Chocolate Walnut & Cranberry Cake With Apple Roses

                              

Chocolate Walnut & Cranberry Cake With Apple Roses

This is the cake I baked for my Dad, who was visiting us for his 68th b'day, which was on 3rd dec '14. Cake is "Chocolate Walnut & Cranberry Cake", recipe of which is already given. Here I'm giving the simple recipe of apple roses to decorate the cake.

For Apple Roses

Ingredients

2 apples

3 tbsp granulated sugar

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Method

For Apple Roses

In a bowl mix granulated sugar & ground cinnamon.

Finely slice unpeeled apples.

In a large non-stick frying pan, spread sugar-cinnamon mixture. 

When the sugar starts to melt, arrange apple slices, cover & cook over medium heat for 1 minute without flipping.

When the apple slices are wilted down, transfer them into a large plate. The caramelised side should face upwards, otherwise the slice might stick to the plate. Keep aside to completely cool. 

Repeat with the remaining apple slices. 

For apple roses, start with a small slice. Roll the slices until the rose reach the size you want & secure with one or two cloves.

Then arrange in a greased cup cake mould & bake at 180ºC for 5 minutes.

Roses with little clove aroma are ready.

To Arrange On Cake

Sprinkle cooled cake with powdered sugar + cinnamon.

Arrange apple roses & serve.

Tips

* Handle slices of apple with care after caramelisation as they become very delicate.

* Colour of roses depends on colour of it's peel.

Christmas Fruit Cake

     

Traditional Christmas cakes have rum or brandy but I can't use them so used orange juice instead. This cake has spice powder too which gives nice aroma. Original recipe, from premascook.com, has little more sugar but I used less as we like it that way (you can reduce without thinking much as dates, prunes etc make up for sweetness).

Ingredients

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup unsalted Butter 

1/4 tsp Salt

1 cup Plain Flour 

1/4 tsp Baking soda

1 tbsp Vinegar

1/2 tsp Baking powder

1/4 tsp spice powder (1 clove , 1 small piece cinnamon & a small piece of nutmeg)

1/3 cup Fruit Juice ( I used fresh orange juice)

3/4 cup Mixed Nuts (cashew nuts,almonds, walnuts) 

3/4 cup dried Fruits (sultanas, raisins, cherries, prunes, dates, mixed peels), roughly chopped.

Method

Put the mixed fruits (not nuts) in a bowl & add the fruit juice, mix well. Leave soaked overnight in refrigerator.

Pre heat the oven. 

In a small bowl,mix baking soda & vinegar. Keep aside.

In  a mixing bowl, beat butter & sugar till it becomes light & fluffy.

Shift the baking powder, salt & plain flour.

Add nuts to flour to coat them so they don't sink while baking.

Add flour to butter & fold well.

Add the soaked fruits along with the juice, baking soda+ vinegar mix & spice powder. Fold well.

Pour the batter in baking pan & decorate with glazed cherries or nuts, whatever you prefer & bake for 35-40 minutes, at 180 degree Celsius .

When the cake is cooked, remove it from the oven & leave to cool.

Tips

* If using salted butter, then avoid using salt.

* You can use any other juice instead of orange, I like orange flavour more so used it.

* Refrigerate soaked dried fruits or they will get spoiled.

* If batter looks dry then you can use a tablespoon of milk.