistency.Divide it according to the number of colors needed.Add in the gel color in each portion and mix it well.Fill it in a piping bag or ziplock bag.

  • Once the cookies are completely cool down,decorate the top of the cookies and sprinkle some colorful sprinkles on the top .Let it sit for another 2 hours on the counter to set the icing completely.

  • Store it in an airtight container.

                                                        
                                                                                      




      • Do icing,once the cookies are cool down completely.
      • The amount of sugar given is for a perfect sweet,as we are doing the icing,if no icing is need then add another couple of tbs of sugar.



      Enjoy.................



      Bake-a-thon 2015 












      Sumber http://www.naliniscooking.com

      Monday, December 14, 2015

      Chocolate Drizzled Shortbread Cookies



      Today's recipe for Bake-A-Thon is a simple yet crunchy short bread cookies drizzled with chocolate.I tried this recipe for April Mega Marathon,but due bad weather the pictures were dull,couldn't share it.
      Here I drizzled the cookies with semi chocolate and sprinkled it with colorful sprinkles.In original recipe half of the cookie is dipped in the melted chocolate also the dough is rolled and cut with a cookie cutter.Since I don't have a nice cookie cutter I made the dough to a log and slice it with knife.As my kiddo wanted the chocolate to be drizzled and topped with some colorful sprinkles.Lets move on to the recipe....









                                                                              
                                                                       Chocolate Drizzled Shortbread Cookies


                                                                        
         Basic Information
         Preparation time 15-20 minutes
         Cooking time 12-16 minutes
         Resting time 1 hour
         Recipe Source  Foodnetwork
         Makes 16-17 cookies
          


         Ingredients


        
      Ingredient
      Quantity
      All purpose flour/maida
       1 cup
      Butter/vennai
      1/2 cup+1 tbs
      Sugar/sakkarai
      1/2 cup
      Baking powder
      1/8 tsp
      Salt
      a generous pinch
      Vanilla1 tsp
      Semi sweetened chocolate1/2 cup
      Colorful sprinklesas needed

        

          Method 
      • Mix in all purpose flour,salt and baking powder,keep it aside.Beat together butter and sugar till it becomes creamy.Add in the vanilla and mix it well.Add in the flour to the mixture.

      •  Now gently mix it well with the spatula to a dough.Shape it to a rectangular or round shaped log and wrap it in a cling wrap.Refrigerate the dough for an hour.

      • After an hour take the dough and slice it and arrange it on a lined baking tray.Preheat the oven at 350 F and bake it for 12-14 minutes.

      • Meanwhile melt the chocolate in the double broiler and fill in a piping bag.Once the cookies are done transfer it to a cooling rack.After it cools down completely drizzle the melted chocolate and top it with the sprinkles.Let it dry.

      • Store it in an airtight container.

                                                                           
                                                                                          




          • Drizzle the melted chocolate once the cookies are cool down completely.
          • The amount of sugar given is for a perfect sweet,if not drizzling with melted chocolate add another 2 tbs of sugar.



          Enjoy...............................................



          Bake-a-thon 2015 











          Sumber http://www.naliniscooking.com

          Friday, December 11, 2015

          Cinnamon Bun/Cinnamon Roll


          Today I am sharing a flavorful cinnamon bun for Bake-A-Thon.I have already shared cinnamon bear claw.A friend and reader of my blog requested for for the bun/roll,so decided to bake and share.Also my kiddo was craving for cinnamon flavor and suggested to make cinnamon bun.
          Coming to the recipe,its almost similar to the cinnamon bear claw,except the shaping.Here I used both all purpose flour and bread flour.The buns were so soft with the flavor of cinnamon and the caramelized sugar.My 3 years lil one enjoy 2 buns as soon as I finished the glaze.Off to the recipe........................




                                                                                
                                                                                         Cinnamon Bun/Cinnamon Roll


                                                                            
             Basic Information

             Preparation time 30 minutes
             Proofing time 1 1/2 -2 hours
             Cooking time 30-40 minutes
             Makes 12-13 (medium size buns)
              


             Ingredients


            
          Ingredient
          Quantity
          All purpose flour
          1 cups+2 tbs
          for dusting
          Bread flour
          3/4 cup
          Instant yeast
          11/2 tsp
          Unsalted butter
          3 tbs
          Sugar
          1 tbs
          Lukewarm milk
          1/2 cup+2 tbs
          Salt
          1/2 tsp
          Milk /butterfor brushing


             For the filling
          Ingredient
          Quantity
          Light brown sugar
          1/2 cup
          Unsalted butter
          2-3 tbs
          Cinnamon powder
          1 tbs

            For the glaze
          Ingredient
          Quantity
          Powdered sugar/
          confectionery sugar
          1/2 cup
          Butter
          2 tbs
          Vanilla extract
          1/4 tsp
          Milk
          1 tsp


              Method 
          • Take all purpose flour,butter,instant yeast,salt and sugar in a bowl,mix it well.To this add the lukewarm milk and mix it to a soft dough.Knead the dough on a floured surface for 10 minutes till it becomes smooth and elastic.Shape the dough and keep it in a warm place for 11/2 hours or the volume of the dough doubled.
          • Knead the dough on a floured surface for 10 minutes till it becomes smooth and elastic.Shape the dough and keep it in a warm place for 11/2 hours or the volume of the dough doubled.
          • Meanwhile mix the sugars and cinnamon powder in a bowl and line the baking tray with parchment paper.Keep it aside.
          • After the dough has risen well,pinch it down and roll it.Smooth the dough and roll it to a 12 x 15 inch sheet.

          • Brush it with the butter and sprinkle  the sugar-cinnamon mixture.Now carefully roll from the one end and roll it to a log and pinch the ends and seal it.Slice the roll into 11/2 inch thickness.Arrange it on a lined baking tray and cover with a foil,keep it in a warm place for second rise for 30 minutes.

          • Meanwhile mix the butter,icing sugar,vanilla and milk in a bowl.After the second raise brush it with the rest of the butter and pre heat the oven at 350 F.Bake the rolls for 30-40 minutes or until golden.Remove it and cool it on a cooling rack.After its completely cool down,mix the powdered sugar,vanilla and milk in a bowl.Drizzle it on the top the rolls using a spoon or a piping bag.

          •  Serve it warm.




            • The dough should be slightly stick,don't add too much of flour while kneading.
            • The rolls taste better when it is served warm,just microwave it for 5 seconds and serve. .
            • The sweetness was just perfect if you want it a bit sweeter version then add another tbs of sugar.
            • The amount of cinnamon powder can be increased according to personal preference.I reduced the amount from the original recipe.
            • The buns can be made with all purpose flour only.
            • I used my 9 X 9 square pan and it was just perfect to bake the 12 rolls.



            Enjoy...............................................





            Bake-a-thon 2015 











            Sumber http://www.naliniscooking.com