Sponge cake with chocolate ganache

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

I made this to celebrate the start of ramadhan (few weeks ago). The sponge cake recipe has been a favourite for few years now. However, this is my first time to make the chocolate ganache, if you like bittersweet taste of chocolate, than you would love this. 

Sponge cake recipe:

Six large eggs, separated (make sure that the white has no traces of yolks)

1 cup caster sugar, separate in half and sifted

3 tbs water, room temperature

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup flour

3/4 tsp cream of tartar

vanilla (I also add cardamom powder, around 1/2 tsp)

1 cup flour, sifted, and remove one spoon and add one spoon of corn flour- or use cake flour instead

Method:

• Beat egg whites till foamy, add cream of tartar and beat till egg white form a peak.
• add half of sugar to the egg white gradually while continuing beating it, set aside
• beat egg yolk and then add remaining half of sugar while continuing beating. 
• add vanilla, cardamom powder and 3tbs water to the egg yolk and continue beating.
• sift the flour gradually to the egg yolk mixture and fold for few seconds using a wooden spoon
• fold the egg whites mixture into the flour mixture gradually
• be careful not to overmix
• pour your batter into a lined pan, I use a cheese cake pan so it is easy to take out your cake when its ready. Be careful not to add any butter or oil to your pan.
• bake in 170 degrees preheated oven for 30-40 minutes

too hot and it is starting to melt :)

Chocolate ganache

• 500 gram dark chocolate
• 1-2 cups cream
• 1/4 cup corn syrup
• 2 tbs butter

melt butter, chocolate and corn syrup together in low heat

when it is melted add cream, mix and use

Date cake

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

This is our family (forever) favourite cake recipe. You just have to become addicted to it, as long as you love dates.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

200 gram butter, room temperature

1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

4 medium eggs, room temperature

1 cup dates, chopped and pitted (I use dates that are sold ready for baking)

3 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup almond, peeled and chopped

1/2 cup walnut, chopped

Method;

• if the dates you are using are dry, chop them and soak them in the milk with 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda for an hour, other wise move to the next step
• preheat oven 175 degrees Celsius, combine (sieve) flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and set aside
• with an electric mixer, beat sugar and butter till light and fluffy, add eggs one by one while continuing beating,
• add vanilla, milk and dates, beat till well combined
• add nuts
• add flour mixture and beat for two minutes, then mix using a spoon
• bake for 40-45 minutes

for other variety:

*add or remove nuts

*use white sugar instead of brown

*add raisins

 *add chocolate chips