Tag Archives: cake

Cream cheese and fig jam cake

Posted on October 19, 2016 | Leave a comment

I am not a routine friendly person, i live daily challenges to dig out new things. I admit i easily get bored so i am in a constant search to enjoy new experiences, to reconnoiter unexplored places and indulge in new flavors.

But sometimes i find myself following a lovely routine, i call it family customs (it makes me feel better) especially when it comes to celebrations. Whatever are the circumstances, i never miss baking birthday cakes. It should be homemade, full of love and thoughts!

This year, for my husband’s birthday cake, fig was on my mind! I know fig and cream cheese will pair nicely together. Why not fig jam?! I remember when i was a kid, i used to love eating the classic cake that mom used to bake after spreading a thin layer of homemade jam. And i still do whenever i am at my parents place, mom does the best homemade jam!

The best recipe for basic white layered cake is here:

1 1/3 cup flour (sifted)
1/2 tsp baking powder
8 eggs
1 cup caster sugar
100g melted butter

Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease 4 shallow baking dishes of 8″. If you’re not willing to make 4 layers cake, you can simply cut the recipe in half for 2 layers or 3/4 for 3 layers.

Mix flour and baking powder. Set aside. Place eggs and sugar in an electrical mixer and whisk on high speed for 10 minutes or until thick and triple in volume. Gently fold in the flour mixture then the butter. Do not over mix.

Bake for 15-17 minutes or until sponges are springy to the touch and come away from the sides of the baking dish. Remove and let it cool completely.

Whisk 500ml heavy cream with 300g cream cheese and 1/2 cup icing sugar until stiff peaks form.

Spread one sponge with jam and second one with cream cheese, and repeat with the other two! Top the fourth one with the cream and decorate it with flowers or simply figs.

I wanted a festive fall look. I love these tones of colors, makes me feel happy and warm. Couldn’t wait until we cut it and taste it. And we did! I got lots of compliments and yumms. I think i will be doing it more often. It became one of my favorite cakes that doesn’t have chocolate but gives you the pleasure of it!

If you like this post give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.

“Funfetti cake” Happy 1st birthday my Joud

Posted on August 1, 2016 | Leave a comment

The perfect cake that screams celebration inside out! It’s my Joud’s first birthday, i wanted to make a fun cake that serves also as a smash “one piece of the”cake for him. Yes i am saying one piece of it because it’s so delicious that you can’t sacrifice it all to play with 🙂

As the name suggests, funfetti cake, it’s a really fun cake full of colors and flavors. Orange layer cake with rum buttercream.

I believe it’s the only time you can decide on the cake design, later on your kids will do according to their favorite color or character! Funfetti cake resembles so much my son’s first year, colorful and full of happiness and life.

To prepare this orange cake you will need:

1cup unsalted butter, at room temperature (227g about 2 sticks)
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs at room temperature
1/3 cup grated orange zest
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
3/4 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tbsp rum
1 cup colored chocolate vermicelli
1/2 cup colored pearls for decoration

Heat the oven to 180°C. Grease and flour two 8″ pans

Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer for about 5 minutes, or until light and fluffy. With the mixer on medium speed, beat in the eggs, one at a time, and the orange zest.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, combine the orange juice, the buttermilk, and vanilla. Add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately to the batter, beginning and ending with the flour.

the last step is to fold in the chocolate colored vermicelli delicately before dividing the batter in the pans and smooth the tops.

Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until a wooden skewer comes out clean.

Meantime prepare the rum buttercream for frosting

200g butter
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
3 tsp rum
food color (you choose your favorite)

Mix the butter with an electrical mixer until fluffy. Add milk and rum than sugar 1 cup at a time and beat until you get the consistency you want. Keep it in the fridge while your cake is cooling for easier use later.

After frosting the cake, sprinkle the half cup of colored pearls to give the final fun look.

You can choose the color combination you favor. I wanted green and blue, very summerish and happy together! You can keep it white also, while the colored pearls do the effect. As i said it’s a very appealing cake, you will feel the celebration with every piece you cut. A pleasure to the eye and palate.

Happy Birthday my love Joud, may all your life be full of colors, happiness and health, together with your brother Nady . Love you both to bits ❤

If you like this post give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.

Apple carrot cake

Posted on January 13, 2016 | Leave a comment

Sometimes all you need is a simple and easy cake recipe for everyday. Breakfast or dessert, this is the wholesome cake to adapt. It has fruits (apple and carrots), nuts (walnut), eggs and milk.

It’s a complete meal or snack, made it healthier by replacing the butter with vegetable oil and using low fat milk.

So much flavors in a simple cake to enjoy and indulge.

You will need: (9″ baking dish)

5 eggs
1 3/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp vanilla
zest of one lemon (approx 1 tbsp)
zest of one orange (approx 1 1/2 tbsp)
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 tbsp baking powder
1 large carrot grated
1 medium apple grated
1/2 cup milk (low fat)
1 cup dark chocolate chip
a handful walnut

Preheat oven on 180°C. Butter a 9″ dish and dust with flour then put it aside.

Start by mixing eggs, sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on high speed until light in color and fluffy. Mix in the lemon and orange zest and the oil and keep mixing for another 5 minutes on low speed.

Fold in the flour, baking powder, grated carrot, grated apple and milk. Mix gently until all ingredients are well incorporated.

Pour in the baking dish and bake for an hour or until a skewer comes out clean.

If you wish to wrap the cake with chocolate, sprinkle 1 cup dark chocolate chip on top when the cake is done and still hot then garnish with a handful walnut. If you don’t want to add chocolate, chop the walnuts and add them to the batter before baking.

It’s so fluffy and rich, beware that one piece could drag another. In other words it’s addictive.

This cake is so versatile, you can add cinnamon if you’re fond of, and if you wish to enjoy a deep flavor, you can add a pinch of nutmeg and clove.

If you like this post give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.

A recipe to elevate your date cake to the next level

Posted on June 29, 2015 | 15 comments

Living in the gulf, offers abundance in dates. You find it everywhere, specially now it’s ramadan. I’ve been looking for the perfect recipe for a cake, which meets my expectations, not being too sweet.

I’ve been told eating dates leads to a shorter labor. There is no study that proves or negates, but what’s the harm?! I was thinking why i don’t incorporate dates in my daily regime. I would do anything if it leads to easier labor.

This perfect recipe of date walnut cake, enliven your classic recipe and takes it to the next level. It will be your favorite breakfast with a hot cup of coffee or juice, or at anytime of the day, you will love it.

250g dates, pitted and chopped
4 tbs softened butter (almost 60g)
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup hot coffee
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 3/4 cups flour
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 200°C. Combine dates, butter, baking soda, salt, and brown sugar in a mixing bowl. Pour the hot coffee into the bowl and combine. Allow the mixture to cool for 15 minutes before adding the egg, vanilla, baking powder, and flour, mixing gently until smooth. Stir in the walnuts. Pour the batter into the greased pan and bake for 35-45mns or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

The reason we put hot coffee is that its acidity reacts with the baking soda to produce rise. Plus it gives a subtle dimension to the flavors without being identified in the final outcome. You can substitute with just water but it won’t be that moist and a bit more dense.

After it is completely cool, you can slice it and serve it with coffee, juice or topped with cream cheese. Wrap it airtight to store at room temperature for several days or in the fridge for longer storage.

It’s a really wholesome cake i recommend, i am sure if you are dates lover you will be making it more often. You will be addicted to it!

This might be my last post now from qatar, as i am traveling to Beirut to deliver my precious “Joud”. I’ll try my best to post at least once a week. I will miss you 🙂

If you like this post give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.

15 Comments

Posted in dessert

Tagged blog, cake, coffee, dates, food blogger, hot coffee, how to do, jaymmy, lebanon, marmite et ponpon, qatar, recipe, walnut, walnut cake

Decadent chocolate cake

Posted on March 4, 2015 | 5 comments

If you think i am exaggerating when i say this is the best basic recipe for a chocolate cake, try it and prove me wrong! I am sure you will be checking this recipe over and over and over….

If you remember my spectacular chocolate cake with red fruits i did a year go, you will find that this is the same recipe of the chocolate cake, but this one with nutella butter frosting.

Trust me with or without frosting, ganache or fruits, it’s a staple chocolate cake for all the occasions and times.

To bake the cake you need:

2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup, unsweetened cocoa powder
11/2 tsps baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 1/2 tbsps instant coffee powder
1 cup hot water
2 large eggs

Preheat oven on 180ºC. In a large bowl, sieve the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add the sugar and mix well with the dry ingredients.

Make a well in the center and add the milk, oil, vanilla essence and eggs then mix. Finally add the hot coffee melted in the cup of hot water.

Pour the cake batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for 40 mins or until a skewer comes out clean. Start checking from 35 mins onwards.

I should mention that my little baker helped me to prepare this cake!

For the frosting you need:

200g nutella
200g butter
1 cup icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 pinch of salt
1 tsp granulated sugar

Beat the butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add the icing sugar, then vanilla and pinch of salt and mix until combined.

Add nutella and beat until fluffy. When ready to use stir in the granulated sugar without over mixing, it will give you a light crunchiness effect later when savoring the cake.

I used 1M Wilton tip to create the swirls, and decorated it with some cherries. You can replace the cherry with strawberry or chocolate sprinkles if you want.

I put it couple of hours in the fridge before serving. But guess what?! the next day was even better!

By the way, this was my birthday cake (last week) but i didn’t find the urge to post it, I was enjoying reading and over reading, everyday and many times for the whole week, the surprise post my husband did.

Again thank you babes for the beautiful unexpected surprise! Love xx