Back when I was studying, my cousin had a habit of cooking up snacks to prep me for my exams. Then, she would knock on my door (occasionally shocked to see the state of my well-being) and wish me "all the best". Hours later, as I walk out the exam hall, I would receive an enthusiastic message from her asking how i did.
As time goes, I started to miss these little things. So, I'll be passing on this sweet habit to all of you.
This cake is a tribute to examinees, particularly those who are "winging" it and those who are caught dancing to Billy Jean with a neon colored head band and drum sticks made of crumpled lecture notes (definitely not me).
Its a simple Breakfast cake. Not too sweet or sour, not too dense or light. Perfect for exams and fricking delicious.
Recipe from Yudith's website over at Blissfully Delicious.
Grapes Breakfast Cake (adapted from Blissfully Delicious' Blueberry Breakfast Cake)
113 g unsalted butter, rm temp
100 g caster sugar + 1-2 tbsp
1 large egg, rm temp
1 tsp vanilla extract
240 g all -purpose flour
2 tbsp corn flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups grapes (soft. If crunchy, coat with 1 tbsp sugar and bake at 350F/175C for 10 minutes)
180 ml or 3/4 cup buttermilk, rm temp
1. Preheat oven to 350F/175C. Line and butter 8" cake pan.
2. Cream butter and 100 g of sugar until fluffy and light. About 2 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla. Beat for 1 minute. Set aside.
3. Add 30g of flour to the grapes. In a separate bowl, combine the remaining flour, corn flour, baking powder, soda and salt together.
4. Add the flour mixture into the egg batter in 4 additions, alternating with buttermilk in 3 additions. Stir just enough to combine.
5. Lastly, add the grapes and stir. Pour the batter into the prepared tin and smoothen the top. Sprinkle with 1-2 tbsp of sugar. (Do not miss out this step.)
6. Bake at 350F/175C for 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes before turning it out on the rack. Serve.
This cake tastes and smells amazing. And it's perfect when you have soft grapes in the fridge. Soft, moist yet crumbly and has a sugar crust to-die-for, TO DIE FOR!
Jes
Wow, I love the crusty look of the top and very moist and soft inside. Beautiful cake!
ReplyDelete@ wok with ray: When I cut into it, the crackles of the crust shocked me. I would have added more grapes the next time.
DeleteJust delicious...looks so easy to prepare and mouthwatering!
ReplyDelete@ Kalyan: just a few bowls to wash :D but it is simple
DeleteI'm so glad I don't have to take exams any more...but if I did I know exactly what I'd want someone to make for me :-) This looks gorgeous - love the crusty sugar top.
ReplyDelete@ thelittleloaf: the funny thing is, i dreamt i was going to have an exam and the anxiety of it all. I woke up thanking i'm a working adult. :D
DeleteMmmm you mean I CAN have cake for breakfast?? Yes please! This looks so good.
ReplyDelete@ Treble Tart: Yes you can! :D Judging from my waistline, I shouldn't have done that too much though...
DeleteWow is that for real, that's a MUST try! Lovely photos!
ReplyDeleteI have never used grapes in baking - this looks really delicious! I'm going to bake with grapes sometime soon.
ReplyDeleteThis is a habit worth passing on...I was a pre-med student in college and I totally can relate to the dancing with crumpled sheets of neon paper...This looks like a really really delicious treat. Thanks!
ReplyDelete@ monsterscircus: Thank you! It is a must try!
Delete@ Amy: This is my first time too! I researched and saw that "grapes cakes" aren't that rare.
@MyFudo: It is indeed. It is a nice thing to do, just to show that you care. Although the dancing thing isn't really a good habit right before exams :D
Cake for breakfast? What a brilliant idea. After such treat in the very morning your day starts in a very different way :-)
ReplyDeleteGrapes! In cake! I'll bet it's really delicious and moist. Good luck getting through all of your finals and summer is waiting just around the corner.
ReplyDelete@ Joanna: There can never be too many cakes in the world. Agreed?
Delete@ Sarah: It's really good. If it weren't for the color, i would have said it's even better than blueberries.
Just the recipe I was looking for. I've got lots of overripe grapes in the fridge to use up. You're definitely not helping my diet
ReplyDelete:-)
@ WokandSpoon: Oh! Perfect! I had ripen grapes too! :D Let's have that diet together "someday".
Deleteer... diet...? Think I'll have to look up that word in the dictionary again. I see to have forgotten what it means...
DeleteI love grapes in any kind of baked goods! This looks wonderful - and I think breakfast is the perfect time for it. ;-) Super recipe - thanks.
ReplyDeletevery nice, i've never had a grapes cake.. ever. never even thought it was possible.. very creative recipe. i love simple cakes that go well with a cup of tea or coffee.
ReplyDelete@ Kitchen Riffs: this is my first time playing around with grapes. But it turned out better than ever! :D
Delete@ Honey: I didn't think it was possible too! Can you believe it?! This cake goes well with anything, really!
I've never had grapes in a baked version before...what a fabulous idea. This looks delicious!
ReplyDelete@ Ameena: I would have thought of it if it didn't seem impossible too :D Thank you!
DeleteThis is one of the most creative renditions of brekkie cake ever :D
ReplyDeleteCheers
Choc Chip Uru
Bwahaha @ dancing to Billy Jean! You are too funny! :D I've only recently discovered how good grapes are when you bake with them. I love how they get all soft and sweet--this looks so yummy!
ReplyDelete@ Choc Chip Uru: Thank you! and you know some tough english words. Of course, i'm the idiot here :D
Delete@ Kiersten: Aw, but its "BillY Jean, like my lover!..~" oops They are! And they turn out juicy and purple!
Una meraviglia il tuo blog, ciao :)
ReplyDeleteI've never tried grapes in cooking, and now that I see your delicious cake I can't think why not! Looks great :)
ReplyDelete@ Stefania: I felt proud after translating what you wrote. Although i'm sure when i say it out, it sounds weird. But still, I hope to use my fake pride to convince people I know what i'm talking about! :D
Delete@ Jasmyne: I'm looking forward to try using grapes for other bakes as well :D
I LOVE this!!! I am so going to make this oh so delicious cake! I tried a cake with grapes before, and it was really good but I forgot about it. Thank you for reminding me and sharing this recipe. I am excited!!
ReplyDeleteYour breakfast cake is truly scrumptious and delicious. The photo looks great!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting and commenting on my blog:D
I love the story with this! Exams are horrible, I'm back taking courses now and I still get all frazzled! This breakfast cake looks fantastic! I'm adding it to my list of recipes to make.
ReplyDelete@ Baltic Maid: It's always things like grapes and BBQ sauce that gets away from our attention ;D
Delete@ Elisabeth: Thank you!
@ Virtual Essence: Exams are indeed horrible. I often dream the anxiety of going through an exam and wake up reminding myself that i'm a working adult! :D
What a sweet cousin you have. The Grape Breakfast cake looks and sound delicious. I have it saved in my "Must Make Folder". Thanks for the great post:)
ReplyDelete@ Geri: Indeed. She was better than well :D
DeleteThe golden, sugar-sprinkled top looks so good, and I love the grapes in the cake! I'd love to wake up to this for breakfast.
ReplyDelete@ Lisa: It does doesn't it! I was in love as i jabbed the knife into its crackled top and the crisped top sang.
DeleteHow creative is this?! I would never think of baking with grapes...love discovering stuff like this.
ReplyDeleteI'll definitely be keeping this cake in mind as I study for my finals next week =)
ReplyDelete@ Clair: Thank you! Discovering is a part of life!
Delete@ Peggy: It's a breakfast worthy cake perfect for finals :D
Life may be short - have your desert first, a little card said in a Las Vegas restaurant. So right!!!
ReplyDeleteI've never tried anything like this! I will definitely have to change that. It looks scrumptious.
ReplyDelete@ Anonymous: Of course! I like your thinking! :D
Delete@ Russell: First try is always a charm :D
Grapes are perfect for cake, I never thought of it. It´s like the forgotten baking fruit. I would like to have a cousin like yours now, just because, since I haven´t studied for an exam in ages (thank god!)
ReplyDelete@ Paula: It is easily forgotten! Maybe because they're delicious the way they are too ;p My cousin was a unique one! Its been ages for me too, maybe that's why i've completely forgotten Billy Jean dance moves :D
DeleteI really like your blog and your creative ideas.
ReplyDeleteI also like and use corn flour in tarts. After your grape cake recipe, I will use corn flour in breakfast cakes too.
With my best wishes, I am from Turkey, PIRIL.
i would love to try it... it sure looks good.
ReplyDelete@ Lezzetli: Thank you! I do not use corn flour on its own often. Usually, i just use cake flour which has corn flour. But I thought, why not give it a try. It really does make a different! Sometimes I'm thankful for this little brain of mine :D
Delete@ love2dine: Try it!
looks so easy to prepare and delicious...mouthwatering!
ReplyDelete@ Kalyan: They are indeed splendid! :D
DeleteWow, what an unusual cake! I have never baked with grapes before, but I bet it is so delicious! What a sweet cousin you have bringing you treats...we gotta keep people like that in our lives, for the love and the treats! :-)
ReplyDeleteDear Jesoca - Few things I love more than Grapes In A Cake! Yours looks just too marvelous for words and I could chow this down morning, noon and nite!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your finals and welcome to summer fun very soon!
chow :) Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
@ Maggie: This was my first try with grapes too! The colors and the taste, not to mention the low-cost. My cousin was one of those indeed! And her gyouza dumplings are to die for.
Delete@ Devaki: Although I do not have finals but those who do would be fighting for luck :D I remember those days, crossing all the fingers i have so that the questions in the papers are the ones i studied for. Ahh, those horrible days..
grapes simply don't get enough love from the baker set. great cake!
ReplyDeleteYummmm... grapes! I love how they are juicy, succulent and sweet. Have you tried blended grape juice? It's yummmyy.. I wish I could have a slice Jes. If you ever pop over KL, lets do a sweet treat swap and meet up? LOL.. It's just an excuse for me to taste your delicious goodies ;). Have a good week ahead!! Huggsss, Jo
ReplyDelete@ grace: Agreed! They are too little appreciated..
Delete@ Jo: I adore grapes too! Unfortunately, grape juice in cans were all i ever tasted. And they're my favourite flavour!
Absolutely awesome recipe, wow! I'd love to have grapes breakfast cake every morning!!
ReplyDeleteI have many cakes with raisins but I never thought to add grapes. How yummy and moist and I am sure it would not last long in my house.
ReplyDelete@ Purabi: Thank you! It was nice while it lasted. Then you'd want chocolates ;p
Delete@ bam: It wouldn't last long indeed! :D They're addictive..