Soni's Food

Indian Inspiration!

Swedish Apple Pie for the #Holidays

20 | 12 | 2018
By Soni Sinha

Apple desserts are an all-time favorite over here. My kids love anything with apples in it and I’m always looking out for apple dessert recipes to try. Given the copious amounts of pie we consumed over Thanksgiving at various dinner parties I was looking for a crust less pie dessert for the holidays and stumbled upon Swedish Apple Pie that sounded just about right. I had some tart apples lying around (always have them on hand!) and decided to put them to use. Given the stress of planning out holiday parties, this easy dessert is a sure shot winner in my books and great for a crowd.

Of all the recipes I saw online I shortlisted this and this and adapted them to make my own version of a Swedish apple pie. Not sure if the Swedes would call this their original apple pie but I do know that it tastes phenomenal and was a huge hit with my kids. Classic apple-cinnamon combo is what works its magic here as the flavors are spot-on.Warm baked apple desserts topped with ice cream are my weakness in these colder months!I know for sure that I’ll be making this over and over again.

Swedish apple pie

Swedish Apple pie is somewhere in-between a pie and apple crisp. Instead of layering the apples and flour mixture I just mixed the apples into the batter and that resulted in a flaky crumbly texture resembling a crisp.If you want it to look more like a pie crust I suggest you layer the apples first and top it with the batter. I used my cast iron pan to bake it and it baked perfectly.I topped mine with some vanilla ice cream and its disappearing fast!An unique twist to a traditional apple pie this crowd pleasing dessert is ideal for the holidays!Enjoy and wishing you a joyous holiday season!

Here are some other dessert ideas for the Holidays!

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Nutella Swirl Cheesecake Bars

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies
swedish apple pie

Swedish Apple Pie

Soni Sinha
A crustless pie with the texture of an apple crisp, this Swedish Apple Pie is just perfect for the holidays!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine swedish
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 4 medium granny smith apples peeled and diced
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 3 tsp brown sugar
  • ¼ cup whole wheat flour
  • ¾ cup plain flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup melted butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions
 

  • In a bowl toss the apples with cinnamon and brown sugar.
    In another bowl mix egg,butter and vanilla.
    Mix the flours,sugar,salt and add into the wet ingredients.Add the apples.Mix well.Grease a cast iron pan with some cooking spray.Spread the mixture evenly.Bake on 350 degrees for 40 mins or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Pumpkin Bourbon Pudding

21 | 11 | 2018
By Soni Sinha

I’m sure you’re busy prepping for tomorrow, but in case you’re still looking for some last-minute dessert ideas for Thanksgiving, then you’ve come to the right place.As much as I love making my Cream Cheese Pumpkin Pie for Thanksgiving, this time I’m going with these Pumpkin Pie Truffles and something else that’s equally wonderful at this time of the year. Pumpkin Bourbon Pudding is an easy baked dessert that I discovered here and have been making it for some time now. My guests love it and it tastes amazing (bourbon might have something to do with that!).
With temperatures as low as they are tomorrow an easy boozy Thanksgiving dessert sounds just about perfect to warm us all up don’t you think?

Pumpkin Bourbon Pudding

I have never shared boozy desserts with you in the past and this is just the beginning, so stay tuned for more coming your way as we celebrate this holiday season. This luscious pudding has all the lovely flavors of a pumpkin pie but without any of the effort involved and it’s also great for a crowd. The flavors are spot on with aromatics such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and all spice and the aroma is to die for. That’s what I love about baking in the fall!

Pumpkin Bourbon Pudding

The batter bakes into this smooth velvety pudding that you just have to dig your spoon in and savor! The ingredients are all mixed in one bowl and baked until all warm and a pudding-y consistency.You can make the toppings as festive as you like with wafers, crushed pecans/nuts, ice cream, whipped cream or anything that screams thanksgiving to you. I love mine simple with some with rolled oats as in this recipe! An easy crowd pleasing dessert that I’m sure you’ll be making over and over again like I do!

Happy Thanksgiving and may it bring health, wealth and joyous moments to each and every one of you!Enjoy!

Here are a few other Thanksgiving recipes that you might enjoy-
Indian Roasted Cornish Hens
Stir Fried Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries
Sweet Potato Cranberry Casserole with Almond Streusel

Print
Pumpkin Bourbon Pudding

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons bourbon
  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 1 slightly beaten egg white
  • 1 slightly beaten egg
  • 1 15 oz can pumpkin
  • 1 5 oz can (2/3 cup) evaporated milk
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/3 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons melted butter

Instructions

  1. Lightly coat 4-5 small jars or 6-ounce souffle dishes or custard cups or one 1-quart casserole with nonstick cooking spray. Place jars or souffle dishes or custard cups in a shallow baking pan for ease of handling; set aside.
  2. In a large bowl combine egg white, egg, pumpkin, evaporated milk, the 1/2 cup brown sugar, the pumpkin pie spice, and bourbon. Pour pumpkin mixture into prepared dish(es). In a small bowl stir together rolled oats and the 2 tablespoons brown sugar. Stir in melted butter. Sprinkle over pumpkin mixture.
  3. Bake in a 375 degree F. oven about 30 minutes for souffle dishes or custard cups, 40 to 45 minutes for large dish.
  4. Transfer to wire rack.Serve warm.

https://www.sonisfood.com/2018/11/pumpkin-bourbon-pudding.html

 

Chai Spiced Peach Clafoutis

11 | 10 | 2018
By Soni Sinha

Hello! I’m back to blogging after a hiatus and boy have I missed it! We moved house in the summer and we’ve been swamped with tons of work that comes along with it. Apart from packing and unpacking a million boxes, we also made few renovations in the house to our liking and it’s not easy when you have a thousand different things to take care of before, during and after each project.Its been an exhausting but also a very exciting summer for us and the good news is that most of the work is now done and I can get back to sharing my recipes with you from my new kitchen!

chai spiced peach clafoutis

It’s been so long since I last shared a recipe that summer has given way to fall.The lush green foliage is now metamorphosing into warm gold, russet and sepia tones.Our streets adorned with these warm colors and more, autumn never fails to fascinate me.I’m looking forward to ‘Sweater Weather’ when my scarves, boots and hats are out and the cool crisp autumn air brushes against me.My most favorite time of the year.Freshly baked custard and caramelized peaches with warm chai spices (my favorite) seems like the perfect way to enjoy autumn after all the hard work over the summer.

I thinly slice the peaches and gently coat them with the warm chai spices and brown sugar.The peaches go into the warm pan and I I hear the sizzle telling me that the peaches are caramelizing. The spices let out their aroma and it fills my kitchen.I’m in a happy place breathing-in the warm spices and whip up the rich custardy batter that makes this dessert irresistible.Once I arrange the peaches this baby is ready to go in the oven and all I have to do is just wait!That is the hardest part.

Chai spiced peach clafoutis

Clafoutis or Clafouti is a classic French dessert traditionally made using cherries but I’ve also made it with apples here that tasted heavenly. I just found out that when you use other fruits instead of cherries it’s actually called Flugnarde! Cherry or no cherry I’ll stick with Clafoutis since it just sounds better -don’t you think? The batter for a clafoutis is very much like a crepe batter and it’s an easy dessert that’s best enjoyed lukewarm. I baked this in my cast iron pan and it turned out to be every bit as delicious as I imagined it to be. Perfectly comforting, perfectly spiced, and perfectly rich and tasty, Clafoutis is an all-time favorite.Enjoy!

Print
Chai Spiced Peach Clafoutis

Ingredients

  • 3 medium peaches sliced
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • butter for the pan
  • powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a bowl mix the peaches with all the chai spices and brown sugar.Heat a tbsp of butter in a pan and add the peaches.Cook for about 2-3 minutes until peaches are glazed.
  3. In a mixing bowl mix together the milk, flour, sugar, vanilla, and salt.
  4. Grease a cast iron pan with butter and arrange some peaches at the bottom.Pour half of the batter just to cover the peaches..Arrange the rest of the peaches followed by the remaining batter.
  5. Bake for about 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  6. Once done take the pan out using oven mitts and let it cool a bit.
  7. Sprinkle powdered sugar and enjoy!

https://www.sonisfood.com/2018/10/chai-spiced-peach-clafoutis.html

 

 

 

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies

19 | 12 | 2017
By Soni Sinha

The weather outside might be frightful but the fire inside is surely delightful during this time of the year! My kids wanted to sip hot chocolate with marshmallows sitting by the fire over the weekend and we did just that! I baked some Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip cookies for them and we had a lazy ‘Do nothing Day’ that we enjoyed. We all lead such busy lives that its essential to wind down every once in a while, and do nothing.It was so nice to just relax for once!

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies

I had some cream cheese sitting in my refrigerator waiting to be used and I decided to bake some cookies.I looked up a few recipes on the web like this one and went along with what I had on hand.Some recipes called for brown sugar and I didn’t have any so I just went with regular granulated sugar.It still turned out good.The cream cheese adds a rich creamy flavor to these cookies and takes it to another level!And of course the chocolate chips add to the magic here.So so good.

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies

It’s a great treat to have on hand during the holidays and something special. My kids loved it.The cookies are slightly chewy and dense just the way I like them. My other favorite cookies during this time are these Peanut Butter Blossoms and Chocolate Drop Cookies that are equally devoured by my kids.Enjoy!

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • Cream Cheese-1/4 cup
  • ½ cup 1 stick butter softened
  • Sugar-3/4 cup
  • 1 large egg
  • Vanilla-2 tsp
  • All purpose flour-2 1/4 cup
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • In a mixing bowl with electrical mixer, beat cream cheese, butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Beat in egg and vanilla until all mixed.
  • Slowly beat in the flour,baking soda and salt.
  • Fold in the chocolate chips.
  • Drop the dough by teaspoonfuls onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet about 1 inch apart.
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the top starts getting slightly brown around the edges.
  • Let the cookies cool on a wire rack.Once cool transfer into an airtight container.

 

Chai Spiced Apple Clafoutis #RawSpiceBar #PondicherryFlavorKit

07 | 12 | 2016
By Soni Sinha


Nothing excites me more these days than seeing the monthly flavor kit of different spice mixes from Raw Spice Bar. Such a unique concept and having tried two of their kits so far, I highly recommend them. They only cost $7/kit for a year’s subscription and you get to try freshly ground spice mixes/spices and flavors from around the world with recipes included in the kit.

Last month’s Pondicherry Kit had the flavors screaming my name!
Vaarangal (“Welcome” in Tamil)! You’ve landed in Pondicherry! The weather is warm and the coastal breeze is refreshing but a Chai tea won’t hurt. The Romans, the Chinese, the Dutch, the English, and the French have all been here and their influences remain present. Warm Vadouvan odors collide with buttery smells wafting from kitchens in the French Quarter. With colonization cuisine changed; however, the complex layers of Indian spices shine through each French inspired dish.

raw-spice-bar-pondicherry-kit

Pondicherry Kit comprises of the following spice blends:

INDO-FRENCH VADOUVAN- Toasted cumin, toasted coriander, turmeric, fenugreek, yellow mustard seeds, brown mustard seeds, green cardamom, aleppo pepper, cayenne, nutmeg, cloves, spices-Looking forward to making a lamb curry using this one!

UNPUMPKIN PIE SPICE- Ginger, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, black peppercorns, star anise, spices-Pumpkin Pie Truffles are always a hit with my friends and I’m going to be making lots more using this.

PEPPERCORN CHAI- Toasted black peppercorns, ginger, cinnamon, green cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, star anise, spices-Apart from my masala chai, Apple Clafoutis is what I’ve made using this one!Delicious!

chai-spiced-apple-clafoutis-10

Apple desserts are a big family favorite especially during this time of the year when you crave for a comforting dessert with warm spices. I went straight for the Peppercorn Chai and followed the recipe for the Chai Spiced Apple Clafoutis. Clafoutis or Clafouti is a French Dessert using fruits suspended in a pancake like batter.The result is a soft fluffy custardy pudding which in this case is the perfect bed for the spice glazed apples.The flavors were spot on for a spice and chai lover like me.The peppercorns, fennel, cardamom and other chai spices work really well with apples.All it needed was a dusting of sugar.A satisfying dessert for these cold days that I’m certainly going to be making over and over again.Enjoy!

chai-spiced-apple-clafoutis

Chai Spiced Apple Clafoutis

INGREDIENTS

RawSpiceBar’s Peppercorn Chai
3 eggs
1 cup milk or heavy cream
12 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2⁄3 cup all-purpose flour
1⁄2 tsp. salt
4 tart apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1⁄2 cup plus 2 tsp. sugar
3 tbsp. brandy

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 400°. Combine milk, eggs, 6 tbsp butter, vanilla, flour, 2 tsp sugar, and salt in a small bowl and whisk until smooth.
  2. Melt 4 tbsp butter in a large skillet. Add apples, 1⁄2 cup sugar, RawSpiceBar’s Peppercorn Chai and brandy. Cook until apples are glazed, about 5 minutes.
  3.  Add half batter to greased pie plate. Arrange apple slices on top, reserving juices, then pour remaining batter over apples. Sprinkle remaining sugar on top and bake until golden, 25-30 minutes. Drizzle with warmed reserved apple juices.

Disclaimer:I was provided with a free sample of RawSpiceBar’s Pondicherry Flavor Kit and all opinions are my own.