Chocolate Mousse Pie

This, to me, is the ultimate in chocolate desserts – for three reasons. Firstly, it is VERY chocolatey with a creamy, silky consistency to die for – rich, smooth, velvety – perfection in other words. Secondly, it requires only four ingredients and can be put together with the most minimal…

Wheat Halwa – Hacked

In the family I was born into, sugar tolerance is very high. As a friend put it a long time ago, “your family needs sugar as a side for desserts.” I was the only exception. “I just wish it was less sweet,” was my stock comment to my mother. Of…

Banana Cake – Vegan

If there was a comfort food amongst baked goods, the banana bread would unequivocally take the honours. One could, of course, argue that all baked goods are comfort foods, but the banana bread evokes a particular degree of nostalgia and positivity unique to itself. The aroma that emanates, about half-way…

Adhi’s Gulab Jamun Cake

I had to eat my words. Beautiful looking cakes are never tasty, I was convinced. Until I met this Eggless Gulab Jamun Cake that was as lip-smacking as it was eye-catching. And no, I did NOT make it.  But Adheshwari Ramesh is not a professional baker. She is a Researcher…

Mysore Paak

My mother is famous for her mysore paak (crispy dessert made of chickpea (gram) flour, ghee and sugar) – for her cooking in general, but her sweets and savouries are considered unparalleled. So good were they that professional cooks have stood in awe as she has explained how to get…

Badam (Almond) Halwa

Badam halwa is easily one of my most favourite sweets. Blanched almonds, pureed with milk to a smooth but not completely smooth paste, are cooked in sugar syrup with ghee. Another of my mother’s pièces de résistance, I use her method but with lesser sugar and a softer consistency as…

Nei Appam

This traditional South Indian dessert is made for several festivals but is particularly associated with Krishna Jayanthi or Gokulashtami. Often considered rather difficult to pull off, I am, however, confident that this can be done successfully the first time following all the directions given. Gluten-free. Unlike some other sweets, its…