Friday, February 09, 2018

Desserts for two. Cinnamon Streusel Cake

There are days when I pick up my son from school, hand him a lunch box with hot food and a spoon and ask him to eat up as I drive him directly to the library and then to tutoring.
On those days, he sits in the library and will finish his work and I stroll through the book aisles and pick a book here, a comic there or a magazine to flip through.
He works, I read.
Occasionally, he pays more attention to what I have, than to his work. I would too, I mean, c'mon, is math as interesting as a book which has tempting pictures of delicious desserts?

That's what I found on one of my 'walks'. A book that was just what I needed, Best sweets and treats for two
In February 2017, I went along with Nupur on the sugar free month, it's almost a year now and I am glad I broke that bad habit of gorging on something sweet. I can now say no and not regret it one bit!

But sometimes, it feels nice to have a little something to nibble on.  And who can say no to cake? But, making a usual portion is a lot and nobody wants to eat it after a day. This book solves my problem. This recipe serves 3, when the adults are careful of portion control ;)

small treat, cake, tea time


This recipe makes 2 mini loaves. What makes it a breeze is, this recipe uses a store brought mix, its semi-home made. While I like to measure out the ingredients and bake from scratch, this short cut is  rather convenient.

You need :

1 1/2 cups Store brought Yellow cake mix
1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
1/2 cup Water
3 Tbsp Butter (unsalted), melted
1/2 cup dark brown sugar ( i used light brown, it was what I had)
1/2 cup All purpose flour
1/2 tsp Cinnamon 
3 tbsp Butter, chilled and diced
1 Cup powdered sugar
2-3 tbsp Milk


Pre-heat the oven to 350F
Grease the mini loaves
In a mixing bowl of the stand mixer (fitted with the paddle attachment), combine the cake mix, egg and egg yolk, water and melted butter and mix until well combined ( about 2 mins)

Make the streusel: in a bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, brown sugar. Using a fork or your hands rub the butter into the flour and sugar till pea size crumbles form

Pour the cake batter in the greased pans, pour half way only. Now sprinkle the streusel mix over the batter. Pour remaining cake batter. Top it off with the remaining streusel mixture.

Bake in the oven for about 20-25 mins ( until the toothpick comes out clean)

Remove from pan ( after about 10 mins) and set it on the rack to cool completely.

The book does not state the use of the last two ingredients, the powdered sugar and the milk. I'm guessing that is for the glaze. 
I did not make the glaze. The cake is perfectly sweet and does not need anything more. 

If you, however, like sweet, add the milk in the powdered sugar and mix to form a thick glaze and drizzle it over the cooled  cakes.


Last slice, hastily clicked before a hungry 9 year old grabbed it and gobbled it up! 
Since this recipe worked well, my son has bookmarked several recipes he liked in the book and has urged me not to waste any time, but try and make them all. I am tempted! And with small portions, it really works well for us. 
So stay tuned for some more sweet treats. 

That's it from me! See you soon (hopefully) with new recipes and updates. 
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4 comments:

Nupur said...

I'm glad the sugar free month worked for you. It worked well for me, in just one month, it changed my mind-set and while I enjoy occasional sweets now, it is not the same mindless eating as before. The cake looks great and you are right, that glaze with the whole cup (!) of powdered sugar is totally not needed.

Manasi said...

Thank you, Nupur.
I’m glad I did that challenge. Time for another food related challenge?
Or maybe a new series? I know you are strapped for time, but once a fortnight, series?

Pankti said...

Sugar free month! it's a great idea.. I too started cutting my sugar intake since last month, stopped sugar in my milk. Stopped having tea and coffee. And stopped making or buying sweet treats for family. Yet, guests come and then you end making some sweets they end up gifting some to you. Though trying to control.. As for this cute little cake.. I think portion control is something that may get difficult for me ;)

Manasi said...

Hello Pankti, I know what you mean. It’s difficult to control with guests over or when you go to someone else’s!
But luckily, it’s not difficult after that, going back to low or no sugar.
This cake is small and worth that guilt trip! ;)

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