Danish Spice Cake for Christmas in July

The Concept of Danish Hygge

The Danish word Hygge cannot be translated to one word in English, but my description would be,’ a cosy and contented feeling of wellbeing one gets when spending quiet time indoors with family and friends.‘

Tea and cake or a nice glass of wine in the evenings, may help to promote hygge. When I think of hygge, I think of a wood fire, sitting with my family and my dogs, perhaps a cup of Royal Ritz Loose-leaf Tea from the Tea Centre or perhaps a glass of Shiraz/Port in the evening.

It might be summer in the North, but here in Australia, we welcome winter and that cosy feeling inside our homes that adds a touch of Danish ‘Hygge,’ with a Danish Spice cake reminiscent of warm drinks by a fire, and a relaxed atmosphere.

A Spice cake might also be a great compliment if you are planning a Christmas in July. Including cloves, cardamon and cinnamon, this recipe is packed full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, giving the immune system a mild boost.

A growing trend in Australia, a Christmas in July event, capitalises on the mild winters and is the perfect excuse to indulge in hearty Christmas dishes, Puddings and Mulled Wine. Foods that are harder to digest when the mercury passes 30 degress Celsius around December.

Spice Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1/2 litre or 2 American cups Plain flour
• 3.5 deciliters or 1.5 cups Sugar
• 1 teaspoon each of ground Cloves and Cardamon
• 3 teaspoons ground Cinnamon
• I/2 tablespoon Baking soda
• 1 Egg
• 350 ml or 1.5 cups of Kefir/cultured milk/yoghurt/sourcream
• 2 dessertspoons of Lingonberry or Cranberry jam
• 75 g or 2.5 oz Butter

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees Celcius [180 degrees fan forced], or 390 Fahrenheit [360 fan forced].
2. Mix kefir and jam well in a bowl, electric whisk is always preferable.
3. Melt the butter, let cool a tiny bit.
4. Add melted butter and egg to the kefir and jam mix, mixing gently.
5. Mix together the dry ingredients and add to the wet ingredients until combined.
6. Pour cake mix into a greased Bundt tin or cake tin of your choice.
7. Bake for around 30-40 minutes. [Precise baking time will depend on the size of your dish, and on your oven. You know your oven best!]

Tips for measurement conversions: 

American

1 cup = 8 fl oz = 2.4 dl = 24 cl = 240 ml

British

1 cup = 10 fl oz = 2.8 dl = 280 ml

Australian

dl – 1 deciliter = 6 (scant) tablespoons

Two more Spice cake recipes containing immuno-boosting cinnamon, cloves and cardamon can be found on this post at The Home by the Sea.

Something light for Tea

You may have heard me espousing the benefits of almonds and walnuts in recipes such as salads, or the Almond and Walnut Muffin recipe, I have previously posted, but what about  the benefits of incorporating cinnamon in our diet?

I have to confess to being quite a fan of the cinnamon, especially in the crumble toppings you might find on a apple rhubarb dessert or a gourmet muffin. Combining cinnamon with almonds and walnuts, which are a fantastic source of Vitamin E and Magnesium, was a way of creating a light, and more importantly, HEALTHY cake recipe that if cut into bite-sized servings, is only a teeny bit decadent. Altogether a Perfect combination for a healthy morning or afternoon tea. Find the Recipe below.

Cinnamon Nut Streusel Cake

What are the Health Benefits of Cinnamon?

Cinnamon is astonishingly good for you. Would you believe that a mere teaspoon of cinnamon contains 28 mg of calcium, almost one mg of iron, over a gram of fiber, and quite a lot of vitamins C, K, and manganese?

[Source:cinnamonnutrition.com/index

In traditional medicine, cinnamon has been used for its mild anti-inflammatory effects, and to treat digestive ailments such as indigestion, gas and bloating, and diarrhea. As little as half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity and blood glucose control.  Improving insulin tolerance can help in weight control as well as decreasing the risk for heart disease.  Read More here.

Cinnamon Nut Streusel Cake

Ingredients

Base:

• 3/4 Cup Sugar
• 1/4 Cup (55grams) soft Butter
• 1/2 Cups Milk
• 1egg
• 2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1 1/2 cups Flour
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt

Top Layer:

• 1/2 cup Brown Sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoon Flour
• 2 Teaspoons (or more), of Cinnamon
• 2 Tablespoons soft Butter
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts – I used a combination of walnuts and flaked almonds

Method

Base:

1. Preheat Oven 175 ° C and Grease or line a 9″ x 12″  or 20 x 30 cm slice tray
2. Cream butter and sugar in mixer
3. Add remaining base ingredients and mix well
4. Spread out evenly in the tray.

Streusel Topping:

1. Mix Streusel topping ingredients together
2. Spread about 1/4 of the Streusel topping onto the base layer and lightly swirl through with a skewer or knife.
3. Spread the rest of the Streusel topping thinly over the top of the base.
4. Bake for 20 – 35 minutes or till cooked through, when pierced with a skewer
5. Allow Cake to cool and cut into small squares to serve.

Something healthy and delicious to savour about

Oh so Light Cinnamon Cake

If you want to bake a cinnamon Cake that is as light and fluffy as a sponge follow this recipe

If you want to bake a cinnamon Cake that is as light and fluffy as a sponge follow this recipe and you will be in for a real treat! And check here for another great cinnamon recipe and to find out Why Cinnamon is so good for you.

Cinnamon Cake Recipe

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup shortening
• 1  1/3 cups white sugar
• 1  1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• 2/3 cup milk

Mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.

Cream the sugar and butter till light and fluffy in a separate bowl, and then add the flour mix .Add milk vanilla and eggs, one at a time, beating very well after each addition.

Pour into prepared kugelhof tin, ring or small loaf pans, or both, ( it makes a large mix and could well make a standard cake and 2 small loaf tins, 1200 x500mm)

NB – the cake is light and will take longer to cook in the centre, hence my use of the ring cake tin!

Bake 180 degrees for 40 – 45 minutes (25 mins for small loaf pans)

Lay out to cool and decorate with icing of your choice, or cinnamon sugar and melted butter

 

*NB. Tip: Be careful turning out as it is so light, it can easily break. After cooling for 10 minutes on a wire rack,  I invert a plate on the top of the cooked cake whilst it is still in the tin,  then flip over and carefully lift off the kugelhof tin.

Good luck and Enjoy the taste and texture whilst pondering the problems of the world

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Apple and Cinnamon Bread

Delicious and nutritious apple and cinnamon cake you can make in a jiffy

We all know how good apples are for you. An apple a day…. etc. but did you know Cinnamon is also beneficial, not to say, delicious and tasty. That’s why I  am sharing the recipe for this delicious Apple and Cinnamon bread with you. ( well, it is more like  a cake, but bread sounds better!)

Cinnamon is astonishingly good for you. Would you believe that a mere teaspoon of cinnamon contains 28 mg of calcium, almost one mg of iron, over a gram of fiber, and quite a lot of vitamins C, K, and manganese? It’s true. It also contains about half a gram of “usable” (non-fiber) carbohydrate. Scientifically speaking, there is only one true cinnamon, which is most commonly called “Ceylon cinnamon,” and comes from the plant Cinnamomum Zeylanicum. An alternative scientific name for Ceylon Cinnamon is Cinnamomum verum, which simply translates as “true cinnamon.”  [Source:http://cinnamonnutrition.com/index.html%5D

Several studies have shown improved insulin sensitivity and blood glucose control by taking as little as half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day. Improving insulin resistance can help in weight control as well as decreasing the risk for heart disease. This food is very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Vitamin K and Iron, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Calcium and Manganese. Read More here.

In traditional medicine, cinnamon has been used for digestive ailments such as indigestion, gas and bloating, stomach upset, and diarrhea. More recently, modern medical research has turned its eye on cinnamon and is coming up with some intriguing results. It has a mild anti-inflammatory effect.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (you can use more if you like)

2/3 cup white sugar

1/2 cup butter (softened) – about 110 g

2 eggs

1  1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1  1/2 cups Plain Flour

1  3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup milk

1 apple, (peeled and chopped)

Preheat oven 190 degrees Celsius and grease a 240 x 120mm loaf pan

Mix brown sugar and cinnamon and set aside.

Cream butter and sugar together

Add vanilla and eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.

Combine flour and baking powder in a separate bowl and add to the mixture.

Finally add the milk and mix well.

Pour half the batter in the pan, then layer half the apple and half the brown sugar and cinnamon mix.

Pour remaining batter on top and then the rest of the apple and sugar/cinnamon mix.

Swirl the brown sugar mix and apple a little through the mix.

Cook 30 – 40 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.

Delicious served warm with a cup of tea!

Call it bread or cake, it is something to ponder about.