The cake, a book and some hot tea; joy in simple pleasures!
I grew up eating a lot of home-baked vanilla flavored cake with no frosting. We didn't have a cookie jar to dig in after school but we had a cake box that would hardly be empty. Ma didn't need any special occasion, she just needed some free time in hand and our lunch box would definitely have a piece of cake in it.
Ma's cake is still very popular in our family circle. If you were imagining a tall, fully frosted, beautifully painted cake, then you would be disappointed. Her cake was plain, soft, made with oil (no butter) and vanilla flavored. Period.
Over the weekends, my brother and I would often bake together with Ma. Our tiny hands would be busy mixing the flour with baking powder or rub oil on a white transparent paper before layering it on the baking pan while Mom would whisk eggs and sugar. There was no electric mixer in our home. Her power tool was always her hand and it still is. Every now and then, we would look through the glass on top of the oven to enjoy the magic and run back to tell her about how the cake is growing or changing color.
These days she doesn't bake as often as she used to but even today, we never order cake from bakery. Any occasion, be it small or big, she will happily get busy prepping the cake batter while Dad would take out the old oven and dust it clean. Everyone in our family loves her cake and whenever we have a get together, the house once again gets filled with the aroma of vanilla and our evening tea gets more delicious.
Few months back, I gave a tiny twist to Ma's cake. I added rosemary instead of vanilla! The inspiration to add rosemary came from Nigella Lawson's cookbook and even though it surprised me at the beginning, I realized later that how beautifully rosemary could work on desserts. Arvind is picky about cake; he doesn't like dark chocolate cake or any fruitcake. Thankfully, this one, he loves!
The woody, poky, evergreen aromatic rosemary is one of my favorite herbs. It gives the cake a mild refreshing flavor.
Just like Ma's cake, this cake also turned out soft and crumbly with crusty edges. And even today, I get tempted to lick the parchment paper clean, just like my little brother and I used to do as a kid!
Rosemary-Walnut Loaf Cake
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup olive oil (plus extra to grease the baking pan)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (plus extra to dust the baking pan)
- 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary (finely chopped)
- ½ cup walnuts (roughly chopped)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- zest of one lemon
- 3 tablespoons milk
- a pinch of salt
Instructions
- Pre heat the oven to 350F.
- Grease the pan with oil and dust it with some flour.
- Whisk the eggs and sugar in a bowl.
- Add lemon zest, oil and whisk again.
- Add milk and whisk again.
- In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt and rosemary.
- Pour the egg-mix in the bowl and whisk until everything is mixed nicely.
- Finally, add half of the walnuts and give it a mix.
- Pour the batter in the baking pan and add the rest of the walnuts on top of the batter.
- Bake it for about 35 minutes or until it's cooked through. Poke with a skewer or toothpick and if it comes out clean, it's done.
Notes
2. Ovens have different cooking times. So, keep an eye on the cake as it bakes. It may take more or less time.
3. Walnuts can be replaced with any other nuts you prefer and can also be omitted.
Nutrition
Balvinder
I am coming after a long time to your blog. I liked your sunshine and smile header for summer.
I love trying different herbs in my cooking, but never thought of using it in baking. The rosemary walnut loaf looks wonderful.
Irena
Wow, AMAZING photos, pleasure to see. Wonderful bread, thanks for the post!
Camille
I made this yesterday with fresh rosemary and brought it to work ...everyone loved it!
I put it on the top rack of the oven while I was baking cookies (I turned it 2 or 3 times), so it took a little longer and came out a little more moist and fluffy and less dark on the edges. I also used pecans instead of walnuts, chopped fine and then toasted lightly in a pan and cooled (mostly) before I added them into the batter. Very tasty - thanks!
Egle
Kankana, this cake is simply divine! Gorgeous! Can't wait to try the recipe myself.
Patsy Bell Hobson
Your Rosemary-Walnut Loaf Cake is my new favorite cake. I grow and love herbs, so I was ready to make this perfect cake to serve with fruit in the summer. Quick to fix, no mixer to drag out and clean up. I love that it is small. Your story is precious. Thanks for sharing.
chinmayie @ love food eat
That is one beautiful loaf of cake. My mom never baked but I grew up eating a particular fruit cake from the local bakery. Even till date it's my favorite cake 🙂
mjskit
This bread does look amazing! I can smell the rosemary and that with the walnut smells just wonderful! I'm pin this and will be making it in the fall once the oven comes back on! Great afternoon tea bread for sure!
Sihi
What a lovely post! The cake looks yum!
Best,
Sihi
Kitchen Belleicious
my mouth is watering now and I can't get it to stop. the thought of having a piece of that cake right now makes me happy! Love this
Maja
Amazing recipe Kankana!
This is something I would really love to try 🙂
ATasteOfMadness
Wow. This looks perfect. Tea, cake and a book sound like the perfect combination! 🙂
Marta @ What Should
it must be so good with rosemary. I like simple tastes and this kind of cakes are just the best for me.
Maureen
This is a cake filled with memories and I'd love to make it and maybe it will make memories in my family too.
Dolly Sharma
Dear Kankana, Wow What a delightful space you have here. Loved the name , Sunshine and Smile. As I was reading this post..I could feel the sunshine and I smiled as well. Awesome and beautiful presentation and clicks. Loved the walnut loaf cake.. Whenever I need a little sunshine and smile I know where I need to COME..
Ansh
There is absolutely no match for a fresh twig of rosemary. Loved the write up and I do remember licking the cup cake liners as a child. It was pure bliss.
It appears to be a cake that can handle some shipping ;)(hint hint) .. looking out for the mail guy ...
Joanne
What a beautiful cake with such beautiful memories attached to it. The rosemary twist you've added is so lovely.