Feasting on Funtastic Fruits: A Juicy Adventure of Flavors, Fun, and Freshness!

Cranberry Choco-Nut Cookies

Makes 25

Cranberries are considered a superfood because of their high antioxidant content and many health benefits.

Dried cranberries are easy to find, and these whole-grain cookies are a tasty way to include them in your family's diet.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp flaxseed powder
• 1 cup whole wheat flour (atta)
• tsp baking powder
• tsp baking soda
• tsp salt
• 100g unsalted butter at room temperature
• cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp milk
• cup chocolate chips
• cup chopped dried cranberries
• cup chopped roasted walnuts

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C. Line a large baking tray with baking parchment.
2. Add two tablespoons of warm water to the flaxseed powder, stir well, and set aside.
3. Stir together the whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
4. If the brown sugar has large crystals, then grind it into a powder in a mixie.
5. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until the mixture turns a lighter shade and becomes fluffy.
6. Stir in the flaxseed paste, vanilla extract and milk.
7. Gently stir the flour mixture into the brown sugar-butter mixture. Mix in the chocolate chips, cranberries and walnuts.
8. Roll the mixture into balls of one-inch diameter. Flatten them into cookies and set them about two inches apart on the prepared tray.
9. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on the tray and then move them to a wire rack until completely cool. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Apple and Oats Halwa

Serves 4

This delightful dessert is a must-try and works as a filling snack or even breakfast. Apples are cooked down with warm spices, with fiber-rich oats adding body to the halwa.

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup rolled oats
• 4 apples
• 2-3 tbsp ghee
• 6 cashews, chopped
• 6 almonds, slivered
• 12 tbsp raisins
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• tsp ginger powder
• a pinch of ground cloves
• a pinch of grated nutmeg
• 1 cup brown sugar

Method:

1. Grind the rolled oats into a powder using a small mixie jar. Set aside.
2. Peel the apples and remove the cores. Chop roughly and then blend to a rough puree in a blender. Set aside.
3. Heat the ghee in a large non-stick kadhai or pan set on low heat. Add the cashews and almonds and toast until brown. Add the raisins and let them puff up. Remove the nuts and raisins using a slotted spoon and set aside.
4. Add the powdered oats to the remaining ghee in the pan. Stir and toast on low heat for 56 minutes. Add the spices—cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg to the pan.
5. Now add the apple puree to the pan. Cook the halwa on low heat until the moisture dries up, stirring often.
6. Add the brown sugar to the pan and cook until the halwa leaves the sides of the pan and comes together in a mass. Stir in half the fried nuts and raisins.
7. Enjoy the halwa warm, garnished with the remaining nuts and raisins.

Strawberry Yogurt Snack Cake

Serves 6

Who can resist the sweet deliciousness of bright-red strawberries? Here's an easy atta cake topped with fat chunks of juicy berries, which turn jammy and yummy in the heat of the oven.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour (atta)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• 2 eggs at room temperature
• 1 cup sunflower oil
• 1 cup strawberry yogurt or plain thick yogurt
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup brown sugar

For topping 

• 8-10 strawberries, cored and halved
• 2-3 tbsp almond flakes, optional
• 2 tbsp brown sugar

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C. Line the base of an eight- or nine-inch springform pan (with removable sides) with baking parchment and grease the base and sides with oil.
2. Sift together the whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs. Add in the oil, yogurt and vanilla extract.
4. If the brown sugar has large crystals, grind it into a powder in a mixie.
5. Stir the brown sugar into the egg mixture.
6. Gently whisk the flour mixture into the egg mixture.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Place the strawberries all over the cake, with the cut side down. Add the almond flakes if using. Sprinkle some brown sugar evenly all over the top.
8. Bake the cake for about 45 minutes or until well-browned and a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Serve plain or with a glass of milk.

Note: This cake tastes best on the day it is made, but leftovers can be stored in an airtight box and eaten the next day.

 Ruchira Ramanujam runs a popular food  blog, tadkapasta.com, with her partner Ranjini.