How about that! Cakes made of green tea, beetroot and cola?

We all loves cakes, don't we? But the chocolate cake has become so predictable. Or even the butterscotch one. My taste buds have begun to crave for new unusual flavours. If yours do too then here are a few recipes that you are sure to enjoy.

1. Olive Oil Orange Cake

This moist and tangy flavoured cake is sure to start off your mornings on a good note. Add a dollop of whipped cream for the extra treat for your taste buds.

Ingredients

2 oranges
4 eggs
2 cups flour
3 cups sugar
2 tea spoon baking powder and baking soda
A little vanilla extracted from the pods
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup orange juice
Butter for greasing

Method

• Cut the top and bottom of the oranges and then into four
• Boil in water
• Once done remove from water
• Put them in fresh water and boil again with sugar
• Cook till the rind can be easily pierced
• Allow to cool
• Puree it in a blender
• Add olive oil, sugar, flour, baking powder and soda, whisked eggs and vanilla and blend again
• Pour batter into the butter greased oven proof bowl
• Bake till a fork inserted into the cake comes out clean.
• Once done, glaze it with a mixture of orange juice and confectioners' sugar.

Sprinkle with salt before serving.

2. Cola Cake

Adding cola to the usual chocolate cake will make it 'wow' and now you can even eat your favourite cola.

Ingredients

1 bottle cola
4 tablespoon cocoa powder
2 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup fresh cream
2 cups flour
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
2 tablespoon butter

Method

• Mix the cola with oil, cocoa and butter.
• Boil it.
• In a bowl take the flour and add the sugar to it
• Add the cola mixture and keep stirring so that lumps don't form
• Add the whisked eggs, cream and the vanilla essence
• Pour batter into the butter greased oven proof bowl
• Bake till a fork inserted into the cake comes out clean.
• Decorate with dark chocolate sprinkle or melted chocolate

You can always replace the cola with lemon soda or even beer

3. Vanilla Bottle Gourd Cake

Adding bottle gourd to a cake might sound weird but it does give it a different taste. Don’t forget to add the vanilla though because that will mask the distinctive smell that this vegetable has.

Ingredients

1 medium bottle gourd
A pack of butter
3 cups flour
2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

Method

• Peel the bottle gourd and then cut into thick circles
• Boil with a pinch of salt till tender
• Press into a cloth till all water drains out
• Keep them aside
• Sift flour and baking soda in a bowl
• Add butter and sugar and beat well
• Add one egg at a time and beat well
• Add the cream and vanilla and stir it in till all the lumps dissolve
• Grease a baking cake pan
• Pour a little cake mix and add a layer of the bottle gourd
• Keep alternating till all the bottle gourd pieces have been placed
• Bake till a fork inserted into the cake comes out clean.

Before serving dust with sugar

4. Almond Rose Cake

In the 18th century, rose water was often used in baking. So this cake will take you back to the past. Add the almond for the extra crunch.

Ingredients

2 egg whites
1 pack butter
2 cups flour
2 cups water
2 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons rose water
1/2 cup chopped almonds

Method

• In a bowl take the flour and the baking powder
• Add the butter and beat the mixture
• Whisk the egg whites separately and then add to the mixture
• Add the sugar, water, rose water, chopped almonds and mix all together till all lumps are removed
• Pour batter into the butter greased oven proof bowl
• Bake till a fork inserted into the cake comes out clean.

Decorate with rose petals or marzipan roses

5. Poppy Seed Cake

In North America poppy seed often finds its way into muffins and bagels. Try it with butter in a vanilla cake for an innovative buttery-sweet taste.

Ingredients

½ cup poppy seeds
2 cups flour
4 egg whites
1 slab of butter
1 cup milk
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
2 teaspoon baking powder

Method

• Soak the poppy seeds in water for half an hour
• Combine flour, egg white, butter, baking powder, vanilla essence and sugar in a bowl and beat it well
• Add the poppy seed to it and stir it in well

• Pour batter into the butter greased oven proof bowl
• Bake till a fork inserted into the cake comes out clean
• Garnish with orange and lemon zest while it is still warm
• Refrigerate it

Serve with vanilla ice-cream 

6. Basil Lemon Cake

A plain white cake will turn into a gourmet dessert by adding lemon and basil to it. It makes the perfect spring cake with its a burst of flavours.

Ingredients

2 tablespoon of lemon zest
½ cup basil leaves – chopped
5 eggs
1 ½ cup sugar
2 cups flour
1 cup milk
1 pack butter
2 teaspoon baking powder

Method

• In a bowl mix the four with the sugar, butter, milk and baking powder
• Beat the eggs and then fold it into the batter
• When smooth, add lemon zest to it and stir
• Add the chopped basil leaves and stir

• Pour batter into the butter greased oven proof bowl
• Bake till a fork inserted into the cake comes out clean
• Garnish with whipped cream and basil leaves

7. Green Tea Cake

It is a light and fluffy cake with a refreshing green tea aroma. With its colour and subtle taste, it is perfect for a chilly winter morning.

Ingredients

4+1 teaspoons green tea - powder
2 cups flour
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1+1 cups sugar
1 cup oil
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 cup fresh cream
Pinch of salt

Method

• In a bowl take the flour, baking powder, salt and the powdered green tea
• In a separate bowl beat the eggs with the sugar and oil till smooth
• Add it to the flour mixture and beat it well
• Add the vanilla essence

• Pour batter into the butter greased oven proof bowl
• Bake till a fork inserted into the cake comes out clean
• Refrigerate it
• Beat the cream with sugar and a spoon of green tea powder
• Take the chilled cake out and spread the greenish hued cream over it and serve

8. Beetroot and Date Cake

The taste of fudgy chocolate, the earthen beetroot and the caramelized dates makes this a very rich cake. It will make you wish that you never grew up.

 Ingredients

2 medium beetroots
2 cups chopped dates
2 eggs
1 cup fresh cream
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
½ cup grated dark chocolate
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ cup oil
1 cup milk

Method

• Scrap the skin of the beetroots, chop and boil them in water with a pinch of salt
• Boil the date in a separate pan till soft
• Add the beetroot with sugar, cream, eggs and dates in a blend and puree well
• In a bowl sieve the flour and then add the grated chocolate and baking powder
• Add oil to it and stir
• Add the beetroot mixture and stir well till all lumps are removed

• Pour batter into the butter greased oven proof bowl
• Since the cake tends to be fudgy, the fork won’t come out clean when inserted even after the baking’s done (bake for half an hour)

Serve warm with chocolate ice-cream on the side

9. Sweet Pasta Cake

It is a type of Bulgarian cuisine with a deliciously different taste

Ingredients

1 cup pasta
2 eggs
4 table spoons butter
¼ cup sugar
½ chopped nuts (almond. cashew and raisins)
2 table spoon flour
A pinch of salt
A pinch of cinnamon powder

Method

• Cook the pasta in salt water
• Once done, drain out the water and rinse it in cold water before finally drying it
• Melt butter in a pan and add the sugar to it
• Stir it till the sugar dissolves
• Beat the eggs and add it to the mixture
• Add the pasta and mix well
• Combine the flour, chopped nuts and cinnamon powder in a large bowl
• Add to the mixture

• Pour batter into the butter greased oven proof bowl

Bake for half an hour till it turns burnt golden 

10. Tomato Soup Cake

Tomato soup might sound like a very odd ingredient for a cake. But do try it. The spiciness and the tanginess of it are sure to make you fall in love with it.

Ingredients

1 can tomato soup
1 cup sugar
1 cup raisins
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
½ pack butter
2 cups flour
Pinch of cinnamon and clove powder mixture

Method

• Add the baking powder to the can of soup and let it be for 5-10 minutes
• Beat the egg and add to it the sugar, the butter and the pinch of cinnamon and clove powder
• Stir altogether
• Add it to the soup and mix well
• Add the raisins and pour batter into the butter greased oven proof bowl
• Bake till a fork inserted into the cake comes out clean
• Refrigerate it and serve chilled

And this is not the end. You can even try your hand at making cakes with soya, peanut butter, chicken, potato wafers, mayonnaise or even wine, gin or vodka. So go on and indulge your taste buds. Get creative! If any of you have tried something different then do share your experiences with us.