Love is in the air! It’s Valentine’s Day and so why not bake some of these lovely treats for your Valentine. The ingredients are not difficult to procure and the method is fairly simple. All you require is a regular oven and a food processor to make these scrumptious eats.
Red Velvet Cupcakes
Ingredients Flour: 1 1/4 cups
Baking powder: 1/4 teaspoon
Salt: 1/4 teaspoon
Cocoa powder: 1 tablespoon
Unsalted butter, at room temperature: 1/2 cup
Powdered sugar: 3/4 cups
Eggs: 2
Pure vanilla essence: 1/2 teaspoon
Buttermilk: 1/2 cup
Liquid red food colouring (or beetroot juice can be used): 1 tablespoon
White distilled vinegar/ Apple Cider Vinegar: 1/2 teaspoon
Baking soda: 1/2 teaspoon
Method Preheat oven to 180 degree for 10 minutes. Sieve flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder thrice. In the bowl beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Now add the egg and beat well
Add the vanilla essence and beat until combined.
In another bowl whisk the buttermilk with the red food colouring. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk to the butter mixture.
In a small cup combine the vinegar and baking soda. Allow the mixture to fizz and then quickly fold into the cake batter.
Fill the cupcake tray and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the tooth pick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Cream Cheese Frosting
Cream cheese: 1/2 cup
Butter: 1/2 cup
Icing sugar: 1/2 cup
Vanilla essence: 1 tsp
Method In a bowl beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add essence and cream cheese. Beat till light and fluffy without any grains. Fill the piping bag and design your cupcakes/cakes.
Chocolate Cake
Ingredients Flour: 1 cup
Cocoa powder: 4 tbsp
Baking powder: 1/2 tsp
Butter: 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp (120g)
Powdered sugar: 1 cup + 4 tbsp (180g)
Eggs: 3
Vanilla: 1/2 tsp
Salt: a pinch
Warm milk: 1/3 cup
Method Sieve flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder trice.
Cream butter and sugar till fluffy. Beat eggs with vanilla to stiff. Add beaten eggs to the mixture little at a time. Fold in flour and add sufficient milk to bring the mixture to a dropping consistency. Pour the mixture in to a 7 inch pan and bake at 180 degree centigrade for 20-25 minutes.
Walnut Brownies
Ingredients Flour: 2/3 cup
Cocoa powder: 1/3 cup
Baking powder: 1/2 tsp
Salt: 1/4 tsp
Eggs: 2
Brown sugar: 1 cup
Vanilla: 1 tsp
Oil: 1/3 cup
Walnuts, chopped: 1/3 cup
Method Pre heat the oven at 180 degree for 10 minutes
Sieve flour, baking powder and cocoa powder thrice. Beat oil and sugar till sugar dissolves.
Add eggs and vanilla, mix well. Fold in flour and nuts (keep aside few nuts)
Pour into a greased 10x6 inch tin and sprinkle remaining nuts. Bake at 180 degree for 20mts.
Cool and cut into squares.
(Marina is a baking and cooking instructor)
