Basant Panchami -Saffron Trails with Saffron and Almond Egg Less Cupcakes

By Shalinidigvijay @shalinidigvijay
Meethe Chawal ,Yellow Saffron Rice is standard fare to welcome Saraswati,the Goddess of  knowledge.The fifth day of the Hindu month of Magh heralds the onset of the shortest of  spring  in North India. Flowers ,flowers everywhere...they haven't popped out as yet,we'd rather the cold stays a bit more.I am a working woman now,so food has to be planned. Meethe Chawal is set and all soaked for tomorrow morning.

But these egg less cupcakes are just a wee bit special.I had been meaning to add saffron to a cup cake and this seemed to be the best time.
Simple and Pretty.

They are topped with just a wee bit of saffron drenched butter cream frosting,none of us can afford the calories. Actually ,I wanted the saffron to be the star flavor so,I scrimped on the Butter cream.

for the
Basant Panchami -Saffron Trails with Saffron and Almond Egg less Cupcakes...
you need
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp soda bicarbonate/baking soda
3/4 cup granulated sugar/caster sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tbsp vinegar
1 tsp hot milk with a GENEROUS pinch of saffron
drop yellow food color(optional)
1 cup yogurt at room temperature
2-3 tbsp chopped almonds
Saffron Butter cream Frosting
1 cup butter cream frosting made here
1 tsp hot saffron soaked milk
Turn on your oven to 180C/350F and line your cupcake tray with cupcake liners.I used 14,but 12 are good.
Soak the saffron in the milk. This saffron is Persian,and turns the milk an orange red. Hence the yellow food color. You can skip the color...
Mix the yogurt and the baking powder and the soda bicarbonate. Add in the oil and the sugar as it begins to froth.The steps are the same as the ones I used for the eggless tiramisu here.Not much muscle power needed here. Sift the flour separately and add in three stages mixing the saffron milk and vinegar between the flour.Half the muffin full of the batter with a generous sprinkle of the chopped almonds and into the oven for 15-18 minutes.
Golden topped and well done ,with a dreamy saffron aroma that one generally associates with cupcakes.

Blend the butter cream and the saffron milk well. Pipe on the cupcakes and sprinkle a strand or two of saffron and a sliver of the almonds and offer first to Goddess Saraswati.

Enjoy her benevolence all year round .Study hard and she will bless you with immense knowledge.This is the time to submit to her blessings and fly Kites.
Yes ,Saraswati Puja is a big festival in east India,but in Punjab,they fly kites.

google images ,punjabigrapics.com


May the goddess of knowledge stay with you and enlighten your life.
Happy Basant Panchami!!!
So what are you baking today???