Celebrating two birthdays with one birthday cake …. It was my little cousin Sameera’s birthday a few days back and had made the cake as a surprise treat for her.
And posting this today to celebrate as FIA turns one year old… FIA, or Famished in Arabia, is a community of bloggers from UAE who share their passion for food. The brain child of Arva of I live in a frying pan and Sally of My Custard Pie, this group now has 56 wonderfully gifted bloggers (and the number continues to increase..) .
Love to be part of this group – the discussions, the delectable dishes posted everyday and the amazing photography. Here’s to many more years of food, fun and friendship..♥♥♥
Okay, back to the cake…Made a soft moist chocolate cake and frosted with whipping cream. It’s really easy to whip it up, you can make the whole thing in one bowl. Using vegetable oil instead of butter has its advantages – no time wasted to beat butter with sugar,plus the oil makes the cake really moist.
Sorry, couldn’t get the snaps of the cake slice. In midst of the birthday celebration, forgot that part
.
Ingredients
- Powdered sugar – 2 cups
- All-purpose flour – 1 3/4 cups
- Cocoa powder – 3/4 cup
- Baking powder – 1 1/2 teaspoon
- Baking soda – 1 1/2 teaspoons
- Salt – 1 teaspoon
- Eggs – 2
- Milk – 1 cup
- Vegetable oil – 1/2 cup
- Vanilla extract – 2 teaspoons
- Boiling water – 1 cup
- Whipping cream , for frosting
Method
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.
- In a large bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Add the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla, mix for 2 minutes on medium speed of mixer. Stir in the boiling water last.
- Batter will be thin. Pour evenly into the prepared pan.
- Bake 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until the cake tests done with a toothpick.
- Cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the frosting
- Divide the cake into 3 equal horizontal layers
- Sandwich the layers with the desired frosting ( I used whipping cream with 1 tsp of coffee powder added).
- Apply a thin layer of frosting over the cake (crumb coat) . Refrigerate for 1-2 hours
- Apply a thicker coating of the frosting to get a final smooth finish.
Sending this to Bookmarked Recipes Every Tuesday By Aipi and Priya
and to Anyone Can Cook Series by Ayeesha

and to Only Baked Event hosted by Harini of Tamalapaku and Pari of Foodelicious







I Live in a Frying Pan said:
YOU ARE SO TALENTED!! this is such a beautiful tribute to FiA, thank you! We love having you in the group, though it takes a lot of mental control on my part to read through a post like this without going bonkers with a mega craving!
I hope you make it for the Cake-a-thon, I’m dying to try one of your goodies…something like this moist pretty chocolate cake, or that dulce de leche pudding (we could make exceptions to the cake rule for that) that has been haunting my mind ever since….
najla koya said:
Thanks Arva
… Hoping to attend the Cake-a-thon, don’t want to miss it .. and would be happy to whip up the pudding for you
Neha said:
Wow..The cake looks amazing…I am new to your space and it’s absolutely wonderful…
do visit me at http://muchmorethanahomemaker.blogspot.com
Cheers
Pingback: Happy Birthday to a Fantabulous Community of UAE Food Bloggers! | I live in a Frying Pan.
Umm Mymoonah said:
Wow! This is such a lovely cake, looks gorgeous. Thank you so much for linking this beautiful cake with Any One Can Cook
najla koya said:
Thanks Ayeesha
Shaikha said:
What a gorgeous cake! So glad FIA exists <3
najla koya said:
Thank you
harini-jaya said:
Interesting to know about FIA. Congrats on the milestone. Beautifully decorated cake.
Thanks for sending to ‘Only-Baked’.
aipi said:
Wow! This is simply picture perfect n a total stunner!! Would love to have a slice of this awesome cake

Birthday wishes to little Sameera
US Masala
najla koya said:
Thanks Aipi
ginger and scoch said:
Well done on a beautiful cake! Happy bday FiA!
najla koya said:
Thank you
Waiting to meet you all at the Cake-a-thon
kankana said:
This is such a gorgeous looking cake and it truly screams celebration! I bet your cousin was super happy to see this
najla koya said:
Thanks Kankana.. Yes, it was a pleasant surprise for her
Plateful said:
Wow, that’s such a gorgeous bake — I’m sure Sameera was thrilled to bits by your lovely gesture. Loved the frosting …I feel like taking a bite out of this beauty, ahh!
Anu said:
beautiful cake …awesome deco….and wonderful clicks…
my first time here….and very nice space too….
http://anuzhealthykitchen.blogspot.com/2011/07/event-berries-strawberry-desserts.html
Am hosting an August event on berries – hope to see some recipes from you….and a chance to guest host too….
Tasmeea Kabir said:
Beautiful cake! I’m impressed by how fine the frosting looks.
Rajeev said:
Hi Najila…the cake looks awesome….We will cook that next time u come chry!!
najla koya said:
Thanks Rajeev
… will make it for our batch get together