#festivebaking

A theme park staple, caramel apples are the perfect nostalgic childhood treat. A winning pairing of juicy apple with fragrant caramel, this cupcake takes inspiration from the Autumn treat and is a perfect dessert for Halloween parties. This Homemade Caramel Cupcake recipe is great for gifting neighbours during the "spooktober" season or as a sweet treat to end off your meal with. Try this out with your kids for some baking fun! You'll probably need to use a good stand mixer for this, too. Looking for more cupcake recipes? We've got a classic vanilla cupcake recipe, caramel banana coffee cake recipe & a banana-coffee-oat recipe here for your sheer indulgence. Tell us how it turns out! Without further ado, let's get started! :D

Whenever Chinese New Year is around the corner, homemade fortune cookies are one of the best ways to welcome the festive season. This recipe isn't only easy; the most fun part lies in unfolding your “secret” fortune inside the fortune cookie! To make the baking process more enjoyable (as if it already isn't), invite a friend or your children to this DIY session. Fun fact: Did you know that the fortune cookie is not a Chinese invention? In fact, its origins can be traced back to Japan! The cookie was subsequently popularised in the United States by Japanese immigrants.

This flourless chocolate cake is packed with rich cocoa flavour, its structure is moist and dense - it's truly the perfect ending to any hearty holiday meal. Also known as chocolate caprese cake, this traditional chocolate cake hails from the island of Capri, in the Campania region of Italy. It calls for ground almonds in place of flour, which results in a wonderfully indulgent cake. What's so good about flourless cakes, you ask? It's not just to tick the 'gluten-free' box. Omitting flour from a cake recipe results in a creamier, silkier cake texture. Generally flourless cakes don't 'rise' to the height of normal cakes, they have a slightly depressed structure in the middle. They are also much more fudgy, especially in the middle. Use a springform pan for this cake, because the absence of flour means less structure for the cake and you don't want it to collapse with a normal pan. Chef's tip: For an added kick, you can also dust espresso powder on top of the cake, which really enhances the flavour profile of chocolate. Love anything chocolate? See: Chocolate souffle, the ultimate chocolate cake, super easy chocolate bread. Want some easy festive baking recipes? See: Quick and easy Christmas treats – perfect for baking beginners

Sweet. Rich. Creamy. Greasy. And so delicious. That’s Indian snacks and desserts for you. Eating gulab jamun or murukku may be a frequent occurrence in many Indian households, but to the health-conscious, such traditional treats have become a guilty pleasure due to their high fat and sugar content. As Deepavali celebrations get underway, the time has come to make a decadent feast of biryani, curries as well as traditional Indian sweets and snacks for your guests. There’s simply no avoiding all these yummy goodies at this special time of year, but there are ways to indulge while taking off little ounces (pun intended) of guilt. If you keep half an eye on the calorie count and compensate with the right amount of exercise, you can still enjoy all the festivities in a healthy way. Here’s our quick guide to enjoying a deliciously healthy Deepavali, including some calorie-friendly versions of our favourite Indian delights.

Gulab jamun – 300 calories per serving of 2 balls; a 60-minute brisk walk

Gulab jamun is a classic Indian dessert, and possibly the sweetest thing known to mankind. One bite might be enough if you don’t have a sweet tooth. Your guilt-free hack: Made out of deep-fried dough balls consisting of flour, milk and yoghurt, it’s served with a rose water-based syrup. Try preparing a healthier version by using wholewheat flour for the dough balls and stevia or honey for the syrup.

Kulfi – 180 calories per serving; a 30-minute swim

Kulfi is dubbed the Indian version of ice-cream, and it’s not hard to see why. It is made by slowly cooking sweetened milk which is flavoured with spices such as cardamom and saffron before being frozen. Nuts are often added, while fruit-flavoured kulfi are also available, too. Your guilt-free hack: For a healthier version, you could skip the sweetened or evaporated milk and use low-fat milk instead, although purist

Carving pumpkins are a must during Halloween. But after you've dug out all that creamy and delicious pumpkin filling, don't throw it away! Try our Pumpkin, Cheese and Leek Tart recipe, and delight your family with this festive dish. Homemade tarts are a great way to prepare dishes ahead of time during the day and pop them into the oven when you're craving a tasty hearty snack. Make these yummy tarts for much-needed fuel after a night of trick or treating. You might also like: Tomato and Cheese Tarts!

We love cinnamon rolls, but it isn’t always easy to get them unless you head to a specialty bakery or cafe. Today, we have a homemade cinnamon roll recipe, courtesy of Malaque Mahdaly – you’ll be devouring these sweet, fluffy rolls in no time! *This recipe was first posted on Have Halal Will Travel in November 2019.