In Indian cuisine, spices play a major role in enhancing the taste of any dish. The blend of flavours owing to the usage of spices satisfies our taste buds. Mostly we know that spices are used in snack or vegetable preparation and rice or curries, but do you know that spices don't just have savoury applications but can be used in making sweet treats, including baking a cake?
Well, yes, spices can be the star ingredient for flavouring the baked cake. They infuse a delightful aroma and a complex, nuanced flavour that goes beyond just sweetness. The interplay of flavours can elevate an ordinary cake to the next level. However, not all spices are used for baking a cake. The use of specific spices in cakes often reflects cultural and regional traditions, connecting people to their heritage and creating a sense of familiarity and nostalgia. Other times, spices can simply be one of the elements that make the cake taste better.
If you’re new to baking, here are some of the spices you can use in your cake. Take a look:
- Vanilla
It is one of the most common and versatile spices that you can use not only in baking a cake but also in a whole lot of desserts. Even for cakes that have another dominant flavour, such as chocolate, nuts, or fruits, adding a dash of vanilla can enhance the overall taste. Besides, vanilla adds a subtle yet complex flavour profile that complements and balances the sweetness of cakes, elevating them to a higher level of taste sophistication.
- Ginger
Another ingredient that does not completely fall under spice is ginger. Though ginger is a root, it functions as a spice and can be widely used in sweet and savoury dishes. Ground ginger is especially used as a baking spice. Its distinct, zesty, and slightly spicy flavour imparts a unique and invigorating dimension to cakes, offering a delightful contrast to the sweetness of the dessert. Ginger can also be used in cookies, pudding, tarts, and so on.
- Cinnamon
This is another baking spice that is widely used in recipes like apple pies, carrot cakes, and coffee-flavoured desserts. It is also a key ingredient in several sweet delights from across the world. Its warm and aromatic flavour profile adds depth, complexity, and a delightful hint of sweetness to cakes, enhancing their overall taste experience. However, make sure not to use too much.
- Nutmeg
It is believed that nutmeg evokes a feeling of festivity and holiday cheer. This is because it is widely used in festive items made during the winter in Western countries. These festive items include pies, puddings, eggnog, and much more. Its warm, slightly sweet, and nutty flavour adds a layer of complexity and richness to cake recipes, elevating their taste profile to a new level of indulgence. It can also be used with other spices like cinnamon and ginger to build a more complex flavour profile.
- Cardamom
We know that cardamom is widely used in mithai and Indian dessert recipes. Why not experiment by adding it to the cake? Well, just like vanilla, cardamom can be combined with a variety of other spices. Try pairing with recipes that contain apples, bananas, plums, nuts, and coconut. In Indian cooking, cardamom is used to flavour milk-based sweets like payasam, rabri, peda, barfi, and more.
- Saffron
This is another category of spice that is famously used in Indian desserts. Its distinctive and luxurious flavour, with floral and honeyed notes, imparts a rare and exquisite dimension to cakes, elevating them to a level of indulgence fit for special occasions. Saffron's vibrant orange-red hue adds an unmatched visual appeal, turning cakes into eye-catching works of art. Saffron is extremely potent, and one should be mindful while using it.