Christmas Fruit cake : alcohol free,dairy free,eggless !

I have been wanting to bake the Christmas cake which I had come across at various food blogs.Now that I have baked quite a few cakes,I thought of trying this cake out.I selected the recipe @ http://www.mariasmenu.com/desserts/eggless-kerala-christmas-fruit-cake as it uses no liquor & is eggless.I changed some ingredients & my cake is Vegan !

Ingredients :Soak dry fruits like chopped almonds,cashews,walnuts,figs,brown & black kishmis,pistachios in fruit juice overnight.I soaked 11/2 cups of mixed & chopped dry fruits in mixed fruit juice brought from store.I soaked in a glass & the juice was just  enough to drown the dry fruit mix.

Keep 1- 2tbsp multigrain atta to coat the soaked dry fruit mix before adding to batter to prevent all dry fruits from sinking to the bottom of the cake.

Dry ingredients : 11/4  cup multigrain atta ( I used Pillsbury ) ,1/2 + 1/3 cup mineral sugar ( this is brown in clour & just like white  sugar in texture though less sweeter ) ,1/2 tsp baking soda,1/2 tsp baking powder,1/4 tsp cinnamon powder,1 clove & 2 cardamom...dry roast & pound them with pestle into powder ( or use 1/8 tsp clove & cardamom powder mix ),  salt to taste.

Wet ingredients : 11/2 cup soaked dry fruit mix, 1/4 cup oil,1 tbsp white vinegar, 1/2 tbsp flax seed powder soaked in 2 tbsp water for 15-20 minutes,1 tbsp grated orange peel ,1 tsp grated ginger,1/2 tsp vanilla essence,water to make batter thinner if need be.

Mix all dry ingredients with whisk or fork nicely many times so that all ingredients are nicely mixed.Keep aside.

Mix vinegar,oil ,orange peel,grated ginger ,vanilla essence nicely.Add flax seed water mix.Mix all nicely.Pour this wet mix into  the dry mix.Mix nicely.

Add 1-2  tbsp multigrain atta to soaked  dry fruits & then add these atta coated dry fruits  to cake batter.Mix nicely so that no lumps remain..Keep aside.

Take a microwaveable vessel.Line the vessel bottom with butter paper.Pour the cake batter into the vessel.Microwave for 9-10 minutes.Put off the microwave.Let it cool for 10 minutes..Insert a knife in the middle of the cake.If knife comes out clean ,it is done.If not,microwave for 1-2 minutes more.Cool & check again.

I cut the cake today in the morning. .Still it was very crumbly.Next time,I must bake only for 9 minutes.One of my best cakes till date.I distributed to one & all as today is Christmas ! 

Eggless Carrot cake in Microwave .

I tried this cake 2 times earlier .They came out fine.This time, though ,it turned out superbly !

I have tried this carrot cake recipe from http://www.foodtale.com/2010/02/01/eggless-cinnamon-carrot-cake/
I made a few changes & my recipe is as under.

Ingredients : 1/2  cup whole wheat flour ( I used Pillsbury brand ),1/4 cup quick oats,2 tbsp corn flour,5 pistachios,5 almonds,5 hazelnuts,1/2 cup sugar,1/2 tsp baking powder,1/4 tsp baking soda,1/2 cup grated carrots,a pinch of salt,1/2 tsp vanilla essence,1/4 cup oil,1/4 cup curds or dahi ,water to adjust consistency of batter.The dry fruits are optional.

Method : My small jar of mixer is quite big & so I took the oats & the dry fruits ( pistas,hazelnuts & almonds ) & powdered them at one go.I used dry fruits as my daughter does not eat them otherwise.Even adding them whole or big pieces to the cake batter will make her avoid the cake.One can add them whole if it is fine to consume cake pieces with whole dry fruits.I forgot to add a piece of cinnamon while powdering this oats -dry fruit mixture & hence my cake is without cinnamon.

Sieve the whole wheat flour ,corn flour,oat flour ,dry fruit mix along with sugar,baking soda & baking powder.Keep aside.

In another vessel ,take oil ,add vanilla essence & dahi .Mix.Pour this mix, into a well, made in the dry ingredient mix.Mix till no lumps remain.Now add carrot & mix again. .Add water to adjust the cake batter consistency.The consistency has to be just a little more than drop down consistency as I bake in microwave.

Take a microwaveable vessel & line the bottom with butter paper.Now pour the cake batter into the vessel -on to  the butter paper lining the bottom of the vessel.Tap the vessel sides ,after the batter has been poured to release any air bubbles.

Bake in microwave for 8 minutes.Let the vessel be standing in the microwave for 5 minutes after it is switched off as the cooking continues.Take out the vessel using cotton padded gloves .Use a toothpick or knife to check .If the toothpick or knife comes out clean after poking it into the cake ,then cake is ready.Allow the cake to cool.After 15-20 minutes,put the vessel upside down on a plate. The cake will drop down on the plate.Allow it to cool further.Then remove the butter paper sticking to the cake bottom.Cut into desired shapes & serve.

My neighbour complimented, "This is the best cake, made by you, so far ."