Why are cakes round??
Creativity in the shape of a cake is numerous though a traditional cake is always round. There are 2 theories to this preference. Cakes were moulded by hand during early times. The cake balls flattened into rounds on baking… A simple and scientific reasoning. The other theory is that in ancient times cakes were placed as an offering to appease gods and spirits. People believed that gods preferred the round shape best.
Today I baked a gulab jamun cake in a square tin. Now I’m wondering why I did that. A round shape would have suited this Indian sweet and desi flavoured cake better. Thanks to @archkc for sharing the recipe. This gulab jamun cake is her brainchild and an amazing innovation using gulab jamun mix. The measures were so perfect and absolutely standardized. Every bite was deliciously soft with a burst of Indian flavours… Saffron, cardamom and rose. A healthy, moderate sugar-sweet which is going to be on my to-do list for every festival. God will definitely accept this creative version of gulab jamun which took just 15 minutes for pre-preparation and exactly 32 minutes of baking at 180 degrees centigrade.
Ingredients A
- Gulab jamun mix 3/4 Cup
- Refined wheat flour 3/4 Cup
- Baking soda 1/2 tsp
- Baking powder 1/2 tsp
- Cardamom powder 1/2 tsp
- Saffron strands 3 or 4
Ingredients B
- Milk 1 cup
- Oil 1/4 Cup
- Ghee 2 tsps
- Sugar 3/4 Cup
- Rose essence 1 tsp
For the syrup
- Sugar 1/4 Cup
- Water 1/4 Cup
- Cardamom crushed 2 pods
- Saffron strands few
- Lemon juice 1/2tsp
Preparation Method for Gulab Jamun Cake
- Sift ingredients A and set aside.
- Whisk ingredients B using a wire or electric whisk.
- Pour the whisked liquid a little at a time into the dry ingredients and fold to a smooth batter.
- Preheat the baking oven for 5 minutes.
- Grease a baking pan.
- Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 30 to 32 minutes at 180 degrees centigrade.
- Combine all the ingredients for the syrup in a pan and bring to a boil.
- Cook till the syrup is thick and sticky.
- Remove the baked cake from the baking tin.
- Cool on a wire rack till warm.
- Spoon in the warm sugar syrup on the warm cake surface.
- Garnish with rose petals and slivered nuts.
And the delicious Gulab Jamun Cake is ready 🙂
