Cake

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Coffee Cake with Maple Drizzle

October 23, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This is the fall recipe I’ve been waiting to share, cardamom-spiced pumpkin cream cheese coffee cake! A big slice of spiced pumpkin cake with cream cheese filling in the center, with crunchy brown sugar coffee crumbs on top, drizzled with sweet glaze, paired with a cup of coffee… It’s the perfect way to start a fall day.

What is better than pumpkin and coffee cake, pumpkin coffee cake :). Come Fall, and my obsession for pumpkin and squash dishes reinvigorates. As it should be!!

With all of the pumpkin recipes floating around, there’s one extremely basic pumpkin dessert that I’ve never shared with you before. It’s my favorite pumpkin cake. Simple, straightforward, unadulterated, no strings attached, positively perfect pumpkin cake. It’s for those of us who want pure pumpkin spice flavor with nothing else in the way.

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Maple Rum Apple Banana Pudding Cake

October 4, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This simple delicious cake bakes so beautifully, with a sauce that forms in the bottom. This maple rum apple pudding cake with banana is a quick dessert to take for potlucks and surprise guests with.

I woke up one morning last week just when the sun was peeking through. I suddenly felt the need to grab my robe, and I really craved a warm cup of coffee. Autumn. FINALLY. My bones have ached for this season. I want to believe the fallen leaves that cover our footpath now match the hues of my heart.

Every morning, I sit on the large floor by the tall windows and stare at our neighbor’s apple tree. It has thrived. I’ve seen them grow for years, from a tiny sapling to a young tree. And now they stand proudly with fruits that blush with pinkish reddish hues. Ready to be plucked. The tree very gracefully hovers over our fence calling for us to enjoy her. Wait, is it fair to pluck fruits from someone else’s tree? Not sure. …

Over the Top Toasted Chocolate Hazelnut S’mores Bars

July 2, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

Buttery and gooey with the chocolatey nutty marshmallow goodness. This toasted chocolate hazelnut s’mores bars will be gone before you know it. It will be a summer staple once you make it.

As a content creator, I often face a reoccurring problem. Sometimes, I scratch my head pondering on what to post to keep it exciting and interesting, doable, and also something I love to eat. And then there is the photographer’s block. Last, and worst, is the writer’s block.

I’ve gone through periods where I had to take a break because the content simply wasn’t exciting enough. Especially after my book, I really hit a wall for few weeks. Then boom, I had this immense bout of energy to cook, test, shoot and share. But at the end of the day, what do you write for all these posts?…

Cherry Chocolate Cobbler/ Black Forest Cobbler

June 10, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This gorgeous black forest cobbler takes less than one hour from start to finish, and is perfect for two people or for a big crowd. Perfect for camp outs too.

Food is not about impressing people, it’s about making them feel comfortable. – Ina Garten

I’m a self proclaimed queen of easy desserts. In fact, my friends often remember my desserts among an array of savory dishes. We love the unique and the experiments, but familiarity whispers coziness and warmth. Something we crave and we love….

Caramel Crunch Raspberry Ice Cream Cake

April 5, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

So happy to partner with Werther’s Original to bring you this easy and delicious Caramel Crunch Raspberry Ice Cream Cake. I absolutely love Werther’s Caramel. It is the only candy I use in my caramel desserts. Here, we have a beautiful caramel crunch raspberry ice cream cake.

Happy Spring!!

I’ve been to two countries, visited different places, witnessed different cultures, and had loads of good food. India treated me well in the last few weeks. I spent some quality time with friends and family. Well, now I’m back home and back in routine just before spring break.

And this happened….

BEST Coffee-Chocolate Cupcakes with Caramel Mascarpone cream

December 4, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

Get your caffeine fix with these super moist, flavorful, eggless coffee chocolate cupcakes, topped with caramel mascarpone cream. It’s my favorite recipe, and a guaranteed crowd pleaser for the upcoming holiday parties.

Say Hello to the best coffee chocolate cupcakes that I’ve made. The exact recipe that I’ve been making for the last many years, and one of the first recipes I posted on this blog, was this CUPCAKE. The frosting is a beautiful, delicately flavored cream which holds well with a touch of mascarpone. The coffee is pronounced, but not bitter, and will not keep you up :). It’s a coffee lover’s dream….

PUMPKIN CAKE – Brown Butter Pumpkin Chocolate Cake WITH SAFFRON AND CARDAMOM

November 20, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

This rich and nutty brown butter, pumpkin, and chocolate cake is spiced with saffron and cardamom. It’s fluffy, delicately flavored, and a perfect Autumn celebration cake.

Before this week is over, many of us would have had a couple get-togethers with family or friends. And this pumpkin cake will be made at least twice at my home.

I have to admit: Thanksgiving is my favorite celebration among the many American traditions. I find the meaning behind it intriguing, and I enjoy the holiday. It’s about family, and being grateful and thankful for everything.

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Brown Butter Caramalized Banana Semolina Mini Cake with aka Sheera Cake

September 30, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

These mini brown butter banana semolina cakes are perfect for entertaining and for festivals. They taste like a popular Indian dessert called Sheera, but in cake form!

India can easily be called the “Land of Festivals.”

This whole month has been very religious for many. I always love sharing the festival food on social media. For me, it’s always such a wonderful time to spread love and food.

This festival, Ayudha/Saraswathi Pooja, is one which is particularly celebrated in Southern India. Ayudh means instruments, so this festival is all about giving due respect to the things that we use everyday. Cars, homes, etc. are cleaned in detail. Respecting the ordinary things which we would take for granted otherwise….

Easiest Moist German Chocolate Cake with Saffron-Coconut Cashew topping and an Announcement

June 6, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

A moist easy moist German Chocolate Cake smothered with saffron coconut and cashew, almost like a coconut burfi on top. It’s simple to make and quite an addictive cake.

I wanted to tell you, and then, I’d tell myself, I’ll tell after my next deadline was met. Two weeks ago, at around noon, I heard a knock, I opened the door and was handed a big brown package. I opened it and there was a yellow note which said, “check and return by….”. It was my manuscript for review. It hit me. I am officially going to be a COOKBOOK AUTHOR!!

There, I said it and it feels WONDERFUL. Honestly speaking, one of the things I wanted to do was, to shout out loud and tell you all that someone wants to publish my recipes. I had to wait, and it was, in a way easy for me. I was overwhelmed and nervous with a giddy sort of excitement….

Rhubarb-Pistachio Mini Cakes & A Giveaway!

May 1, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

These Rhubarb Pistachio Cakes are made with olive oil, and can be made in a cake pan or mini muffin tins like this. The rich pistachios combined with cardamom make for a tasty, addictive treat. Thanks to Revol for sending me some of their pretty pieces.

Happy May!!

A favorite month of mine, mother’s day and a special birthday.

As spring is setting in, I immediately dream of warm days, long evening walks, and vacations. Light sunny days, and mildly cool nights. I struggle to choose between Autumn and Spring; I love them both.

Subconsciously, salads make more of an appearance. My humongous cane fruit basket is filled with fruits and summery melons. There are rolling hills to one side, and strawberry and vegetable patches to the other. I stop by every week at the local farm, and the guy fondly asks how the kids are and gives me an extra basket of strawberries.…