Bake The World A Better Place

The world has been baking for thousands of years. In fact, the first evidence of baking similar to how it is done today reportedly dates back to around 2600 BC, and goes even earlier to the times when there weren’t any closed utensils. Baking bread, something which was once considered a part of home meals only, with time took a commercial turn with improvement in technology, and introduction of flavours. So much so, that eventually it became an occasion in itself, celebrated every year in May as World Baking Day.

This year, as the people of India celebrate this day from the comfort of their homes, we have compiled a list of recipes by four expert bakers across the country. So, you can try your hand at professional baking too. 

1. Eggless Mango cake by baker and author Shivesh Bhatia

Ingredients:

For mango sponge 

1. Two cups (220 g) maida
2. Two tablespoon (eight g) baking powder
3. One and a half tablespoon (three g) baking soda
4. One and a half cup (120 ml) vegetable oil
5. One cup (225 g) caster sugar
6. One cup (265 ml) mango purée
7. One tablespoon (five ml) vanilla extract
8. One fourth (60 g) cup milk

For frosting 

1. One cup (120 g) cream cheese
2. Half cup (100 g) butter
3. One tablespoon (five ml) vanilla extract
4. One fourth tablespoon (one g) cardamom powder
5. One and a half cup icing sugar

For garnish 

Fresh mango slices

Method:

1. Pre -heat the oven to 180 degree-Celsius and line two eight-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl whisk together flour, baking powder and baking soda and set aside.
3. Whisk together castor sugar and oil in a separate bowl until pale and well combined.
4. In a blender, puree some chopped mangoes and add the mango puree to the sugar oil mixture.
5. Add the vanilla extract and milk.
6. Gently fold in the flour and mix until everything is well combined and there are no large flour pockets in the batter. Do not over mix at this stage.
7. Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan.
8. Bake at 180 degree-Celsius for 30-35 minutes or only until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
9. Meanwhile, prepare your frosting by beating cream cheese, butter, vanilla and cardamom together.
10. Add icing sugar slowly in batches and beat until well incorporated.
11. After the cakes have cooled, assemble your cake by frosting it and decorate with fresh mango slices.

2. Immunity Booster Ragi Pancakes by Chef Shantanu Gupte

Ingredients: 

1. Three-fourth cup (125g) Ragi flour
2. Half cup (90g) blended oats
3. One medium egg
4. Half tablespoon baking powder
5. One tablespoon honey
6. One-piece ripe banana
7. One piece diced mango
8. Two tablespoon skimmed milk
9. One tablespoon yoghurt for garnish
10. One pinch (two g) baking powder
11. One tablespoon oil

Method:

1. In a bowl mash the ripe banana completely till soft.
2. Add ragi flour, oat flour, egg, honey and baking powder.
3. Add milk as required for the consistency of the batter.
4. Now lightly fold in half the diced mango.
5. Pour oil in a non-stick pan on medium heat.
6. Pour a ladle of the batter and cook on one side till bubbles start appearing and the sides are cooked.
7. Flip the pancake and cook the other side in the same way. The pancake should have a nice golden-brown colour on both sides.
8. Garnish with a dollop of yoghurt, mango and a sprig of mint.
9. You can drizzle more honey on the pancake if required.

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3. No-bake eggless mango cheesecake by Chef Parth Bajaj

Ingredients: 

1. 100 g Marie biscuits
2. 40 g butter
3. 100 g cream cheese
4. One-fourth cup powdered sugar
5. 100 g mango pulp
6. One tablespoon vanilla
7. 150 g whipped cream

Method: 

1. Grind the biscuits and mix butter in them.
2. Form the crust in a spring foam tin.
3. Let in cool in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Take the cream cheese at room temperature and add powdered sugar, mango pulp, and vanilla.
5. Fold in the whipped cream but don't mix it.
6. Add the filling to the crust and flatten the surface.
7. Refrigerate overnight.
8. Garnish with sliced mangoes.

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4. Neopolitan Princesstårta by blogger Deeba Rajpal

Vanilla Sponge:  

Ingredients:

1. 30 g clarified butter/ghee
2. 100 g buttermilk
3. 60 g vanilla sugar
4. Half tablespoon apple cider vinegar
5. One-fourth tablespoon baking soda
6. Half tablespoon baking powder
7. A pinch of salt
8. 20 g almond meal or plain flour
9. 70 g plain flour

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180-degree Celsius and line 3 X 3" dessert rings with foil.
2. Whisk together all ingredients under wet mix in a large bowl until smooth. Wait for five minutes until slightly bubbly.
3. Whisk in the almond meal followed by the plain flour.
4. Divide batter between the three rings, approximately 95 g to 100 g in each.
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until tester comes out clean.
6. Cool completely.

Strawberry mousse layer

Ingredients: 

1. 275 g cream
2. 50 g frozen strawberries
3. Three-fourth tablespoon agar agar (gelatinous substance)
4. Four tablespoon vanilla sugar or plain sugar
5. One tablespoon corn flour in 25 ml milk
6. Beet juice to colour (optional)

Method: 

1. Simmer the cream, strawberries and sugar until the strawberries are soft.
2. Press against the side of the pan to release juices.
3. Strain and return to pan. Whisk in the agar agar and simmer for three minutes while stirring constantly.
4. Whisk in the corn flour and milk mix, and simmer for another two minutes while also stirring constantly.
5. Let it cool a little, whisk and pour into a deep four-inch bowl lined with clingwrap.
6. Freeze for about two hours until set, then top with a three-inch sponge.
7. Pour over chocolate layer.

Chocolate layer

Ingredients:

1. 125 g cream
2. 75 g chopped dark chocolate
3. Half tablespoon corn flour
4. Half tablespoon agar agar
5. 30 g brown sugar

Method:

1. Whisk all ingredients in a saucepan and simmer, stirring constantly for three minutes.
2. Pour over the sponge, making sure you cover it on all sides.
3. Pour over with the glaze, garnish sides with cocoa nibs if desired and place a strawberry on top.
4. Refrigerate until set.
5. Freeze for another two hours until set.

Glaze by Allrecipes

Ingredients:

1. 130 g dark chocolate
2. 45 g unsalted butter
3. One tablespoon corn syrup

Method:  

1. Place all ingredients in a glass bowl and melt over double boiler.
2. Pour over chilled cake.