February 14th, 2009
Eggless Fruit and Nut Cake
Ro and I are not into celebrating Valentines day as such. But that didn’t stop me from making elaborate cakes (picture sponge cakes iced with fresh cream and strawberries) in the past. This Valentines day and the next few days are going to be different. We are looking forward to spending some quality time together. Our first born will join us in a few weeks from now. Life is going to change forever. There is going to be added responsibility and gone will be those carefree days and years when we did whatever we wished and willed. There is much uncertainty, but we are looking forward to it with excitement and joy.
Coming back to Valentines day, this time I thought of baking something healthier, nice and less time consuming than the elaborate and lavishly iced cakes. My mind wandered to a recipe given by someone, scribbled carelessly in my notebook. I was craving a cake with deep rich flavours and decided to give this recipe a go.
Eggless Fruit and Nut Cake
I have used dates, raisins, almonds and cashewnuts. You can use any dried fruits like apricots, prunes and other nuts
Ingredients:
300 gm Plain Flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
150 ml oil
200 ml water
100 gm dates (pitted and chopped)
150 gm Raisins or Sultanas
100 gm nuts (cashewnuts, almonds, walnuts)
150 gm jaggery (or substitute with dark muscovado sugar)
150 gm sugar
3 tbsp fruit jam (preferably without added sugar)
2 tsp mixed spice powder
Grated rind of 1 limeMethod:
Grease and line the bottom of an 8” square or 9” round cake tin with greaseproof paper/baking parchment/butter paper. In a mixing bowl, assemble the flour, baking powder and baking soda, mix with a spoon and sieve once to make the mixture uniform. Heat the oil in a pan and add the fruits and nuts. Stir in the jaggery, sugar, jam and 100 ml water. Heat on a low flame until the sugar and jaggery melt, stirring all the while. Don’t overcook the mixture. Allow to cool and add the reamaining 100 ml water, rind and spice powder. Mix in the sifted flour mixture and beat with a spoon or a wire whisk until there are no lumps. Transfer the contents to the greased and lined tin and bake in a preheated oven at 150 degree centigrade for 1 hour or until a skewer comes out clean.
February 14th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
A totally different question, but a relevant one as well. Connected to the recipe. Its about the medium of baking.
Microwaves have the grill facility as well. It works as an oven in some models, they say. What’s your opinion on this? There is much debate on the harmful effects of microwave.
Goes without saying, yum pics and how long for a piece of that cake, sitting pretty!
February 14th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Simi: I dont use a microwave oven and am against the use of one. The effects are a debatable issue, but I believe that when in doubt to avoid, if it can be avoided. I have baked a cake in a microwave oven, eons ago when I briefly used one. In my opinion, a conventional oven works best for baking.
February 14th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
what are the contents of the ’spice powder’ you’ve mentioned?
and Anu, i can only imagine healthy food coming from your kitchen for the li’l one on the way!
February 14th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Hey… Happy Valentine’s day!!
February 15th, 2009 at 4:56 am
Preethi: The ingredients for the spice powder were mentioned in the glossary. There are some hurdles that need to be sorted out with the glossary which should happen soon. In the meanwhile this what I used for the spice powder.
1 tbsp cinnamon
1/2 nutmeg
1 tsp cloves
1 1/2 tsp cardamom seeds
Grind everything together in a spice grinder or a coffee mill. I also used ginger powder in this mixture, but found it to be a bit overpowering over the subtle flavours of the other spices and I doubt I’m going to be using ginger powder again.
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:26 am
Congrats Anushruti !! Love fruits cakes.. one of my fav cakes. Lovely pics as usual.
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Hi i guess u dont know me…found this site via the search engine. I learn your carrying, plz advise a suitable diet for pregant women, as my sister is carrying, 4 months.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Hello Meena,
Welcome to divinetaste. Yes, I’m expecting and due anytime now. Pregnancy is a time when one definitely needs to pay extra attention to one’s diet as the health of both the mother and the tiny life within her are at stake. A good nutritious diet will ensure the health and well-being of both the mother and child. Studies have shown that a proper diet during pregnancy results in a healthy child at birth and also helps tackle pregnancy problems like nausea, water retention, weight problems, constipation etc. Having said that, there is a whole array of information and a list of do’s and dont’s in the form of internet, books and “well-meaning” people around. It can get confusing and daunting to the mother. What works for one may not necessarily work for another.
I followed a lacto-vegetarian diet throughout my pregnancy. It was regular food for me but I made sure I got my required proteins, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates through my diet. I ate (eat!) plenty of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, greens, etc. Soaked almonds, raisins, turmeric milk with 4 to 5 strands of ground saffron (after 3 months), sprouts, buttermilk in the day time complement a pregnancy diet.
Hope this helps. If you have any further questions, you can mail me or ask here. All the very best to you sister.
August 5th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Hey Anushruti, you mentioned fruit jam in the above recipe. Is it mixed fruit jam or something else?
Thanks!
August 6th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Smita: Any mixed fruit jam would do.
September 6th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
nice……..
November 17th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Hi
I was wondering if I could use whole wheat pastry flour instead of APF..
Geetha
November 17th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Geetha: Yes you could use whole wheat pastry flour instead of APF.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Hi Anushruti
I am a regular visitor to your website.And, I just love it! I am planning to make Eggless Fruit and Nut cake for my mom’s birthday next week! I noticed that you have Fruit jam without added sugar as one of the ingredients. Can I make it without the jam? Is there a substitute?
Please help.
Thanks a ton!
Rupa