Apple Crumble with pecans & cranberries… the best of holiday baking!

Apple Crumble with pecans & cranberries … super quick and super simple, here’s an apple crumble that is as delicious as it is fuss free. The crumble is buttery and generous as we love it, and the apples are cooked to perfection under the weight of the topping.

It’s another special dessert that doubles up as breakfast. The Eggless Wholegrain Pecan Banana Bread that I recently shared is another great example of breakfast for dessert or dessert for breakfast. Both these scream comfort and are most satisfying to bake up in the holiday season.

One constant in my holiday desserts is spices, a whole array of them. Think garam masala, think cinnamon, think star anise, think nutmeg. These are spices that bring warmth to desserts and every bite is comforting. Garam masala might seem a little misplaced as it comes to mind as a savoury or curry spice, yet trust me with this!

My Chocolate Garam Masala Cake with Garam Masala Orange Vanilla Whipped Frosting … & Garam Masala Gingerbread House is a delightful holiday bake bursting with warmth and flavour. It’s so fun to bake & tastes amazing.


Garam masala is just my all time favourite add to flavour desserts! These Eggless Garam Masala Infused Ghee Gingerbread Cookies are as delicious as they look. Crisp, deep, addictive and sooooo festive, these are cookies that I bake every year.

From my mothers’ quintessential Garam Masala Fruit Cake, to Garam Masala Hot Chocolate Pudding, Rich Hot Chocolate, Eggless Sticky Toffee Pudding, Whiskey Trifles to Garam Masala Chocolate Truffles, I think you get the drift. Just a small pinch of the spice for the mild hearted is enough to elevate the flavours to desserts that scream holidays. As you become bolder and more open to experimenting, you’ll fall in love with spices in desserts through winter!!

Holiday desserts and baking is my most favorite part of the year. So much to do, and honestly so little time! I love playing with ingredients, flavours and colours. I also love making different types of desserts – trifles, cakes, pudding, truffles, cookies … and crumbles of course!

I have baked apple crumbles for years! Winter just isn’t without the aroma of a crumble baking. Deep smells of cinnamon wafting through the house feels like a big, warm hug. My crumbles always have to have a generous topping. It really adds an indulgence to the perfectly cooked soft spiced apples that are blanketed by the crisp topping. Pecans and dried cranberries add so much texture to desserts, it’s addictive. Do try this apple crumble and let me know!

Do tag me on Instagram at Passionate About Baking or share a comment here on the blog if you make this or any other recipe from the blog. I’d love to see it!

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Apple Crumble with pecans & cranberries

Super quick and super simple apple crumble that is as delicious as it is fuss free. The topping is buttery and generous as we love it, and the apples are cooked to perfection under the weight of the crumble.
Course Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword baking, christmas, cranberries, crumble, dessert, eggfree, eggless baking, fruit, simple, sweet, vegetarian
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 6 people

Ingredients

Apple filling

  • 600 g apples peeled and diced {3 apples}
  • 45 g light brown sugar desi khaand {2-3 tbsp}
  • 100 g pecans chopped {1/2 cup}
  • 20 g dried cranberries 2 tbsp
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
  • 1/2 lime juice
  • 1 tbsp cornflour optional

Crumble topping

  • 100 g quick cooking oats
  • 100 g all purpose flour maida
  • 100 g light brown sugar desi khaand
  • 100 g unsalted butter
  • Pinch salt

Instructions

Crumble topping

  • Add all the ingredients to a hand blender and process until the butter is distributed equally. Alternatively, mix all the ingredients except butter in a large bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter or using your fingertips to distribute equally.
  • Reserve.

Apple filling

  • Toss all the ingredients in a large bowl.
  • Transfer into an 8" pie dish and spread uniformly.
  • Cover the apple filling with the crumble topping and pack firmly into place.
  • Bake for 45 minutes to an hour until the top is light golden brown and fragrant.
  • Serve warm or at room temperature.

10 Drop Dead Delicious Desserts for Chocolate Lovers … you need to make these now

Here are a few drop dead delicious desserts for chocolate lovers you need to make now. If chocolate is your first love, and it’s hard to see why not, here are a few inspiring recipes you can try out this holiday season. I’m sharing bake and no bake ideas, all vegetarian, no eggs, no gelatine, each good to the last bite!

Chocolate has it’s own sweet language, one that comforts, satisfies, uplifts, seduces, placates, a language that has no barriers. So many emotions around one ingredient that it feels chocolate is always the best way to to bond, to connect, to celebrate, to comfort, to satiate!

AS you might have guessed, chocolate is one of my most used ingredients, as also one of my favourite things to make dessert with. I often say, when all else fails, there’s always chocolate. I’ve even written my first cookbook around CHOCOLATE, something I knew would be my first thematic choice.

There’s something about chocolate. I love working with it, I love creating recipes around it. As you might have noticed, I also love styling desserts that are chocolate based, and I absolutely love shooting them. The mood chocolate desserts create while shooting makes me so happy. That play of colours is so satisfying, so much fun!

So here we go, 10 drop dead delicious chocolate desserts for you to try now. They’re eggless and vegetarian, AND they’re mostly fuss free, quick and simple. If you are looking for more inspiration, you’ll find a ton of chocolate HERE, in my cookbook and on Instagram too!

3 Ingredient No bake Eggless Chocolate Cheesecake
Light, delicious and mousse like, this no bake cheesecake uses just 3 ingredients, 5 if you include the base. With no gelatine, no agar agar and no cornstarch, you must try this!
Check out this recipe
3 Ingredient Chocolate Pudding
Rich, deeply delicious, satiny smooth and ever so easy, anyone can stir this up in a matter of minutes. Nothing can comfort the soul like a good indulgent old school chocolate pudding.
Check out this recipe
Eggless Chocolate Mousse Trifle.
Layers of indulgence and absolute deliciousness, almost a ‘death by chocolate’ sort of dessert!
Check out this recipe
Simplest ever Baileys Chocolate Mousse
All you need is 3 ingredients and 5 minutes to make this deeply delicious, creamy, soul satisfying dessert!
Check out this recipe
Eggless Raspberry Chocolate Cake
An eggless chocolate sponge, deep delicious ganache, bright fresh raspberries topped with the smoothest and most luxurious mascarpone cream. The flavours do a magic dance on the palette, each spoonful delightful.
Check out this recipe
Chocolate Tart Cake
Deeply delicious and very indulgent. Makes one 8″ tart cake
Check out this recipe
Black Forest Dessert Cup
Best way to say hello to the cherry season with a delicious and flavourful take on the classic black forest. If cherries are in season where you are, this is for you!
Check out this recipe
Nama Chocolate Tart
… the name says it all! An addictive, delicious, no bake, eggless tart with a filling of the much loved Nama Chocolate. Each bite is indulgent, a celebration in a tart if you like, a gentle tease on the palette that is so sublime that it's addictive. Don't say I didn't warn you!
Check out this recipe
Eggless Ombre Dream Cake
My take on the viral dream cake and it tastes like a bite of heaven, actually a dream!
Check out this recipe
Wholegrain Eggless Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies
Makes 18 cookies
Check out this recipe

Do tag me on Instagram at Passionate About Baking or share a comment here on the blog if you make this, or any other recipe from the blog. I’d love to see it!

Almond Saffron Jelly Cake … Dessert to brighten the Festival Season

Eggless Almond Saffron Jelly Cake … desserts that light up life! I love the gentle play of flavours and often make desserts using elements from desserts I’ve created in the past. This was one such inspiration. A gently spiced eggless pistachio sponge, the simplest one bowl hand whisked recipe you’ll ever find, is topped with a smooth indulgent almond cream.

If you’ve stopped by on PAB in the past, you might know of my love for colourful desserts and saffron. I think it’s one of the most beautiful spices in the world, fragrant, rich and colourful. I use it often, generously too and I love the gentle flavours it adds to dessert. Pistachios with saffron might be my favourite pairing, and I use both very often as you can see.

Other favourites include mango and saffron, rose and saffron, almond and saffron work beautifully too! There’s so much you can do with saffron and because you need just a ‘little pinch’ or a few strands, it’s always good to buy good quality saffron.


I’m sure you are convinced about the absolute magic that saffron adds. Here in the Eggless Almond Saffron Jelly Cake, the saffron jelly shines! Once the cream has set, pour over a quick saffron jelly, tying in all the flavours of the festival season. A piped almond buttercream, garnished with flowers from the garden, and we’re all set! Happy Diwali!

Do tag me on Instagram at Passionate About Baking if you make this, or any other recipe from the blog. I’d love to see it!

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Eggless Almond Saffron Jelly Cake

A gently spiced eggless pistachio sponge, the simplest one bowl hand whisked recipe you'll ever find, is topped with a smooth indulgent almond cream.
Course Dessert
Cuisine Indian
Keyword agar agar, cake, cream, dessert, eggfree, eggless baking, eggless cake, Indian dessert cake, no gelatine, one bowl, saffron, sweet, vegetarian
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Setting time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 45 minutes
Servings 4 people

Ingredients

Eggless pistachio sponge

  • 100 g buttermilk
  • 25 g oil
  • 50 g castor sugar
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • Pinch salt
  • 1/4 tsp almond extract
  • 85 g plain flour
  • 1 tbsp pistachios finely chopped

Almond cream

  • 400 g cream 25% fat
  • few drops almond extract
  • 2 tbsp cornflour
  • 100 g clarified butter/ghee
  • 2.5 tsp agar agar
  • 60 g sugar

Saffron Jelly

  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/2 tsp agar agar
  • Generous pinch saffron

Instructions

Eggless pistachio sponge

  • Preheat the oven to 180C. Lightly grease and line two 4″ cake rings tin with foil.
  • In a large bowl, add all the ingredients and give them a good whisk.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the tester comes out clean.
  • Cool completely on the rack and level if required.

Almond cream

  • Whisk together all the ingredients until smooth. Simmer over low heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly, until it begins to thicken slightly like a custard.
  • Whisk well and strain. Cool, whisking now and then, until cool enough to pour over the base.
  • Note: This can also be made in the microwave.
  • Place all the whisked ingredients in a heat proof bowl, and microwave for 30 seconds at a time, whisk, then repeat 3-4 times until it begins to just thicken. Cool, whisking now and then, until cool enough to pour over the base.

Saffron Jelly

  • Stir together the honey, water and agar agar in a saucepan. Simmer for 4-5 minutes, stirring often.
  • Take off heat and stir the saffron in. Cool and pour over the set cream.

Assemble

  • Wrap an acetate sheet firmly around the base.
  • Pour over about half the almond cream over each cake and leave it to set overnight.
  • Top with the saffron jelly and place it in the fridge or freezer until firm. Gently remove the acetate sheet.
  • Pipe over with almond buttercream, and garnish with rose and marigold petals, pistachio slivers etc.

Video

Raspberry Dream Cake … the Magic of Eggless Baking ♥

Eggless Raspberry Dream Cake… delicious pairings that are just so perfect! An eggless sponge moistened with Cointreau is topped with the tart ruby red fresh raspberries that make the heart of this dessert. Finished off with an incredibly flavourful raspberry cream, this dream cake is quite indulgent & satisfying.

If you’ve been here before or follow @passionateaboutbaking on Instagram, you’ll notice my love for desserts with a pop of colour, an edible flower too! My desserts are now all eggless and I’ve never enjoyed creating them as much as I do now. Going eggfree with baking was possibly one of the best decisions I made, something that has inspired me to think beyond my boundaries.

Take this Eggless Opera Cake for example. I’ve made a version with eggs for a Daring Baker challenge several years ago. If you had told me to go eggless with it, I would have politely declined, not as much as giving it a second thought! Cut to now, that Eggless Opera Cake turned out to be one of my most fun creations, something that satisfied the baker and dessert maker in me no end.

Think desserts, think colour, think flavours, textures … and think prettiness! I think the very word dessert should offer ‘poetry’ on a platter, a dish that looks as pretty as it tastes! Those desserts above are an example of what I enjoy doing, the recipes shared either on this blog or on my recipe feed on Instagram at PAB Recipes as also this Eggless Raspberry Dream Cake below.

It’s another mouth watering tin cake box dessert inspired by the Eggless Mango Dream Cake I shared a few days ago. I’ve been a little occupied of late as I try and get my new kitchen studio up and running. It’ll hopefully be ready soon, so until then, dive right in to this dream cake deliciousness!

Do tag me on Instagram at Passionate About Baking if you make this Eggless Raspberry Dream Cake, or any other recipe from the blog. I’d love to see it!

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Eggless Raspberry Dream Cake

An eggless chocolate sponge moistened with Cointreau is topped with tart ruby red fresh raspberries make the heart of this dessert. Finished off with an incredibly flavourful raspberry cream, this dream cake is quite indulgent & satisfying. Makes one tin cake {5.5x3inch}
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, British
Keyword baking, cake, chocolate, cream, dessert, eggfree, eggless, eggless baking, eggless cake, fruit, one bowl, raspberries, simple, summer dessert, sweet, vegetarian
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Cooling/Chilling 4 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 5 hours 45 minutes
Servings 4 people

Ingredients

Eggless chocolate sponge

  • 210 g buttermilk
  • 50 g oil
  • 100 g castor sugar
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • Pinch of turmeric optional
  • Pinch salt
  • 15 g cocoa powder
  • 155 g all purpose flour/maida

45ml Cointreau / raspberry syrup / simple lime syrup

150g fresh raspberries

Raspberry cream filling

  • 225 g cream cheese
  • 30 g icing sugar
  • 85 g whipping cream
  • 90 g raspberry sauce {recipe follows}

Raspberry sauce {Yield 90g}

  • 65 g frozen raspberries
  • 60 g sugar
  • 1 tsp cornflour
  • Juice of 1/2 lime

To garnish

  • Fresh raspberries mint leaves, edible flowers

Instructions

Eggless chocolate sponge

  • Preheat the oven to 180C. Line a 6″ tin with parchment.
  • In a large bowl, add all the ingredients and give them a good whisk.
  • Turn the batter into the tin and bake for about 40-45 minutes, until the tester comes out clean. Cool completely, then trim the top. Gently fit the cake into the dream cake tin {5.5x3inch}.

Raspberry cream filling

  • Whip the cream cheese with icing sugar until smooth. Reserve.
  • In a large bowl, whip the cream until stiff peaks.
  • Whip in the cream cheese mixture and the cooled raspberry sauce.
  • Put into a piping bag fitted with a 2A nozzle.

Raspberry sauce

  • Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and leave to macerate for 30 minutes.
  • Simmer over low heat until the berries break down, mashing them against the sides.
  • Once the colour is nice and deep, the berries have broken down completely and the mixture has thickened slightly, 4-5 minutes, take off heat.
  • Strain the raspberry sauce and cool completely. refrigerate until required. This can me made in advance.

Assemble

  • Moisten the cake generously with the Cointreau.
  • Top the moistened cake with fresh raspberries. Pipe over the raspberry cream, level out and leave to set in the fridge for a couple of hours.
  • Top with fresh raspberries, edible flowers, mint etc.

Note

  • Since the dessert is set in a dream cake tin and uses fresh berries AND a berry cream, it is best consumed within a day. To keep it for longer, consider making this in a glass trifle or dessert bowl .

Video

Mango Dream Cake : Your New Favorite Dessert Recipe

Eggless Mango Dream Cake … If dreamy desserts are what you crave, if you love mangoes as much as we do, this tin box cake is for you! With mangoes, cream, saffron & pistachios, this Indian inspired eggless Mango Dream Cake is deeply delicious and so satisfying!

As the mango season draws to an end here on the subcontinent, I’m trying to squeeze in a couple of more mango dessert recipes. The king of fruits gives me so much joy, it’s difficult to accept that the season is almost gone.

Mangoes here are a celebration of everything Indian, a fruit we simply love to love.

With thousands of varieties and millions of ways to use the fruit, mango is truly very special. In India {and globally too of course}, you will see myriad uses for mangoes from the time they come into season, a country smitten by the immense possibilities of their beloved national fruit. Pickles, curries, beverages, coolers, salads, soba noodles, stir fries, dal and of course my favourite category, DESSERTS ♥!

Do tag me on Instagram at Passionate About Baking if you make this Eggless Mango Dream Cake, or any other recipe from the blog. I’d love to see it!

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Eggless Mango Dream Cake

If dreamy desserts are what you crave, if you love mangoes as much as we do, this tin box cake is for you! With mangoes, cream, saffron & pistachios, this eggless Mango Dream Cake is deeply delicious and so satisfying!
Makes one tin cake {5.5x3inch}
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, Indian
Keyword baking, cake, cream, dessert, eggfree, eggless, eggless baking, eggless cake, fruit, homemade, mangoes, no gelatine, one bowl, simple, summer dessert, sweet, tropical
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Chilling 8 hours
Total Time 9 hours 15 minutes
Servings 4 people

Ingredients

Eggless pistachio sponge

  • 210 g buttermilk
  • 50 g oil
  • 100 g castor sugar
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • Pinch of turmeric optional
  • Pinch salt
  • 4 tbsp pistachios finely chopped
  • 170 g all purpose flour maida

Saffron milk

  • 75 ml milk warm
  • 1/4 tsp saffron strands
  • 25 ml condensed milk

Almond cream

  • 250 g cream 25% fat
  • 1.5 tbsp cornstarch {cornflour}
  • 1 tsp agar agar powder
  • 2 tbsp castor sugar
  • 1/8 tsp almond extract
  • 2 tbsp clarified butter/ghee melted

Fruit layer

  • 1-2 mangoes diced

Instructions

Eggless pistachio sponge

  • Preheat the oven to 180C. Line a 6″ tin with parchment.
  • In a large bowl, add all the ingredients and give them a good whisk.
  • Turn the batter into the tin and bake for about 40-45 minutes, until the tester comes out clean. Cool completely, then trim the top. Gently fit the cake into the dream cake tin {5.5x3inch} and poke with a skewer.

Saffron milk

  • Stir together and leave to steep, preferably overnight

Almond cream

  • Whisk together all the ingredients in a glass bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, whisk again. Repeat at 15-30 second intervals until the cream begins to thicken at the edges, 3-4 times. Cool, whisking now and then to keep the cream uniform and to prevent a film from forming on top.

Assemble

  • Moisten the cake generously with the saffron milk.
  • Top the moistened cake with freshly diced mangoes followed by the almond cream. Level out and leave to set in the fridge overnight.
  • Top with freshly diced mangoes, rose petals, mint etc.

Video

Most Delicious Eggless Raspberry Pistachio Cake … Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

Eggless Raspberry Pistachio Cake … Where favourite colours and flavours come together with chocolate to create absolute deliciousness! My love for layered desserts, natural flavours, fruit in dessert, petite cakes and chocolate all meet in this little dessert cake. Each spoon is bursting with fresh, deep flavour and you just want to keep diving in!

There’s something about natural colors of fruits that really appeals to me, so much so that I can’t get enough. It’s always about pairing and always about a freshness of flavour. Add to that the visual appeal because desserts must look good and taste as nice!

Talking about colours makes me think of berries instantly. I make eggless desserts a LOT with berries through summer as I find them fascinating … so much appeal, so much fresh flavour, also a ton of natural colour! One of my favourite berries are raspberries and I find them endlessly inspiring. This Eggless Raspberry Pistachio Cake is the result of one such inspiration!

Think berries, think colour, then think pistachios and fall in love with that quintessential pistachio green. I’m smitten by the beautiful pistachio green and how well it pairs with the vibrant red of raspberries. Tke a look at the collage below and you’ll know what I mean. It’s therapeutic working with such colours and flavours and an absolute joy to style and shoot them! Just feels so effortless!

This little eggless raspberry pistachio layer cake is yet another way to play with these flavours and colours and the outcome is soooooo delicious! Pretty too, don’t you think?

Do tag me on Instagram at Passionate About Baking if you make this, or any other recipe from the blog. I’d love to see it!

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Eggless Pistachio Raspberry Cake

When favourite colours and flavours come together with chocolate to create absolute deliciousness! My love for layered desserts, natural flavours, petite cakes and chocolate all meet in this little dessert cake, each spoon bursting with flavour and texture!
Serves 2-4
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, British
Keyword baking, cake, chocolate, dessert, eggfree, eggless, eggless baking, eggless cake, fruit, one bowl, pistachios, raspberries, summer dessert, sweet, vegetarian
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
6 hours 45 minutes
Total Time 6 hours 45 minutes
Servings 2 people

Ingredients

Eggless chocolate sponges (makes four 4″ cakes, recipe can be halved)

  • 105 g buttermilk
  • 25 g oil
  • 50 g castor sugar
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • Pinch of salt
  • 10 g cocoa powder
  • 75 g all purpose flour/maida

125g fresh raspberries {for 1 cake}

Pistachio cream filling {for 1 cake}

  • 150 g cream / 25% fat
  • 1.5 tsp agar agar powder
  • 20 g sugar (to taste}
  • 75 g white chocolate room temperature, chopped
  • 150 g cream cheese room temperature, whisked smooth
  • 60 g pistachio butter

To top

  • Chocolate ganache, fresh raspberries, fresh mint leaves, edible flowers

Instructions

Eggless chocolate sponge

  • Preheat the oven to 180C. Line the base of four 4″ pastry rings/tins with foil and the sides with parchment.
  • In a large bowl, add all the ingredients and give them a good whisk.
  • Divide the batter between the rings/tins.
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the tester comes out clean. Cool completely, then trim the tops.

Pistachio cream filling for 1 serving

  • Whisk the cream and agar agar in a saucepan and simmer over low heat for 2-3 minutes stirring often to activate the agar agar. Alternatively, this can be done in the microwave in 30 second bursts.
  • Pour over the white chocolate and leave to stand until the chocolate melts. Whisk until smooth. Whisk in the cream just before you need to do the filling.
  • To 190g of the filling, whisk in 60g pistachio butter.

Assemble

  • Secure an acetate sheet snugly around a 4″ eggless chocolate sponge.
  • Pipe or spoon over the pistachio filling up to just below the halfway mark. Place it in the freezer for about 30 minutes until firm.
  • Scatter over a layer of fresh raspberries, about 15-16 per cake.
  • Top the berries with the remaining white cream filling gently. Make sure the filling isn’t too loose/flowy or it will cover the raspberries completely. You need a thickish, batter like flowing consistency.
  • Place the cake in the freezer for 4-5 hours until frozen, peel off the acetate sheet and leave to set in the fridge overnight.
  • Top with a spoon of melted chocolate ganache if desired. Garnish with fresh berries.

Video

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