Spices For Making Homemade Spice Cakes and Breads

By Cherry Crawford March 14, 2023 14 mins read 235 Views

Homemade spice blends are an easy and inexpensive way to enhance the flavor of your baked goods. They also help you cut back on sodium and MSG.

Make a delicious spice bread or a classic cake with this spice blend. They are quick, easy and a great addition to any holiday table!

Ingredients

If you're looking to make homemade spice cakes or breads, you'll need a variety of spices. These include cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, cardamom and allspice.

A good spice blend will give your baked goods the perfect amount of flavor. This is especially important if you're baking a cake that will be topped with a frosting.

Depending on the recipe you're making, you may also need to add freshly grated ginger and molasses. Generally, these spices are the most important to get right.

Mixing up a spice blend ahead of time makes the entire process go more smoothly. Having all your dry ingredients measured out before you start will also help keep you organized.

Preparation

Homemade spice cakes and breads are so much better than store-bought versions because you can customize the amount of spices, control the ingredients and flavors, and avoid all those extra additives, anti-caking agents, and high amounts of sodium that pre-made mixes often have.

To make a spice blend for cakes, you need to mix together all of the dry ingredients in a bowl. This includes flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, a teaspoon of sea salt, and the spices you are using.

You also need to whisk in a little bit of shortening and butter. This coats the dry ingredients with fat and prevents too much gluten from forming in the batter, making it more tender.

Then you need to add the eggs, oil, and milk. Stir the mixture until the mixture is completely blended and no lumps remain. You can then pour the mixture into greased and floured cake pans and bake as directed.

Flavor

Spices add depth and texture to all kinds of baking, from delicate pastries to hearty breads. Creating a spice blend that works for you requires flavor profiles that will complement the other ingredients in your recipe.

Cinnamon - This is an aromatic and earthy spice that pairs well with ginger, cloves and nutmeg. It can be grated fresh, sifted or ground into powdered form.

Nutmeg - This is a woody, nutty spice that has an almost peppery quality to it. It is popular in cookies and cakes, as well as pies, fruit dishes and sauces.

Cardamom - This is a warm and spicy spice that is most commonly used in Indian cuisine. It can be grated or ground into a powdered form and added to savory and sweet sauces.

Mixed spice is a fragrant mix of spices that is very popular in British baking, especially around Christmas. It can be sprinkled on porridge or mixed into a pie filling to add some zing to the dish.

Nutrition

The nutritional value of homemade spice blends in baked goods can vary, depending on the individual ingredients and cooking methods. In general, herbs and spices add very little to the overall calorie count of a finished dish, although there are some exceptions.

Most notably, the most significant calorie content comes from sugars and salts used to make some items such as crystallized ginger. These can add to the total calories of a recipe, so it’s important to check the nutrition facts to determine your exact caloric intake.

The best way to save money while reducing your calorie intake is to make your own spice blends from the ground up. It’s a lot more fun to experiment with a variety of different spices and see which ones turn out the best in your favorite recipes. And it’s a great idea to share your new found knowledge with others by making a custom spice blend as a gift for someone you love.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between cooking whole and with ground spices? Ground Spices?

There are no differences between cooking with whole spices or ground spices. All spices are ground after harvesting. There is no quality difference.

However, the price differences are significant. Whole spices are more expensive because of the labor required to process them. The flavor is well worth the effort.

Bulk purchases of whole spices can often get you additional discounts. A whole bag of cinnamon sticks might be eligible for a discount.

The same is true for nutmeg cloves ginger, cardamom, and ginger. These spices can be purchased in bulk to save money.

Whole spices can also last longer than the ground spices. This is because ground spices lose their potency quickly due to oxidation.

However, the main reason we recommend whole spices is because they add character to recipes.

A delicious curry can be made with whole turmeric as opposed to ground turmeric. You can also grind whole coriander leaves to make a spice mix for chicken dishes.

Grinding spices takes time. A large amount of whole spices is a good idea. So that you don’t run out of spices, it’s a smart move.

What is the value of spices?

Spices are seasonings that enhance the flavour of food. Spices can be powdered, liquids or oils. They are also called condiments and flavours.

A great way to spice up your meals is to add some variety. To add more flavour and excitement to dishes, many spices can be used.

A few drops of hot sauce can make a soup taste better. You could also add a few cayenne peppers to a cup of rice.

Fresh ingredients are best for experimenting with spicing. Look for organic dried herbs when you purchase them. Fresh herbs are more durable than dried herbs.

Some spices are essential to cooking; however, there are some that you might prefer to avoid. If you have a history or liver disease, cinnamon sticks can be dangerous. Ginger also has coumarin, although it's less concentrated. It is safe for people without a history or liver disease.

Is garlic used in Thai cooking?

Thai cuisine uses garlic. Garlic is often added to dishes such as salads, soups, stir-fries, curries, sauces, and rice.

Garlic is often fried in Thailand with ginger, shallots, and other spices. You can also eat it with sticky rice.

Chilli paste, salt and lime juice are the most popular ways to eat garlic. This is "Nam Phrik" or "namphrik". Nam phrik is often accompanied by grilled chicken or beef.

Statistics

Their 14 to 20 percent essential oil content means that cloves have the highest concentration of aroma compounds of any spice. (masterclass.com)
According to Healthline, pink Himalayan salt is estimated to contain up to 84 minerals and trace elements, which gives the salt its special pink color. (spicecravings.com)
India contributes to 75% of global spice production. (en.wikipedia.org)

External Links

How To

How to cut Shiitake Mushrooms

So, the shiitakes are growing well. They are fine. However, how do you cut them without cutting yourself? We've tried everything. Even the scissors. We keep losing them. What is the deal?

It's possible to do this by using a trick. Use a rubber band to secure the stem of your mushroom. That way, you won't slip and cut yourself.

You may think it sounds too easy. It is. But it's also very powerful.

The rubber band makes your stem slippery and it feels very natural when you pick it it up. It doesn't hurt to keep the stem in place.

You can now try it. You'll be amazed at how much easier it is to cut mushrooms now.