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Category Archives: desserts

‘Alpana Loves!’…Strawberry Shortcake! A new blog series and a slice of heaven…

Hiya! We’re super excited today; any guesses why? It’s coz today’s blog post is not just any other blog post, its special! Today is the day we introduce to you, for the very first time, our co-founder and creative whiz…Alpana! ‘Creative’ is the word that instantly springs to mind when you think of Alpana. Whether it’s doing a simple craft project with her kids, planning a party or creating and crafting in the Con Affetto workshop, Alpana infuses creativity into everything she does. A bakerista par excellence, Alpana is happiest tinkering away in the Con Affeto kitchen, bringing many an innovative baking concept to life. We thought it would be fun to get Alpana to hang with us on the blog once in a way, and tell us about what’s the latest rocking the baking world. So here she is in the very first post of the ‘Alpana Loves’ series!

Over to YOU, Alpana!

Hey guys, I’m SO excited to be sharing my favourite baking stories with you all This time of the year has to be one of my favourites; it’s a mellow, reflective time, right after the flurry of the festive season, a time of new beginnings as we get into a new year. It’s also a time when you’re craving for just the right note of sweetness, after the overload of rich and heavy rum soaked Christmas fruitcakes and puddings. For just such occasions when you want something light and spongy and still satisfy that sweet craving without overindulging, I bring to you one of my own personal favourites- Classic Strawberry Shortbread.

We’re well into strawberry season now and I have fond memories of gorging on freshly picked strawberries with lashings of whipped cream. And when you’re in strawberry season, what better way to put those lovelies to use than bake up some Strawberry Shortcake? Straight from the kitchens of yore, this traditional dessert brings alive the freshness of strawberries and the tenderness of fresh cream, spooned over a flaky crust in an absolutely lip smacking combination. Trust me, you can’t go wrong with this one! Here’s my all time favourite recipe for Strawberry Shortcake. This is what you can find me digging into on a nippy January afternoon with a freshly brewed pot of tea. Do try it and let me know how it turns out!

Enjoyed this post? Watch out for our forthcoming series featuring the Bakerista Sisters; Alpana and Upasana, co founders and the force behind Con Affetto!

Cookie Bouquets: Baked Blooms of Joy!

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“A cookie a day…keeps sadness away!”

We’re not quite sure who said that, but it was probably someone who loves cookies as much as we do! Cookies sure have come a long way back from the early days when they were used as “cake testers”. Yup, back in the day bakers used cookies or “small cakes” to test the oven with small amounts of cake batter before baking the entire cake- that’s how the concept of a cookie first originated! From back then, to becoming many things to many people- a favourite dessert, an any time snack, great for on-the-go, chai’s favourite companion; cookies are here, there and loved everywhere! It’s no surprise then that enterprising bakers and lovers of edible bouquets soon came up with the concept of “cookie bouquets”. Cookie bouquets celebrate the coming together of two much loved and popular gifts, flowers and cookies and elevate them to a totally different, way funkier level!

Cookie bouquets are unique, creative and funky bouquets and make for a personalized gifting option

Gift a cookie bouquet and see the ‘cookie bouquet effect’ for yourself! Cookie Bouquet by Con Affetto

The original concept of cookie bouquets is often credited to Gwen Willhite, founder of Cookies By Design. From the first edible arrangements of custom shaped and hand decorated sugar and cinnamon brown sugar cookies on sticks arranged in baskets, cookie bouquets have come a long way. Today, from the baking and design to the decoration, cookie bouquets can be uniquely personalized to the recipient and occasion at hand. Here’s a fun look at how this deliciously delightful concept comes together:

Step 1: Choose your cookie!

Pick a cookie! Which one will it be?

Wanna go with the classic sugar cookie? Or is the snickerdoodle cookie more your style? Give it a twist with peanut butter cookies? Or chocolate chip cookies for lovers of chocolate? When you’re done with the flavour, pick your shape of choice. Will it be a heart shaped cookie or a balloon shaped one? Or would you rather go for stars, bunnies or tiara shaped cookies? Take your pick- if you can get your head around the dizzy assortment of choices, that is!

Step 2: Style your cookie!

Become a cookie designer for a day! Styling cookies is an art!

Choices, choices! Style your cookie with icing, frosting, sprinkles, candy melts, drizzle or dip in chocolate- you can’t go wrong with chocolate & cookies ;)…or just go for a hand painted cookie! After all nothing says “I care” better than a freshly baked, warm from the oven, customized hand decorated cookie.

Step 3: Pick your cookie accessories!

Shopping for cookie accessories has never been more fun ;)

Coz’ when you’re talking cookies, the more the merrier! That’s right, with cookie bouquets you get to accessorize your cookies too. What would you rather pick to accompany your cookies? From chocolate dipped crispy pretzels, melt-in-your-mouth marshmallows to an assortment of candies and chocolates, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Step 4: Put together your cookie bouquet!

Put it together for awesomeness! Your Cookie Bouquet is ready! Bro Bouquets by Con Affetto

Yup, you guessed it right- more choices! Select the most aesthetically pleasing arrangement for your cookie bouquet. From traditional bouquets wrapped in confetti kissed cellophane to boutrays (bouquets+ trays!) to gift baskets to personalized containers; you can personalize your cookie bouquet arrangement whichever way you like.

With their versatility and chic style, cookie bouquets make for the perfect gift for just about anybody. And whether its a new baby announcement; a wedding gift basket, a special anniversary or a just because occasion (yup, it sure IS a legit occasion 😉 ) cookie bouquets make the cut everywhere! So the next time you’re thinking of gifting someone a regular flower bouquet (B.O.R.I.N.G. Besides, what a waste of those pretty blooms!); or searching for a flower and cake delivery option (could you possible be any more BLAH?), think outta the box- think cookie bouquets!

Here are some of our favourite cookie bouquets to give you that added inspiration 😉

Emoji Cookie Bouquets!

Feeling emojional? 😉 Gift an Emoji Cookie Bouquet! (Image Courtesy: Cookies By Design)

If you love Emojis, you gotta love these Emoji Cookie Bouquets! The newest entrant on the cookie bouquet block, Emoji Bouquets are the perfect way to express yourself when you’re feeling particularly emojional;)

Sporty Cookie Bouquets

The perfect bouquet for those sporty occasions! (Image Courtesy: Cookie Bouquets)

Perfect for the sports stars in the family, these ‘Have A Ball’ cookie bouquets are sure to score and win hearts all around!

Get Well Soon Cookie Bouquets

A Cookie way to feel better! Get Well Soon Cookie Bouquets! (Image Courtesy: Shari’s Berries)

We’re all abuzz about this cute as a bumble bee Get Well Soon cookie bouquet! With its warm cheery buzz, it’s sure to help with the getting better process!

Unique; funky; personalized to the ‘cookie’ 😉 , do we even need a reason to gift someone these delightfully delicious cookie blooms? So, which cookie bouquet will it be for you today?

Con Affetto’s List of Must Try Desserts in 2016!

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“Life is uncertain- Eat dessert first.”– Ernestine Ulmer

That pretty much sums up our philosophy of life! Which is why we can often be seen beginning and ending meals with generous helpings of the dessert(s) of the day (or night)! 😉 It’s our very first post of a brand new year and what better way to wish all you awesome blog readers a better Happy New Year than with a specially sweet post? Here’s a list of MUST TRY desserts in 2016; some scrumptious sweet treats you simply must sink your teeth into in the coming year. And since we like to plan our desserts down to the “D”, we’ve got it all planned out for you with our very own month wise sweet treat planner of must try desserts:

Here’s wishing you all a fabulous New Year filled with good food, great friends and melt in your mouth desserts! Let’s toast to 12 gloriously sweet months in 2016

Con Affetto’s Traditional Christmas Bakes: Part Deux!

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If you read the first part of our series on traditional Christmas bakes, you’re probably drowning in visions of that perfect Christmas cake, baked just right, spongy and moist with the perfect bite of spice and sweet. Or maybe the alluring scent of crusty shortbread is what you’d rather have wafting from your kitchen. But before you get up close and personal- with your oven of course!- you’ll need the perfect recipe. SO! We’re back with part two of our series, just like we’d promised! A carefully curated and especially Christmassy collection of recipes for some traditional Christmas bakes you cannot afford to miss these season. Bring on that Xmas cheer already! 😀

Traditional Christmas bakes to relish this season with Con Affetto's curated Christmas recipes

Bring on the Xmas festivities with a baking bonanza!

Must try traditional Christmas bakes: the all time favourite Classic Christmas Fruitcake

There are traditional cakes and then there are festive cakes, but there will always be only one Classic Christmas Fruitcake. You’ll either love it or hate it, such is the reaction it evokes, but come Christmas you simply cannot ignore it! Why not try baking the original classic this season? Our go-to recipe when it comes to traditional Christmas cake is a Jamie Oliver classic- you can’t go wrong when it’s a Jamie!

Traditional Christmas Cake (Image Courtesy: www.jamieoliver.com)

Christmas Cookies! Our fave of all the traditional Christmas bakes

It’s no secret! We love all things cookie, here at Con Affetto! From gingerbread men, to sugar cookies; double chocolate sandwich cookies to biscotti, our Christmas fantasies pretty much revolve around baking bonanzas involving large batches of scummylicious cookies! We’ve treated to you our very own Easy Christmas Cookies not so long ago, now here’s another look at one of our personal favourites: the crumbly, rich, melt-in-your-mouth Shortbread Cookies. Try out this simple and superbly demonstrated recipe from Joy of Baking of the classic Shortbread Cookie recipe; you’ll be licking your fingers when you’re done, we promise!

Shortbread Cookies (Recipe Courtesy: www.joyofbaking.com)

A list of traditional Christmas bakes is incomplete without the Classic Mince Pie!

These bite sized, flavourful delights are a staple on the festivity menu, and we bring to you an unbelievably easy mince pie recipe to boot from GoodFood. Get this- this recipe requires no rolling! It’s so simple even a child can make it, which is actually a brilliant idea- get your kids involved while making these mince pies and turn it into a festive family affair! You’ll all be scarfing down these oh-so-easy-to-make, delicious pies packed with flavour in no time!

Unbelievably Easy Mince Pies (Recipe Courtesy: www.bbcgoodfood.com)

It isn’t Christmas without some traditional Christmas bread

The last on our list of traditional Christmas bakes, Christmas breads are a sure shot way to become even more popular than Santa this season– just gift some made-with-love traditional Christmas breads!- while also getting to show off your baking skills. We can’t think of a better win-win, can you? This superb festive recipe of Chocolate Cranberry Stollen will make for a fabulous gift– as long as you make sure you don’t wolf it down the second it pops out of the oven 😉

Chocolate Cranberry Stollen (Recipe Courtesy: breadbaking.about.com)

Do give a try to some of these festive recipes this season- and don’t forget to give us a shout out to tell us how it went! Merry Christmas and Happy Festive Baking!

Con Affetto’s Traditional Christmas Bakes: Part One

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Christmas is upon us and we’re feeling particularly festive here at Con Affetto! We lurrve all things Christmassy right from Santa with his festive troop of reindeer, beautifully decorated Christmas trees to the promise of funky Christmas gifts 😉 , but if there’s one thing that really gets our Christmas spirit soaring, it’s the traditional Christmas bakes we get to relish this season!

Traditional Christmas bakes play a key role in the festivities

The traditional Christmas dinner is quite a feast!

Food has always been a big part of Christmas with the traditional Christmas dinner of roast turkey with stuffing and gravy; mashed potatoes; cranberry sauce; steamed veggies and the ubiquitous Christmas pudding becoming popular all over the globe, but did you know that some traditional Christmas bakes are equally relished as well? Here’s a quick low-down on what you should be baking- or digging into- this season!

Lets begin our journey into traditional Christmas bakes with a look at some X’massy cakes!

Traditional Christmas bakes include the classic Christmas fruitcake with marzipan or icing

Think Christmas, think cake!

Think Xmas, think cake! Christmas cakes are truly a feast for the senses! There are myriad versions of Christmas cakes but among the more popular are the the classic fruit cake with marzipan or icing and the Scottish Dundee cake, which is a relatively 😉 lighter version. Then there’s also the ‘mincemeat cake’ which comprises of any traditional mincemeat mixed in with flour and eggs, and the fun Yule Log, which is basically a Swiss Roll coated in chocolate. But more than the cake itself, we especially dig the fun traditions surrounding Christmas cakes! One is the ‘stir up’ tradition which involves mixing some of the ingredients for the cake (a super fun activity for the entire family, some peeps even like adding coins to their cake for good luck!). The second tradition is ‘feeding the cake’ which is when alcohol is added in small quantities to the cake over a period of time to build the flavour and keep it moist (we like!) and a third tradition is to avoid cutting the cake before dawn on Christmas eve (considered unlucky!).

You might also like: 5 Handy Cake Decorating Hacks That Will BLOW Your Mind!

Christmas Pies come next on our fun list of traditional Christmas bakes…

Traditional Christmas bakes include that all time British favourite, mince pies

An all time Xmas favourite; mince pies

The traditional Christmas Mince Pie, small pies filled with minced fruit, dry fruit and spices, is a popular inclusion on Christmas menus across the world. Although mince pies first originated in an oval shape and then went on to include a variety of shapes from stars and hearts to flowers, today they are commonly made in a round shape and eaten hot or cold. We like ours piping hot with some ice cream on the side! A custom from the Middle Ages says that if you eat a mince pie every day from Christmas to Twelfth Night (6^th Jan) you will have happiness everyday for the next twelve months! (A custom worth trying, we think!) And hey, did you know that mince pies are SO popular in the UK, they have their very own Mince Pie club?!

Our personal favourite traditional Christmas bake of the season…

Traditional Christmas bakes include Christmas cookies

It’s not Christmas without the cookies and gingerbread cookies are a personal fave!

Christmas cookies! Yup, when it comes to Christmas, can cookies be far behind? 😉 Christmas feasting traditionally involves a baking bonanza (yay!) and back in the day, unlike pies or cakes, cookies could easily be shared and gifted. Our traditional Christmas cookies date back to these medieval gifts. Cut out cookies, shortbread and gingerbread cookies are some of the most well loved cookies of the season but we’re rather partial to sugar cookies and biscotti. For most people it isn’t Christmas without cookies. There are cookie plates, cookie exchanges, heck, even Santa loves his cookies! Children traditionally leave out cookies for Santa– a practice started by parents to encourage generosity in their kids-and one that is still going strong. You ain’t getting to size zero anytime soon, Santa!

Break some Christmassy bread with this traditional Christmas bake…

Traditional Christmas bakes include a wide variety of Christmas breads, which are also a lighter alternative to the rich Christmas fruitcake

Bake and break some Xmassy bread this season ;)

If you’d rather give a toss to tradition and Marie Antoinette, and bake bread instead of cake, you’re in for a treat because Christmas baking comes replete with a fabulous selection of Xmassy breads. If you like fruitcakes, you’ll LOVE these Christmas breads, traditionally made to be moist, with dried and candied fruit and nuts. From the traditional German Stollen to Julekake – a Norwegian Christmas bread, to cinnamon tea rings and pumpkin bread, these sure are some bread-y and heady alternatives to traditional fruitcake, and also make for fabulous gifting options!

Are you drooling already with visions of buttery Christmas cookies and spongy slices of Christmas cake floating before your eyes? We’re just about getting started! Watch this space for Part Deux of our traditional Christmas baking series: some funky, fabulous and mouth wateringly delicious traditional Christmas baking recipes coming your way…very soon!

Bake Cookies Day! And A Bloggy Tea Party!

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Guess what we’ve been upto? It revolves around an oven, smells divine and can create instant, edible happiness! Yes, you guessed right, we’ve been baking up a storm and crafting gorgeous edible bouquets here at Con Affetto, but we decided to hop in here for a bit to wish all of you a Very Happy Bake Cookies Day! Yup, December 18 is Bake Cookies Day all over the world and what better time to celebrate baking and cookies than a week before Christmas?

It's bake cookies day and we're celebrating cookies, baking and edible bouquets at Con Affetto

Celebrate all things Cookie on Bake Cookies Day!

If you needed just that extra nudge to get your Christmas baking done, today is a great day to put on those oven mitts 😉 It’s also a special day for us here at Con Affetto because it’s been nearly three months since we started this blog! Yes, it’s almost time for our three month bloggy birthday 😉 and what better day to commemorate the occasion than Bake Cookies day? So we’ve decided to celebrate by having our very own Con Affetto Virtual Tea Party…

It’s Bake Cookies Day and we’re having a Bloggy Tea Party!

..aaannd everyone’s invited! So come on over, pull up a chair and pour yourself a cup of tea! Or hot chocolate, whatever rocks your cup 😉

Cookies and hot chocolate; the perfect way to celebrate Bake Cookies Day :)

Comfortable? Let’s begin by telling you what we have in store for YOU on the blog. It’s been a fabulously fun journey so far, and you, our blog readers are what truly makes it rock. So while we were busy baking and crafting up some awesome edible blooms in the Con Affetto kitchen, we were also thinking up some fun stuff for the blog! Stuff that you can share! Are you ready to hear this? Help yourself to a cake pop first!

Our edible bouquets come in a wide assortment of products and flavours

Dig into a cake pop!

The thing is, we’re truly passionate about all things baking & blooming – we’re not known as the Blissed Out Bakeristas for nothing 😉– and if there’s one thing we love almost as much as baking & edible bouquets, its blogging about them! We’ve also noticed that when we’re looking for something baking related, we often have to launch into a massive web trawl to find what we’re looking for, especially in the Indian context. Which is when it struck us! We could use our little space in the sunny web to blog about what we’re passionate about while also reaching out to others like us! What we want to do is make this space a haven for those who, like us, love baking.

So whether it’s recipes; baking hacks; tips and tricks; a look at baking reviews or equipment; discussions about the latest baking trends; or even features with bakers (of the celebrity as well as the home baker kind), we plan to cover it all.

A ready reckoner of all things baking, if you will. Like it? Have a slice of cake

Sit back, relax and enjoy our bloggy tea party :)

And of course, because we’re all about gifting and relationships too; we do plan to keep some great blogging in that space coming your way as well, along with some really funky features about life on the Con Affetto side. Plus there’s going to be loads of fun stuff as well, so watch this space!! You like? Help yourself to some more chai!

Drowning in tea and buttery cookies is the best way to spend a winter afternoon :)

And then tell us, what would YOU like to hear more about from us? Recipes? More about our products? Serious baking dilemmas you want answered? Questions on where to get the best snickerdoodle cookies in Delhi? Reviews of the best bakery in Mumbai? Whatever it is, bring it on! Here’s to much more happy baking…and fabulous blogging!

A chai-cookie toast to baking, edible bouquets and blogging this Bake Cookies Day!

We’re going to leave you with one of our favourite cookie recipes; we really can’t think of a better gift for Bake Cookies day Enjoy!

How To Bake The Perfect Brownie: 8 Must Know Hacks!

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Chewy… Fudgy… Dense… Moist…

Our top 8 hacks to bake the perfect brownie will ensure soul satisfying brownies every time

Chewy…fudgy…chocolicious! What’s your brownie type?

We sure take our brownies seriously here at Con Affetto! We even match our brownies to personality type 😉 Dense brownies for the serious sort; crumbly brownies for the soft-hearted, there’s always the perfect brownie for everyone! And whether it’s a chocolate hug in a mug at the end of a long day or much needed comfort food at the beginning of a difficult one; you can always count on a brownie to bail you out. So it always helps if you know how to bake your brownie just right. Here are some super simple hacks that’ll help you bake the perfect brownie every time!

Our top 8 hacks to bake the perfect brownie will ensure soul satisfying brownies

Brownies are the ultimate comfort food!

#1: Make up your mind

Is it a fudgy brownie you want or a cake-y one? Blondies more your style? Decide what you want before you get baking, and choose your recipe carefully because every different sort of brownie requires a different mix and proportion of ingredients.

Our top 8 hacks to bake the perfect brownie will ensure your brownies are baked to perfection

To bake the perfect brownie you need the perfect recipe!

#2: To bake the perfect brownie you need the perfect eggs…

And by perfect we mean eggs at room temperature. Cold eggs don’t mix well and just make for unhappy, too-dense brownies (perfect for the office grouch maybe 😉 ). So get your eggs out of the fridge at least a half hour before baking.

Our top 8 hacks to bake the perfect brownies will turn you into a baking pro

Egg-ther you have it or you don’t!

#3: Be gentle with the flour!

When it comes to folding in the flour, if you’re gonna heave it all together what you’ll get are thick, chewy brownies. So be gentle and don’t over stir. An easy trick is to fold the flour in till a few streaks are showing and leave it at that.

Our top 8 hacks to bake the perfect brownie, be gentle with the flour

A little gentleness with your flour will go a long way to brownie baking perfection!

#4: How hot is your oven?

Clueless? Invest in an oven thermometer and you are well on your way to brownie baking perfection. Most ovens are off temperature-wise and when it comes to baking, even a few degrees can be the difference between the perfect brownie and a tasteless blob!

Our top 8 hacks to bake the perfect brownie, invest in an oven thermometer

An oven thermometer is a great investment for serious home bakers

#5: To bake the perfect brownie timing is EVERYTHING

Yes it is. Time it right and you’ll have soul satisfyingly delicious brownies popping out of your oven Every.Single.Time.

Our top 8 hacks to bake the perfect brownie, timing is everything

Watch that clock!

#6: Don’t wait till the end to check on your brownies

Check on your brownies at least 5 minutes before the time stated in your recipe. This is because when you’re baking from a recipe, there will be a lot of variables you’re working with: oven heating, type of pan etc. And like we said earlier, when it comes to baking, even an extra minute or two can make a difference.

Our top 8 hacks to bake the perfect brownie, check on your brownies 5 minutes before the recipe time

You’ll have happy brownies popping out of your oven in no time ;)

#7: Happy pans make happy brownies!

Light-coloured, shiny pans conduct heat more evenly as opposed to dark-coloured or glass pans which can cause the edges to over bake or burn. Choose your pans carefully, bake your brownies in the center of the oven and don’t put them in until the oven is preheated.

Our top 8 hacks to bake the perfect brownie, get the right bake ware

Your bake ware is an essential ingredient too!

#8: Work the lining

Use greased parchment paper or wax paper to line your pan and leave an overhang on the sides to create handles. When your brownies have cooled, use the handles to gently lift out your brownies.

Our top 8 hacks to bake the perfect brownie, don't forget to line it right

Add the final touches with the right lining, your perfectly baked brownies are almost done!

And lastly, when you’re done baking your gooey perfection, give them some time to cool, before you dig in! Trust us, the texture and flavour of your brownies is SO much better when cooled. Do YOU have any pro tips when it comes to baking the perfect brownie? The most funky & helpful tips stand a chance to get featured on the blog- so TELL US already!

Edible Bouquets: What Makes Them Rock!

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A rose by any other name would smell as sweet…

Edible bouquets with the Con Affetto tag will make a regular flower bouquet pale in comparison

A rose by any other name…?Not if it’s from a Con Affetto bouquet!

Well, what if Shakespeare were wrong? Impossible, you say? What if we were to tell you about a bouquet created with rich, moist cake…soft as butter and dipped in the finest chocolate with a promise of melting on your lips? We can bet even Shakespeare would be drooling at that! And he sure would agree that a rose with the Con Affetto name is a million times yummier 😉

Edible bouquets bring together the perfect union of gourmet baked products and the alluring good looks of a flower bouquet

Melt in your mouth gourmet bakes inspired by the beauty of flowers; visions of heaven are guaranteed!

Don’t get us wrong, we love flowers just as much as any gal. And which gal wouldn’t love getting a bursting bouquet of gorgeous blooms? But what happens after that initial heady rush? Those very same blooms begin to wilt and fade away, and eventually end up as trash. And that just made us kinda sad. It also made us sit up and think…

What if you could get a bouquet with blooms just as gorgeous, but that wouldn’t need to be trashed? What if they could smell as great, look as gorgeous….and taste divine!

Eureka! And that’s how Con Affetto came to be. The finest creations, inspired by nature and designed to make mortals go weak at the knees! Anyone who’s bitten into one of our sinful delights will tell you it was love at first taste.

Our edible bouquets range from cake pop bouquets, cookie bouquets, cup cake bouquets to cakesickles, cake truffles nd the works

LOVE! At first bite 😉 Dip into our red velvet cake pops bathed in dark chocolate or our classic vanilla petit bites in swathes of milk chocolate

Has to be be, when you marry the sophistication and taste of gourmet baked treats in all their layered, frosted delight with the sheer beauty of flowers… and when the union looks something like this!

One of our edible bouquets is the gorgeous and yummy cupcake bouquet

What looks better? Our gorgeous cupcake bouquet or exotic packaging it’s encased in?

Talk about gifting something unique, meaningful and oh-so-delicious! We don’t like to brag but even the most gorgeous bouquet of flowers cannot compete with our soft, moist, rich edible delights that will explode on your taste buds in a burst of decadence.

Do you really need to think again next time you’re looking for, say…maybe an online flower delivery to your special someone? Here are a few more reasons why an edible bouquet beats a regular flower bouquet any day:

No gender discrimination;)

So you Googled the best online flower delivery option and had their finest (and most expensive!) bouquet delivered to your love. That lush bunch of flowers may have HER swooning, but can you say the same for HIM? Last we heard, flowers aren’t really that big a deal with the guys (some of our guy pals even confessed that they think being gifted flowers is kinda embarrassing- not macho enough, no?)! No such problem with our edible bouquets once they unwrap the packaging and start discovering the scrumptious delights that lie within!

One of our edible bouquets is the cookie bouquet with an assortment of cookies, pretzels, marshmallows

Think we’re only about chocolate? Our cookie bouquet brings you a dizzy assortment of vanilla butter cookies, sugar cookies, pretzels and marshmallows ….swooon!

Maintenance…say what?

Remember the last flower bouquet you were gifted? What did you do once you’d finished ooh-ing and aah-ing over it? Trimmed the stems, put it in fresh water and changed the water daily, most likely. Only to see those pretties wilt away and end up in the trash eventually. Edible bouquets? Receive. Ooh and aah! Unwrap. Eat. Bask in the blissful memories…and taste! And say ta ta to maintenance!

Edible bouquets are better than regular flower bouquets in that they require zero maintenance

Drop dead gorgeous and oh so low maintenance!

Dee-licious!

Just in case we didn’t say it enough;) Our edible bouquets taste like they’ve been concocted by the Gods of Chocolate themselves, right up there in the divine chocolaterie….lip smacking drool-icious! Now you’ll just have to taste one and see for yourself! And if you’re wondering about the variety you’ll get into a tizzy trying to pick just one from our giddy assortment of cookie bouquets, cup cake bouquets, handcrafted cake pops, cake truffles or cakesickles!

Cookie bouquets; cup cake bouquets, cake truffles, cakesickles…we’ll have you spoilt for choice!

The perfect gift for just about anyone…

Forget about frantically searching for the best online flower delivery option and then trying to pair it with a cake or maybe chocolates thrown in for good measure. With an edible bouquet you have the perfect package tailored for you: gourmet baked products that look even better than flowers and presented in a way that will make the most gorgeous bouquet pale in comparison. If you’re looking for the perfect gift, look no further!

Edible bouquets look gorgeous and taste even better!

Fall in love with our gorgeous bunches of edible blooms :)

So in case you’re still thinking about a traditional flower bouquet as your go to delivery gift option, think again! Let the flowers bloom we say, and gift an edible bouquet instead!

5 Diwali Dessert Recipes With A Twist!

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Who doesn’t love a good twist in the tale? From Bollywod fusion hip hop to a little Mexican fusion in our Indian khaana, we want something hatke (a little like us 😉 after all we are all about unique and quirky gift ideas)! So can Diwali dessert recipes be far behind? “We’re bored of the same old laddoos and barfis every year!” is a common complaint come Diwali; leading to a spate of traditional Diwali recipes getting all sorts of funky makeovers. The result is melt in your mouth Diwali delights; your traditional Diwali dessert recipes in a never seen before avatar! We decided to make your Diwali preps a little easier this year by putting some of these awesome Diwali dessert recipes for you in one easy to find place! Think of it as our Diwali gift to you 😉

Drool-worthy Diwali Dessert Recipes: Rangoli Macarons!

Step aside French macarons; our desi version of Rangoli Macarons are so much more drool worthy! These buttery little bites of perfection will transport you straight to a lazy Parisian afternoon. Whip up these delicate velvety pastries with this easy basic French macaron recipe and go for gold with some creative gold decoration on the macarons for that added festive touch!

Traditional Diwali dessert recipe with a twist Rangoli Macarons with gold decoration

Go for gold with these Rangoli Macarons! Image Credit: bubbleandsweet.blogspot.in

Get some golden piping inspiration here to pipe it right! These delights will not just go splendidly with your afternoon chai, they also make for a fabulous (and very unique) Diwali gift!

Biscuit Barfi: Diwali Dessert Recipes for the bachhas!

Diwali calls for something traditional like barfi but the kids prefer Oreo pops! Never the twain shall meet? Well, never say never is our motto! Presenting a finger licking biscuit barfi recipe that will have not just the kids, but the grown ups licking their fingers too!

Traditional Diwali dessert recipes with a twist Diwali Biscuit Barfi

Charm kids and adults alike with this delightful Diwali Biscuit Barfi

We love using this recipe with Oreos (satisfy that totally legit Oreo craving while you’re at it 😉 and oh! watch this space for the scrummilicious Oreo Pops we’re going to be dishing out soon at Con Affetto) and having some fun with the toppings as well- think coconut sprinkles or candy melts! This is one recipe the kids can help you with too.

Decorated Diwali Dessert Recipes: Colourful Cookies!

It’s the festive season and if you’re like us and lurrrve mehndi, here’s a fun way to have your mehndi and eat it too! Yes, you heard that right! Mehndi is not just for the hands as you’ll see with these fantabulous henna inspired sugar cookies.

Diwali dessert recipes mehndi or henna inspired cookies

Get some mehndi…on your cookies! Image Credit: HennaLounge.com

All you’ll need is a batch of freshly baked sugar cookies (mmmm bliss!), some royal icing and then let your henna themed dreams take over the decoration! And when you can’t get enough of the diyas and the phooljhadis– ice them! Let your imagination run riot as you conjure up some delicious Diwali themed cookies!

Traditional Diwali dessert recipes with a twist Diwali themed sugar cookies

The Con Affetto version of pretty diyas and sparkly phooljhadis

Little girls will adore this Diwali dessert recipe…the making and the eating!

Diwali Dessert Recipe for a festive Diwali breakfast…

Diwali morning…the colourful hues of rangoli, the fragrance of ubtan, the preparation for Diwali pooja….but what’s for breakfast? The last thing you want to rack your brains over is wondering what to cook! But at the same time…its Diwali! How about a sumptous Diwali breakfast fit for kings and with the perfect festive touch too! Presenting a boondi and rabdi stuffed pancakes Diwali breakfast (brought to you by the Masterchef Sanjeev Kapoor, no less!).

Traditional Diwali dessert recipes with a twist boondi and rabdi stuffed pancakes

A Diwali breakfast fit for royalty!

Just don’t blame us if you’re too stuffed to do much else for the rest of Diwali day after gorging on this treat 😉

Decadent Diwali Dessert Recipes: Cupcakes with a twist!

So the kids are going all Marie Antoinette on you and clamouring for cake? But cakes are for Christmas, who eats cake for Diwali?! You will, with these perfect for Diwali Gulkand Cupcakes with a delicate hint of cardamom! Let the kids eat cake and give a rose-alicious nod to tradition while you’re at it! Don’t forget to watch this space for some rosy treats coming your way- our paan gulkand cake truffles are launching soon!

Traditional Diwali dessert recipes with a twist Gulkand cupcakes

Rose-alicious! Gulkand Cupcakes at Diwali

Drooling already? Here’s to loads of blissful baking ahead! And if you have any funky Diwali dessert recipes you’d like to share with us, write in! A really hatke recipe may even get featured on our blog!

5 Handy Cake Decorating Hacks That Will Blow Your Mind!

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What is a world without cake? And what is a cake without some scrummy decoration? Here at Con Affetto, baking is what makes our world go round! It also makes it taste divine and smell amazing;) So when we heard that 10^th October was Cake Decorating Day, it had us so excited, we decided to go all out and celebrate and gift YOU something fun while we were at it! (You’re welcome!)

Learn these ingenious cake decorating hacks and become a pro

Welcome to Cake Decorating School :)

What we’re going to tell you will change the way you Pipe & Ice forever! So…ta-daaaa *drum roll*! Presenting, 5 awesome super simple and absolutely ingenious cake decorating hacks that will BLOW your mind!

1. Lace it up!

Did you know that lace is an AWESOME cake decorating tool?

It looks pretty on dresses and can add a touch of glamour at tea time when its draped on your dining table, but did you know that lace works really well as a cake decoration hack? Yes you heard that right, and it does not get any simpler than this. All you need to do is place a piece of lace on your cake and sprinkle icing sugar through a sieve to get a super cool, fuss free, lacy pattern! You don’t even need any icing!

2. Get swirly…

A simple icing trick that will take your icing skills to the next level

Swirl around with ease with this simple icing hack!

Have you always been impressed with the swirly twirly icing professional bakers manage with such ease but have never been able to replicate it for yourself? We’ve got it sorted! All you need are two icing bags filled with different coloured frosting. Cut the tips and place them both in a larger icing bag and fit it with a tip. Your perfect, two toned swirly twirls of icing are ready to rock and roll that cake!

3. Join the dots

Get your cake icing just right with this clever icing hack

Bad handwriting? You can still ice it perfect!

Always had an issue with handwriting back in school and could never quite figure out what all that fuss was about cursive writing? Well, here’s a fun way to get your decorating fonts to look just perfect– on your cakes at least! Use a toothpick to dot the letters on your cake, then just connect the dots when you pipe for easy-peasy, perfect looking icing! This is a trick straight from the school days; remember join the dots?

4. Do something pop-tacular!

Place ready made lollipops or candy on cake for a simple and great looking cake decorating trick!

Create something pop-tacular with lollipops on cake!

If you read our last post on cake pops, you know we have a thing for these bite-sized, fun, pretties that take us straight back to our childhood lollipop whimsies. So it’s no surprise that we have a cake decorating trick that’s all about lollipops! Try this when you’re super rushed and have neither the time nor the patience for any elaborate cake decoration. Stick some store bought lollipops in a burst of colours along the edges of your cake and voilà! A fun, colourful pop-on-cake ready in seconds!

A cool cake decorating hack that uses srinkles in a very creative way

Get wild with this ‘sprinkly’ creative hack!

Another super simple, yet favourite hack of ours involves sprinkles and cookie cutters. Place cookie cutters firmly on your cake and fill ’em up with sprinkles. Then gently remove the cookie cutter to get some sprinkly designs in as crazy an assortment of shapes as you like!

5. Get plastered!

Plaster your way to perfection with this hack

Um, no, don’t reach for that bottle- just yet! Check out this cool plastering trick for a super looking cake first. So you’ve covered your cake with fondant and are feeling bummed because all those annoying little cracks are showing up? Worry not! Just bung in a few drops of water with your leftover icing, mix it all together to get a toothpaste-y consistency and plaster those cracks! Smooth into and over and your cake-with-a-fabulous-finish is set!

Have you got any tricks up your cake decorating sleeve? Share it with us this World Cake Decoration Day! Or, if you’re reading this, just say Hi! We’d love to hear from you