Flourless chocolate cake

The flourless chocolate cake is a delicate gluten free dessert that melts in your mouth. The recipe is absolutely simple without any flour! All you need is chocolate, butter, sugar and eggs.

My Cafe Gourmand

Flourless chocolate cake

Natalija
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 200 g chocolate chips (60%)
  • 150 g unsalted butter
  • 200 g sugar
  • 6 eggs
  • 2 pinches salt
  • 1/4 tbsp powdered sugar

Instructions
 

  • Melt the chocolate and butter on a water bath or in a microwave. Mix well.
  • Add sugar and mix well.
  • Separate yolks from egg whites.
  • Add yolks into the melted chocolate and mix.
  • Add salt to the egg whites, and beat into a thick foam.
  • Using a spatula carefully fold in whipped egg whites into chocolate mass.
  • Preheat oven to 380 degrees F. Generously butter a baking pan and pour the batter into the cake pan.
  • Bake in in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes. The exact time of baking depends on the oven, size and quality of the baking pan. Once the the cake is moist and not liquid inside (it’s not a lava cake) – it’s ready. Please, don’t overcook!
  • Let the cake cool then carefully remove it from the pan. Dust it with powdered sugar and serve.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Easy Apple Cake

Delicate and full of apples easy to make cake. Recipe is very similar to famous Russian Apple Sharlotka but with a little of olive oil and baking powder.  Must try!

 

Print

Easy Apple Cake

Take sour apples for this recipe.
Course Dessert
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 8 servings
Author Natalija

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs
  • 200 g sugar
  • 150 g sifted flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 3 big apples Granny Smith
  • 1 tsp confectioner's sugar (facultatif)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 380 degrees F. Grease and flour a round cake pan or line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
  • Using an electric mixer, beat eggs and sugar. Add flour and baking powder. Mix well, then add oil and mix last time.
  • Peel and dice apples into small pieces. Lay out the apples on the bottom of the pan.
  • Pour the batter over the apples.
  • Bake for about 45 minutes or until а knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.
  • Let the cake cool then transfer to plate.
  • Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar.

Easy Walnut Cake

There are quite a few nut cake recipes; but this one, which my mother-in-law is preparing is a little different. With that easy walnut cake, you can really taste the taste of nuts thanks to the small pieces that crunch under your teeth!

Easy Walnut Cake

Christophe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 3 eggs
  • 220 g sugar
  • 100 ml milk
  • 90 ml olive oil
  • 200 g sifted flour
  • 2 tsps baking powder
  • 300 g walnuts
  • 40 g butter
  • Some confectioner’s sugar
  • Few walnuts halves

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 380 degrees F. Grease and flour a round cake pan or line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
  • Using a mixer, beat eggs with sugar.
  • Add milk, olive oil, flour, and baking powder. Mix well.
  • Place the walnuts in the zip-lock and cruch them using a pastry pin.
  • Pour the batter in the cake pan (mould). Lay walnuts halves on top of the cake.
  • Bake for 20 minutes. The cake should be well raised with a thin crust but not fully baked. Place the pieces of butter on top of the cake.
  • Continue to cook for another 10 minutes. Remove the cake from the oven, allow to cool before removing it from the mold.
  • Dust it with powdered sugar before serving.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Cabbage and Carrot Slaw

This cabbage and carrot slaw is simple, healthy and nutritious. It is super easy to make and requires only a few ingredients. A perfect side dish to literally anything.

Cabbage and carrot slaw

Natalija
It tastes even better the next day.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 medium-sized cabbage head
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 carrots
  • 1/2 tsp sugar
  • 4-5 Tbsp 5% white vinegar
  • 4-5 Tbsp olive oil
  • fresh herbs (dill, parsley, green onion)

Instructions
 

  • Cut the cabbage in half and peel of a few of the thin outer layers. Cut each half into quarters, then cut out the tough core in the middle. Slice each quarter crosswise into thin shreds. Add salt and squeeze the shredded cabbage with your hands.
  • Peel the carrots and shred them.
  • Transfer the shredded carrots and cabbage into the mixing bowl. Add sugar, white vinegar and olive oil. Gently toss everything together. Taste and add some more salt if needed. Garnish with fresh herbs before serving.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Mini Pavlova

Pavlova is a dessert, named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, who toured Australia and New Zealand in 1926. It is a meringue dessert with crisp crust and soft light inside, topped with cream and fresh berries.

You can make meringue shells ahead of time and freeze them. I usually make the cream the same day I want to serve my Mini Pavlova. And as always this dessert is a perfect mini dessert for my  Cafe Gourmand.

Mini Pavlova dessert

Natalija
I rarely use food coloring when baking. I like my desserts to have their original color. But if you are cooking for Valentine's Day or for a Princess party, you may add some food coloring to your dessert. This time, I used one tiny drop of red coloring to make the cream pink.
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 36 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

Meringue

  • 4 egg whites (room temperature)
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 220 g confectioner’s sugar

Cream

  • 200 ml heavy whipping cream ( 35%) very cold
  • 100 g mascarpone cheese
  • 1,5 Tbsp sugar
  • 1 drop red food coloring (optional)
  • Fresh berries raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries…

Instructions
 

Meringue

  • Using mixer, begin beating your egg whites and salt on a low speed, steadily increasing up to medium high.
  • While beating on a medium speed, slowly add the confectioner’s sugar, about 1-2 Tbsp at a time. Once all the sugar is added, keep beating until the egg whites hold stiff peaks.
  • Preheat oven to 230 degrees F. Draw circles of approximately 4-8 cm diameter (you can use a pint glass as a guide) on each of the parchment lined sheets.
  • Spoon meringue into piping bag, fitted with 3/4 inch tip. Pipe meringue to cover circles on prepared baking sheet. Pipe two more rings of meringues on top of outer edge to form walls of Pavlovas.
  • Bake in center of oven until dry and crisp, about 1 1/2 hours.
  • Turn off the oven and let the meringues completely cool in the oven. Once cooled, you can top them with whipped cream and berries.

Filling

  • With mixer, beat together very cold heavy cream and mascarpone cheese, until whipped gradually adding sugar. Add food coloring. Don’t overbeat the cream, or you will end up with butter.
  • Spoon cream into piping bag.
  • Right before serving, pipe frosting on the pavlovas and top with fresh berries.
  • If you have some leftovers cream, you can pipe it into a small glass and garnish with some fresh berries.

Notes

Pease don’t waste your egg yolks, you can always make Creme brûlée.
 
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Lemon Infused Vodka

This is my home-made lemon infused vodka. This strong alcoholic drink has a pleasant lemon aroma. You can either drink on its own or use it to make cocktails. Please consume with moderation.

Lemon Infused Vodka

Natalija
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 12 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 organic lemon
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1/2 l vodka

Instructions
 

  • Peel the lemon then slice it.
  • Place the lemon slices into the jar then add sugar and vodka.
  • Cover and keep 7 days at room temperature, out of direct sunlight.
  • Discard the lemon slices, strain the infused vodka thru a fine mesh. Transfer vodka into a bottle. Serve chilled or use for the cocktail.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Walnut Raisin Cake

This easy to make cake is perfect for a breakfast. The Walnuts and raisin go well together.

Пирог с грецкими орехами и изюмом

Walnut Raisin Cake

Natalija
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 150 g walnuts
  • 250 g softened butter
  • 200 g sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 200 g all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 150 g raisins
  • Some powdered sugar

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
  • Grind the walnuts in a blender.
  • Using a mixer beat the butter with sugar.
  • Add the eggs and mix.
  • Add the flour and mix.
  • Add the walnuts. Mix.
  • Add the raisins and mix with a spatula.
  • Pour the batter in the pan.
  • Bake for about 40 minutes or until а toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Once the cake cooled down, transfer to a plate.
  • Dust it with powdered sugar before serving.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Walnut Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Once baked, the walnuts get that gooey-caramel and crunchy coating. Your guests will love that Walnut Pineapple Upside-Down Cake.

Walnut Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Irina
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 7 rings pineapple slices drained
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup all purpose flour sifted
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup walnuts chopped

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9-10 inch round cake pan. Place pineapple slices on the bottom of the pan.
  • In a large bowl, beat the eggs, sugar and vanilla on high speed for about 8 min. Slowly add flour. Using a spatula fold in gently. Continue until all of the flour mixture is incorporated.
  • Add chopped walnuts.
  • Carefully spoon mixture into a pan cake.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
  • Cool for at list 10 minutes, then turn the pan over onto a serving plate. Wait 30 seconds then lift the pan off.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Easy Madeleines

Very light, fluffy and tasty French cookies. Classic small sponge cakes shaped like seashell, usually made with lemon zest. I love lemon, but I decided not to add any to my madeleines. I just like them plain.

You can find molds for mini-madeleines. That’s really nice and you can savor them for a cafe gourmand.

French Madeleines

Natalija
To make an authentic madeleine, you will need a madeleine pan. But you can use a muffin pan or any cake pan.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 24 pieces

Ingredients
  

  • 4 eggs
  • 200 g sugar
  • 120 ml milk
  • 200 g all purpose flour sifted
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 120 g unsalted butter melted

Instructions
 

  • In a medium bowl combine eggs and sugar. Whip until light. Add milk and mix well.
  • Carefully fold in the flour, baking powder and pinch of salt.
  • Add melted butter and mix throughly until smooth. Let the batter rest in the fridge for about 15 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Butter madeleine pan. My pan makes 12 cookies at a time. From this receipe you’ll make 24 cookies.
  • Spoon batter into the prepared molds, filling 3/4 full. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are golden and the tops spring back. Remove the madeleines from the oven and let cool for 2 minutes.
  • With a knife or fork carefully loosen the madeleines from the pan and then tip the whole pan out to a prepared plate.
  • If you want to make it in a loaf pan, it will take much longer, about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake come out clean.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Bread Kvass

A traditional Russian bread kvass is a fermented and carbonated beverage in which the main components are Rye bread, yeast, sugar, water and raisins. In Russia kvass is used in some cold recipes such as okroshka.

Bread Kvass

Irina
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 14 hours 21 minutes
Servings 12 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 3 l boiled water room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 Tbsp active dry yeast
  • 10 slices Rye bread
  • 3 Tbsp raisins optional

Instructions
 

  • Slice Rye bread.
  • Position a rack in the upper third of an oven and preheat the broiler. Arrange bread slices on a baking sheet. Broil the slices until dark brown, turning them over only once, about 3-4 minutes per side.
  • In a large bowl, mix together active dry yeast, sugar and water. Place bread and raisins in 3 Mason jars and fill the jars with water.
  • Cover the jars with lid or plastic wrap and let it stand on the countertop for 6-8 hours at room temperature, stir the mixture occasionally.
  • Carefully remove the toasted bread and raisins and discard them. Using a strainer pour the kvass into empty jars or plastic containers and place in the refrigerator overnight.
  • Serve chilled and ENJOY!
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial