“I am addicted to Nutella, the chocolate hazelnut spread? I can’t live without it. I need a daily dose of Nutella.”
Michelle Trachtenberg
I’m late, a little late to catch the Nutella wave … but fortunately when the globe is as large as ours, it’s still World Nutella Day in many parts of the world. So I am hanging on to the tail and waving! I have a promise to keep…
I had promised myself that I would join the wave and send something to Michelle from Bleeding Espresso for the World Nutella Day event that she is co-hosting this year with Sara from Ms. Adventures in Italy (and Shelley from At Home in Rome, in spirit) … a day to celebrate, to get creative with, and most importantly, to EAT Nutella.
Yesterday was a regular ‘headless chicken dance’ sort of a day in my life. We spent all morning at the boy’s school for Sports Day. Hub and me slipped away for a bit and tucked into some yum street food. Up and down and all around town, then the daughter begged for the coals to be lit in the evening. She wanted a BBQ dinner. To cut a long story short, I couldn’t get to the computer eventually.
So here I am, early in the morning, punching at the keyboard furiously. I have a teeny Nutella yummy to share and I have some blogger love to share too. Heard Kerstin call on Twitter the other day - the shout was for Adopt-a-Blogger. ‘Time for all of you Veteran Bloggers to come out and give a hand to the newest folks on the food blogging block!’
Have heard of it for a couple of years. When I was a newbie blogger, I was far too timid to even stick my hand asking up to be adopted. Would they laugh at me? Strange thoughts of the sort crossed my mind. When I heard Kitrsten @ Dine & Dish tweet out, I just had to volunteer. I was stamped ‘Veteran’ and was given a newbie blogger who I have happily adopted … Beth @ Baking Therapy. (Diva my sweet, still love ya….)
It couldn’t have come at a better time. I am enjoying blogging more and more, share whatever I have learnt as I get a number of mails everyday, and love what Kirsten is doing. It’s her fourth year at Dine & Dish where she is running this event, and it’s all hard work. I have ‘adoped’ Beth and am having a wonderful time sharing what I know with her. She’s an absolute pleasure to share my ‘foodie platter’ with … a smart, enthusiastic NY girl who shares my bpassion for baking. Thank you Kirsten, for making our foodie blogging world such a wonderful place to be in! I love the connect!! Here’s a little bio about Beth…
Beth, a 20-something New York City girl with a baking sensibility is how she describes herself! I love it, I do. She moved to NY 5 years ago, and baking became her way of simplifying and slowing down life when it became a little too much for this New York City girl to handle. Tough deadline at work? She’d whip up a batch of cookies. Worried about paying her rent? She’d throw together a banana bread. Relationship troubles?Out came a 3-layer chocolate cake.Cookies and brownies showed up as office treats, and soon became cakes and pies, quickbreads and cupcakes … “the baker” in the office has arrived. The red tupperware on top of Beth’s shelf at the beginning of the day had co-workers stop by all day long to get a treat. The smiles and laughter that came with the opening “whoooosh” of the tupperware lid, the feedback of how new recipes fared with her testing pool … and Baking Therapy was born!
Onto the recipe now. I made a batch of Mocha Muffins from Joy of Baking a few days ago. My SIL from Pune makes them often, and they are a great choice for a healthy, moist muffin. No butter in these, so they rank high on my Ten in 10 scale.
So I made a batch of muffins. Still had some batter left over, and these were born. I ribboned a little Nutella through the batter, and baked them in these little cake tins I got from my little shop in Old Delhi. Once done, they popped out quite easily. I gave them a nice dollop of Nutella, then a dollop of fresh homemade mascarpone, and then fresh seasonal fruit. We have plenty of great looking fruit in the bazaar these days, so it’s always a feast of colours! Love it! Nice for Valentines too…
Mini Chocolate Cakes with Nutella, Mascarpone & Fresh Fruit
adapted from Joy of Baking
3 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup refined oil
1/2 cup strong black coffee, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder, sifted
1 cup vanilla sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 a jar of Nutella
1/2 cup Mascarpone (recipe here)
Seasonal fruit
Method:
Preheat oven to 190C.
Grease and flour 12-14 mini cavity cake molds, or mini bundt tins.
In a large measuring bowl whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, oil, coffee, and vanilla extract.
In another large bowl combine the flours, cocoa powder, vanilla sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the chopped nuts and chocolate chips. With a rubber spatula fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir only until the ingredients are combined. Do not over mix the batter or tough muffins will result. (You can add a little Nutella to the bater and gently marble it through with a knife).
Evenly spoon it into small baking cavity moulds or mini bundt tins.
Place in the oven and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 20 – 25 minutes.
Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for about 5 minutes before removing from pan.
Once completely cool, add 1-2 tbsp of Nutella, spread it around. Top it with fresh, unsweetened, hand whipped mascarpone. Add an array of fresh fruit and chill until required.
Makes about 12-14 mini bundts.
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Just when I think Nutella Recipes can't get any better…
These are above reproach…simply perfect. Can you be my neighbor?
Oh my GOODNESS! These are beautiful! Absolutely Stunning. Happy World Nutella Day!
What a great combo… I'm interested in that Nutella and Mascarpone!
Mmmmm… I bet these are wonderful. I love Nutella and Mascarpone together!
ButterYum
Oh my I would eat more than one. This is such a great event. I'm so glad that you could participate. Talk to you soon
Delicious cakes with nutella and they look gorgeous with the colorful fruits on top!
Your recipe is really wonderful. I liked your mini baking pans. Will check out if I can get something like this in Mumbai.
mmm..che buono nutella e mascarpone!!! super!
My "recipe to-do" list is quickly becoming my "recipes by Deeba to-do" list. I cannot wait to try every one of the recipes you've posted recently, and the soft cheeses that you included in an earlier post. As always, stunning photographs that are works of art in themselves. I have bookmarked Baking Therapy, too. I just love how generous food bloggers are, and I'm sure that you are a wonderful mentor. *hugs* Dani
Hi hi you are turning to be a mama blogger after adopting her
I so wanted to make something for nutella day, but didn't had any time.
This looks so so yumm.
They are so pretty! Mmmhhh, they must be divine! I am addicted to Nutella!
Cheers,
Rosa
oooh… yummy … chocolate and nutella. What a super combination!
Great Nutella Day recipe and ohhhhhhh – I wish I had known about Adopt a Blogger…. Too late now, I guess, right? (to be adopted)
Congrats for being a veteran now!!! mini cakes look so inviting…How I wish I could grab one or may be two….I was eyeing on your cake tims & here u mentioned they are from old delhi….
Well done on adopting Beth, she is very very lucky to have mentoring from you! Lovely looking cakes and I so wish I hadn't missed the Nutella boat myself but I got the date wrong and it was too late when I realised. These little cakes look marvellous.
There is a Sunshine Award for you on my blog as you bring sunshine to my blog reading life. xx
looks like a great way to celebrate nutella day! those are yummy-looking.
Wow! Impressive! The recipe and the photographs. Just plain beautiful!
So glad you made it to the Nutella party! These little cakes look fantastic! And, the photos are beautiful, as always. Beth is a lucky girl to have you for a mentor!
Hey Dee! It's seems like forever since I spoke to you. You're awfully active with baking and blogging. So cool that you're hosting this months DB! I think I'm going to get bumped off for being sch a delinquent DBer. Don't think I can do this month's either given that there is coffee involved!
Heading over to say hi to your adoptee!
Love how you've made these mini cakes.. i think you should change the name of your blog from "Passionate About Baking" to "Passionate about Mascarpone" LOL
OOOO YUM!! I really adore the way you block your photos…it just makes me hungry
Thanks
What is that gorgeous orange fruit? Your muffins sound lovely, and the combination of nutella and fruit sounds divine.
I too LOVE Nutella. This dessert looks delicious, I will have to try this recipe!
I had nutella for the first time this Christmas. It's big among the teenagers, so I gave some to my kids in their stockings. I was allowed a tiny taste – that's it, but I can see what the fuss is all about. Your photos are fantastic, and your dessert looks so delicious.
Cutest baking tray ever! And such a good excuse to stuff with extra nutella love. mmm.
Beautiful cake, just a perfect mix of all things delicious!
Oh I've been seeing lots of great recipes using nutella. This looks absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing
These look absolutely divine Deeba! And congrats on your recent adoption
Deeba, how do you make such perfect Nutella swirls? I swear Nutella has never looked as good when I've used it!
beautiful as always Deeba! loving the swirls!!
Gorgeous as always! I love Nutella!
The fruit looks stunning. Yum, my favourite kind of dessert: fruit and chocolate. I've also given you an award over on my blog, so have a look! If only you could adopt us all!!
From a simple muffin idea, you've managed to again create another heavenly dessert! You've done Nutella proud!
Oh, the link I left was broken. Sorry! Have a look here for the award.
Your little cakes are beautiful. I cant wait to try the homemade mascarpone! I Stumbled!
The lil cakes are wonderful Deeba…only u can make any thing look beautiful….its as though u have given a life to it.Fabulous ones:) Would love to see ur entry for my bake a cake event.U r truly an inspiration,n guess i will say this always!
What gorgeous little tarts! Nutella just makes everything better, doesn't it?
Adopt me Adopt me! LOL! What a great idea and a great way to connect. She's also been taken under brilliant wings. Happy Nutella day and stunning pics!
Congratulations on your recent adoption!
Gorgeous mini cake – what is that orange fruit cluster?
Hey Deeba,
I've been enjoying the lovely blogging! Just wanted to show some blog love by giving u an award! Pop by my blog to receive it ok?
Hello, congrats, this is a really cool page, just have a question;what if ui can´t get buttermilk? cause there´s this recipe that asks for it. But since I live in México, i wil, not able to get it.
best regards
Adding comments I lost to Disqus..
vickys (vickys@anonymous.disqus.net): Hey Deeba,I've been enjoying the lovely blogging! Just wanted to show some blog love by giving u an award! Pop by my blog…
stunning as usual with both the recipe n the photographs, a passionate (inspirational) baker and a brilliant photographer. Quite an awesome combination. I have bookmarked this. I guess u read my comments in FB on Orange Gauteau
Btw, I have one doubt.. watz is that stunning orange fruit?? dont think i have seen it before… u r lucky to have a steady flow of seasonal fruits to bake
xoxo
My goodness – those little mini-cakes are just too gorgeous! Fabulous photos and the Nutella and fruit have nme drooling…
This is such a wonderful idea! I used your recipe as inspiration for mini bundt cakes for my friend's 21st birthday! I subbed some store-bought items and decided to only use raspberries, topping with an easy raspberry sauce. Rave reviews from everyone at the party. Thank you so much for the inspiration! I've credited you on my blog, here: http://kellyscupcakery.blogspot.com/2010/06/chocolate-hazelnut-nutella-mini-bundt.html